The Sickly Prime Minister's Third Marriage to a Feisty Little Wife

On an inauspicious day, Su Wanwan is forced into a marriage of convenience with Pei Changfeng, a brilliant but bedridden scholar who fell from a mountain and has been left for dead. Su Wanwan is known throughout the region as a husband-killer, having buried her previous two spouses under mysterious and violent circumstances. The Pei family, specifically Pei Dabo and his wife, orchestrated this union hoping Su Wanwan’s curse would finish off their nephew, allowing them to seize his inheritance and the government stipend he received as a funded student. Upon entering the Pei household, Su Wanwan discovers that her new husband has been neglected, left to rot in filth without food, clean bedding, or proper medical care, while his uncle and aunt have embezzled his funds and stolen his belongings.

Refusing to be bullied, Su Wanwan immediately asserts her authority. She confronts the Pei family in front of the entire village, exposing their theft of Changfeng’s rice, silver, and household items. Using a combination of sharp wit, public shaming, and physical aggression, she forces them to return stolen goods and provide food and medicine. Her reputation for violence precedes her; neighbors recall that she once beat her own stepmother and brother, making the Pei family fear her more than they desire Changfeng’s death. Su Wanwan’s primary motivation is not romantic love but survival and duty. She views Changfeng as her responsibility and is determined to keep him alive, partly because he is the first man she has married who has not died on their wedding night.

As Su Wanwan cares for Changfeng, she cleans his body, cooks nutritious meals, and drives away intruders. One such intruder is Zhou Chanyue, a woman who claims to be Changfeng’s childhood sweetheart and attempts to disrupt the marriage. Su Wanwan physically ejects her, establishing her dominance over the household. Meanwhile, Changfeng remains in a coma, unaware of the battles his wife is fighting. When he finally awakens, he is cold and distant, rejecting Su Wanwan’s affection and insisting that their marriage is invalid because he was unconscious during the ceremony. He reveals that he is crippled and believes he is a burden, urging her to leave him.

Despite his rejection, Su Wanwan refuses to abandon him. She discovers a hidden jade pendant, her mother’s heirloom, which she pawns for thirty taels of silver to pay for expensive medicinal herbs. The doctor confirms that Changfeng’s leg cannot be saved, but his overall health can be restored with proper treatment. Su Wanwan’s dedication begins to soften Changfeng’s demeanor, though he remains guarded. The narrative introduces Mu Chen, Su Wanwan’s cousin and a former admirer, who visits and displays subtle jealousy toward Changfeng. Mu Chen’s presence highlights Su Wanwan’s past and her complicated relationships, while also adding tension to the domestic sphere.

The core conflict revolves around Su Wanwan’s struggle to protect Changfeng from his predatory relatives and societal prejudice, while Changfeng grapples with his disability and emotional detachment. The Pei family continues to plot against them, with Pei Dabo attempting to poison the couple, only to be thwarted by Su Wanwan’s vigilance. As Changfeng recovers physically, the story shifts toward his potential return to scholarly pursuits and the couple’s efforts to establish a stable life despite financial constraints and external threats. Su Wanwan’s fierce loyalty and combativeness become the anchor for Changfeng’s recovery, setting the stage for a partnership that challenges traditional gender roles and family dynamics in their village.