Late at night.
In Louisa’s study, a pale gas lamp was lit. Her desk, made of weighty black oak, gleamed under the light of the gas lamp.
She was reviewing various materials for the next session.
Since her husband had said he would be home late, she planned to comfortably review the materials she needed to read.
On nights like this, when her husband was home, it wasn’t easy to delve into such tasks, so she had to make the most of her time.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The sound of the grandfather clock striking echoed from downstairs. It wasn’t until after eleven chimes that silence returned.
Scratch, scratch. Only the sound of her pen scratching against the paper tickled her ears.
However, it wasn’t long before Louisa sighed and set down her pen. Despite her efforts to underline and read the materials, she just couldn’t focus.
She knew her husband’s busy schedule well. That he would take the time to contact her in the midst of it.
She thought that would bring her peace of mind.
But Edward’s telegram, which she had received, brought more complex feelings than comfort.
‘Why didn’t you do this before? Do you know how hard it was for me to give up on you, and why are you shaking me now?’
At first, her eyes welled up with tears at the thought.
Just receiving that one piece of paper had been a few years of heartache, so very regrettable.
All the fights and tears were so heartbreaking.
But still, she was so delighted by her husband’s words on the telegram, happy that he cared enough to send it to her. So, she kept all of Edward’s telegrams in a small box in the drawer.
Just small scraps of paper that said he would be late and not to wait for him.
Leaning back in her chair, Louisa opened the top drawer. She took out a small box with a lapis lazuli inset.
She placed the box on top of the documents she was reading, rested her chin on one arm, and stared blankly at it.
This box was evidence of change. Not just a hunch based on uncertain feelings, but tangible, visible proof.
She found this change both awkward and welcome. And at the same time, resentful and frightening.
Her husband, who hadn’t changed for years, suddenly changed. He used to ignore her when she spoke, but now, he was different.
This change was nothing more than something alien to her, the one receiving it.
But what about him, the one making the change? How nervous must he be now to maintain this change?
Numerous questions filled her head.
If this hope turned out to be just an illusion, what would her heart be like then? Could she endure that pain firmly?
She oscillated between a future filled with hope and one shattered by it several times a day. Each time, contradictory emotions shook her, and eventually, she became too exhausted to think about anything.
That’s why she specifically came to her study, but even that didn’t go as planned.
“But still, I must.”
There was one thing she had learned through the long pain of the past.
No matter how hard it is, she mustn’t lose her own life. She had to maintain this balance to recover, even if in pain.
“So let’s try a little harder, Louisa.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy, but still.
She consoled herself.
After some time, Louisa, who had momentarily nodded off, opened her eyes again to find her desk, which had been bright enough for reading, now shrouded in darkness.
A shadow, backlit by the gas lamp, loomed in front of her.
Louisa looked up to see who it was.
“……Ed.”
Her husband was standing in front of her desk, looking down at her intently.
“Go to bed. Don’t wait up for me, that’s not what I meant.”
It was hard to gauge his expression with the light behind him, but from his voice, she could tell he was angry.
She straightened her posture and said, “Ah… sorry.”
“No need for that. You’ll do it anyway, even if I don’t like it.”
“I’m sorry. I meant to go to bed right after reading a bit more, but I lost track of time.”
It was true. She had no intention of deliberately staying up late to read documents in front of her husband.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s well past one.”
He pulled out a pocket watch and showed it to her. The hands pointed to 1:37 a.m. It was indeed late enough for him to be upset.
Edward spoke again.
“In this world…”
His sentence cut short. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Louisa stood up to face her husband.
“I sometimes feel you’re the one who mocks me the most.”
“I didn’t mean to, really.”
“Others just annoy me, but you, you torment me.”
“What are you talking about, Ed?”
Her husband disliked her doing things. So, she regretted showing him such a sight, but making such assumptions was crossing a line.
“Why would I torment you?”
Why am I doing this?
To change the world a little for you, to dull the blades people point at you, solely for that, she worked hard.
But saying this would only reopen his wounds, so she swallowed the unsaid words.
“Still, when I see you, I feel that way. Every time, as if on purpose, every time…”
Trampling and crushing.
Edward bit his lip hard.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
