Speaking of this marriage, it was enough to make the listener grieve and the beholder weep.
Since no one cared, this eldest miss had been dragged all the way to the "advanced age" of nineteen still unmarried, on the verge of becoming a laughingstock in the Imperial City.
Originally, if no one had remembered her, she might have remained invisible forever. But according to the powerful "corrective force" of the plot, what was meant to come eventually came.
Gu Fang, courtesy name Nianqing, aged twenty-four, held the rank of Great Qian's Grand General. In the original novel, the various states surrounding Great Qian frequently violated the borders. Each general had a duty to defend their territory; they won and lost in turns, barely maintaining a dangerous balance. Only the Northern Frontier, where Gu Fang garrisoned, was the true lifeline of the nation.
The Northern Frontier's territory was vast, the situation complex, and its people were fierce and warlike. Before him, every general the court sent suffered successive defeats. At the most critical moment, the enemy cavalry's blades even pointed toward the Imperial City, shaking the entire nation.
Until Gu Fang burst onto the scene. Like a dazzling military star, he not only recovered all lost territory but also so thoroughly terrified the once-arrogant Northern Frontier people that they dared not graze their horses south again. For this unparalleled achievement, it was no exaggeration to say the people of Great Qian revered him as a savior.
Even more remarkable, the army under his command was strictly disciplined, never harassed the people, and in their spare time even helped the elderly, weak, women, and children near their garrisons—a miracle in ancient times where "bandits pass like a comb, soldiers like a fine-toothed rake." For soldiers disabled in battle, he always tried his best to properly settle them, ensuring heroes did not shed blood only to weep later.
The intertwined reputation of being invincible in battle, loving his soldiers like children, and protecting the people like family collectively forged Gu Fang's almost deified lofty image in the hearts of Great Qian's commoners.
No one knew what Gu Fang thought of being worshipped as a god by the people. But Lin Yi, as a reader, clearly knew that one person was extremely displeased about this—none other than the current emperor, Ying Xu.
Emperor Ying Xu was a thorough tyrant that even the words "incompetent and fatuous" couldn't fully describe. Under his "vigorous governance," Great Qian had successfully degenerated from a regional power into a weak nation, outwardly strong but inwardly withered, with an empty treasury, seen as a fat sheep by surrounding states. Had it not been for the original novel's protagonist, Prince Ning Ying Baichuan, who ultimately turned the tide, Great Qian's foundation would have nearly been ruined by him.
And in the book *Great Qian Under Heaven*, Gu Fang's tragic fate as the "chosen scapegoat" was clearly recorded.
Gu Fang was undefeated in a hundred battles in the Northern Frontier, his prestige at its zenith, winning the hearts of the people and the trust of all officials. The emperor tried several times to replace him but met with strong opposition from courtiers. From then on, the tyrant buried a deep, biting jealousy toward Gu Fang. How could a subject's prestige surpass that of the Son of Heaven?
Later, the Northern Frontier was thoroughly beaten by him into submission, voluntarily offering a surrender petition and begging to sign a treaty of eternal peace.
When the news reached the capital, the tyrant was overjoyed. In his shallow understanding, since the world was now at peace, this general whose merit overshadowed the sovereign was no longer useful. Just then, the tyrant's trusted eunuch offered a scheme.
And so, on the road back to the capital for rewards, Gu Fang "accidentally" encountered a rockslide, which shattered his legs.
A general with crippled legs could naturally no longer command the army.
The tyrant, with perfect justification, kept him in the Imperial City, euphemistically calling it "honorable retirement," but in truth, it was house arrest, leaving him to wither away. The once brilliant protector of the nation, from then on, in the corner of history, fell silent.
The one Lin Yi was to marry was none other than Gu Fang, the book's "first scapegoat."
According to the information she received, Gu Fang had just been "escorted" back to the Imperial City a few months ago. To show "the emperor's boundless grace," His Majesty specially sent Director Huang of the Imperial Hospital to personally treat him. But before the diagnosis was even finished, that Director Huang was already shaking his head repeatedly, his expression so grave that the watching civilians' hearts sank halfway, all thinking their grand general might not survive this.
Somehow, the rumor "General Gu doesn't have long to live" spread like wildfire through the Imperial City. The people were filled with anxiety, fearing that if this guardian deity of the Northern Frontier fell, no one could withstand the enemy's iron hooves.
The people were restless, and the one on the dragon throne was even more guilt-ridden, terrified that the truth would leak and cause turmoil. In this time of widespread worry, who knows which clever person had a brainstorm and proposed the ancient method of "chongxi"—a wedding to ward off bad luck.
Once proposed, this idea unexpectedly gained unanimous approval from both court and populace. After all, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Thus, Lin Yi, the neglected eldest miss of the Minister's Mansion, was honored to be chosen as the chongxi bride.
To be honest, Lin Yi had no ill feelings toward this unknown general; she even admired him a bit. She had heard that before his crippling, he was not only illustrious in battle but also handsome, with a face like jade.
"Marrying him is fine," Lin Yi mused to herself. "Even if the rumors are wrong and he's ugly, so what? He doesn't seem like he'll live long anyway. I shouldn't bicker with a dying man. Plus, this is a chance to escape the Minister's Mansion."
The only thing that irked her was the timing—so rushed that she had to marry the day after tomorrow. It was like death was urging her along!
--
Time suddenly jumped to the wedding day two days later.
Perhaps due to the hasty preparations, the whole wedding was chaotic. Lin Yi felt like a puppet, pushed and pulled through all the rituals by the crowd, until she was sent into the General's Mansion, still in a daze.
During the bowing ceremony, she saw her legendary husband, Gu Fang, for the first time.
Gu Fang's appearance was even more fleeting and awkward than hers. At least she had a matchmaker to guide her, but Gu Fang was practically carried through the ceremony by two sturdy servants, one on each side. Through the gap in her red veil, Lin Yi only caught a glimpse of a pale silhouette. The once awe-inspiring general of the Northern Frontier now seemed as fragile as a candle in the wind.
After the ceremony, Lin Yi was led to a decorated bridal chamber to sit alone. Once her tense nerves relaxed, a wave of hunger hit her like an avalanche, leaving her dizzy.
Fortunately, she had prepared. In the two days before the wedding, she quickly bonded with her personal maid, Xiao Zhu, and instructed her to bring some pastries for emergencies.
Now, Lin Yi lowered her voice and tentatively called, "Xiao Zhu? Xiao Zhu?"
A figure flickered, and sure enough, Xiao Zhu appeared before her, like a magician, deftly pulling out several oil-paper packets from her sleeves and bosom, filled with various delicate pastries.
Lin Yi picked up an almond cake, her thoughts already drifting far away.
The Earth Consciousness had said there would be fellow countrymen from Earth here, all with decent identities. Theoretically, she could get in touch with them. But how to identify them was a problem. She recalled the time-travel novels she had read, where protagonists often covered their identity by losing memory or having a drastic personality change after a serious illness. That might be a clue.
"First, I need Xiao Zhu to ask around," Lin Yi thought while nibbling the pastry. "Has anyone in Great Qian recently started behaving strangely or become a completely different person after recovering from an illness?" Then she reconsidered: It's fine if I can't find them. If I happen to meet incompetent allies, it would be more trouble.
More pressing was the task promised to the Earth Consciousness: improving the survival rate of this era. As a woman in the inner quarters, she was too restricted to get anything done. She only had two paths: either forge an identity and work alone. The advantage was freedom to act; the disadvantage was obvious: no connections, no network—a woman alone in ancient times, too risky. Or she could rely on her new husband, Grand General Gu Fang's power. The advantage was that his prestige and authority could make her work twice as effective; the disadvantage was that if he wasn't a good person, she would be courting disaster, possibly ending up worse than dying old in the inner quarters.
Weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, Lin Yi became lost in thought, forgetting even the pastry in her hand, her gaze gradually going blank, completely unaware that a tall figure, leaning on a cane, stood silently by the doorframe, his deep gaze having rested on her for a long time.
By the time Lin Yi leisurely finished the last piece of pastry, the red candles in the room had burned more than halfway. She snapped out of it, subconsciously reaching for another piece, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught an extra shadow in front of her. Lin Yi looked up.
Wow.
Lin Yi's mind went blank. All the poems and verses she had ever learned evaporated in an instant, leaving only the most straightforward and shocking two words.
The candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow on the person standing at the door. The man was tall and slender. Even though he had to prop himself up with effort on his cane, his back remained straight as a rod. His face was exquisitely handsome, as if not of this world—deep brows and eyes, a high nose bridge, thin lips slightly pursed—all combined into a breathtaking beauty, like an immaculate jade polished by wind and snow.
The rumored "face like jade" was now vividly presented before Lin Yi's eyes, far surpassing her imagination. Lin Yi stared, dumbfounded, her breathing unconsciously lightening.
"I am undeserving of your kindness, my lady," a low male voice interrupted Lin Yi's daze.
"Huh? What did you say?" Lin Yi jolted back to reality. Seeing the man still struggling with his cane, she felt a pang of pity and blurted out, "Do you want to sit down first? Isn't standing like that tiring?" As soon as she spoke, she remembered she had already taken off her veil without permission and quickly added, "Oh, right! Sorry, sorry! I took off the veil myself. Should I put it back on and let you lift it?"
Leaning on his cane, Gu Fang slowly sat down on the stool opposite her and shook his head slightly. "No need. I don't mind such formalities." He looked up at Lin Yi, his eyes carrying a hint of apology. "I'm sorry. This marriage was not what either of us wanted. I have no intention of dragging you down. If you are unwilling, I will not damage your honor or chastity. Once the storm passes, we can divorce and return your freedom."
"Huh?" Lin Yi hadn't expected him to be so candid and considerate. She was stunned for a moment, then answered honestly, "I don't feel dragged down. Since you knew about the marriage, you must have inquired about my situation, right? It's better than staying in the Minister's Mansion as a nobody. Besides," Lin Yi looked at Gu Fang, her tone sincere to the point of bluntness, "you're so handsome. Marrying you, I think I'm the one who got the better deal."
Gu Fang clearly hadn't expected such an answer. He looked slightly startled, momentarily speechless.
"Let's just get along for a while. We're already married anyway," Lin Yi pressed on. Divorce? That was absolutely not in her plan. She had already found out that if they divorced, she'd most likely be sent back to the Minister's Mansion. Right now, she had no power or influence, and she couldn't move an inch in her natal home. Only by staying in the General's Mansion could she have room to maneuver.
Gu Fang's expression was complicated. He still wanted to dissuade her. "But..."
"Does the General have someone in his heart?" Lin Yi immediately switched her expression, her brows furrowed slightly, a touch of calculated pitifulness in her eyes.
"Just call me Gu Fang," he quickly explained, his tone a little helpless. "I don't have a lover. It's just that I am now disabled, a burden. The Director of the Imperial Hospital has even declared my days are numbered. If I pass away one day, how will you manage alone in this world?"
Lin Yi waved her hand dismissively. "There's always a way. Where there's a will, there's a way. General, why be so pessimistic? Maybe we are fated to be together, a match made in heaven."
Perhaps it was the first time he had encountered such bluntness. Gu Fang didn't respond, but his ears visibly turned a delicate red.
Lin Yi watched in amazement, her heart bursting with joy. He was such an innocent man! In her past life, she had been weighed down by the burdens of survival; when did she ever have the chance to tease a handsome man? Now, having time-traveled, she had been gifted such a wow-worthy husband. She was determined to let herself go all the way. After all, the Earth Consciousness had promised she could painlessly "log out" anytime; she had no worries about the future—only the benefits in front of her were real.
Thinking this, Lin Yi immediately put on a perfectly serious expression, looking at Gu Fang with clear eyes, the word "husband" rolling off her tongue with ease: "Husband, I think tonight you shouldn't sleep on that narrow small couch. It can't be comfortable. Why not share the bed with me? Don't worry, I'm a very good sleeper. If you're afraid I might accidentally touch your injury, tell me where it is, and I'll be careful to avoid it. I won't move recklessly."
"...No need. I'm fine. You can sleep peacefully," Gu Fang said, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
Lin Yi ignored his polite refusal. Taking his words as tacit consent, she got into action right away. She was exhausted from the whole wedding day, and right now she needed the handsome man beside her to recharge. So she immediately pulled Gu Fang to lie down.
After lying down, in the quiet darkness, Lin Yi restlessly whispered a proposal, "Husband, can I hold your hand while I sleep?" As if afraid he would refuse, Lin Yi quickly put on a pitiful tone again: "Husband, I just arrived at this new place, and I feel very uneasy."
Upon hearing this, Gu Fang seemed to close his eyes in silent resignation. After a moment of silence, he finally relented, his voice low with a hint of helplessness: "As you wish."
Goal achieved! Lin Yi contentedly clasped Gu Fang's slightly warm hand, her fingertips inadvertently stroking the back of his hand a couple of times, savoring the real sensation. Mmm, first day, shouldn't rush things. Just holding a small hand to satisfy her craving was enough.
Lin Yi curled her lips in satisfaction. Accompanying the shallow breathing of the person beside her and the warmth of his palm, she drifted into a beautiful sleep.