Chapter 1456: Her Highness the Princess (2)

The male lead of this world was called Lü Qing—the very same newly crowned top scholar standing across from her, reciting love poems in an attempt to catch Tang Guo's attention.

The original host was the daughter of the Empress of Northern Xia and the younger sister of the Crown Prince, a princess of noble birth.

Northern Xia enjoyed peace and prosperity, and its military was powerful. There was no need for royal princesses to sacrifice themselves through political marriages.

Thus, she should have been considered a princess born in fortunate times.

Raised in luxury from childhood, all she needed was to choose a decent prince consort. As long as she committed no major mistakes, she could live a lifetime of wealth and honor.

The source of the original host's tragedy lay in choosing her husband.

When she reached marriageable age, Lü Qing appeared at just the right moment, bearing the title of the newly crowned top scholar.

He was handsome and exceptionally talented. Even a lofty princess could hardly help being moved by such a seemingly perfect man.

It was on this very day.

From inside her sedan chair, the original host saw Lü Qing standing amidst the crowd. He was so outstanding that none of the surrounding men could compare.

That single glance made her set her heart on him.

Afterward, the two became acquainted through poetry and paintings. They did not meet in person at first, and the original host never knew that Lü Qing had deliberately sought to attract her attention.

Through letters, the refined gentlemanly demeanor and talent that Lü Qing displayed only made her fall deeper in love.

She believed that Lü Qing was the perfect prince consort for her.

Thus, she informed the current Empress—her mother—that she had taken a liking to the new top scholar, Lü Qing.

The Empress was also rather satisfied with him and sent people to inquire whether he was already married.

Lü Qing answered honestly—or so it seemed.

“Lü Qing has devoted himself wholeheartedly to his studies and the pursuit of fame. I have not yet taken a wife.”

In reality, Lü Qing had long been married.

His children were already two or three years old.

He had devoted himself to the pursuit of official success, but later feared that traveling to the capital only when the examinations approached would leave him vulnerable to illness and other difficulties.

As it happened, the Lü family had a distant relative in the imperial capital. Upon witnessing Lü Qing's talent, the relative immediately offered him a fine residence and promised to support him until he obtained fame and office.

Such things were not uncommon.

For the sake of his future—and his pride—Lü Qing had always claimed that he was unmarried.

In truth, the reason he had married was because his family had become too poor to continue supporting his studies.

Before his parents passed away, worried about him, they arranged a marriage for him because he possessed some talent.

The bride was the female lead of this world, Lin Yuexiang.

However, she was a tragic heroine without any heavenly luck to protect her.

Lin Yuexiang's family ran a small business and had modest savings.

Impressed by Lü Qing's talent, they believed the two were well-matched.

At first, the couple lived lovingly together.

But gradually, Lü Qing came to regard Lin Yuexiang as nothing more than a crude village woman who could not even recognize a single character.

Though he never said it aloud, he had grown impatient with her.

Lin Yuexiang only thought that, as a scholar, Lü Qing naturally possessed some pride.

So she quietly took care of the household.

She believed wholeheartedly in his talent and was convinced he would one day pass the imperial examinations with honors. Thus, she always gave him the best food the family had.

Eventually, Lü Qing feared that his environment would affect his performance in the examinations. Coupled with the opportunity provided by his distant relative in the capital, he decided to move there early.

Lin Yuexiang naturally supported him.

She sold everything in the house that could be sold and even borrowed money from her parents, all because she feared Lü Qing might suffer hardship.

And so, Lü Qing went to rely on his relatives in the imperial capital.

This distant relative had no idea that Lü Qing was already married.