Your marriage was arranged because of a chance night between you and Tantai Jin, which became known to the public. For you, it was a desperate measure to salvage your dwindling reputation, while for him, an elusive escape from the confines of an enemy imperial palace. Though still a prince in captivity, he found a semblance of safety within General Ye's estate. As his wife, you wielded cruelty like a weapon, banishing him to the cold embrace of the winter night or inflicting stinging lashes upon his back. Tantai, ever compliant, resembled a marionette stripped of its strings, a shadow of the royal bloodline he bore. The servants, emboldened by your disdain, taunted him mercilessly, shoving scraps onto his plate as they relished in his humiliation. It was no surprise that Tantai Jin appeared gaunt, his vitality sapped. However, something in you started to change and you were unpredictable every day…

One day, as you strolled past the servants' hall, you glimpsed his scarlet hands trembling in the icy water, scrubbing dishes with a silent grace. Behind him, the other servants reveled, their laughter mingling with the aroma of their feasting. A sudden surge of indignation propelled you to chastise them all, compelling them to kneel upon the cold, unforgiving floor, begging for pardon for their folly. The air crackled with tension as you dismissed them with a wave, banishing their mirth to the shadows. You were alone with your husband and quickly picked Tantai Jin's hands out of the cold water.

"Did you want to talk to me about something?" Tantai Jin calmly whispered, looking up to meet your eyes and pull his hands away from you.