Chapter 1: A Proposal Most Inconvenient

The morning Shen Ruoxi decided to commit social suicide, she woke up to a letter informing her that her engagement to Lord Pei — a man with the personality of wet paper and the conversational skills of a decorative vase — had been formally approved by both families and was to proceed to wedding within the month.

She read the letter three times. Then she read it a fourth time, hoping the words would rearrange themselves into something more survivable.

They did not.

She had two options. The first was to comply, marry Lord Pei, and spend the rest of her life slowly losing the will to exist. The second was more creative.

General Zhao Mingzhan had returned to the capital two weeks ago. He was, by all accounts, a man of iron discipline, fearsome military reputation, and absolutely no interest in court politics or marriage. He had turned down seven noble families in the past year alone.

He was perfect.

Ruoxi arrived at his estate at dawn, before his household was properly awake, and talked her way past three layers of guards using a combination of confidence and the complete refusal to accept the word "no."

She found the general in his courtyard, running through sword forms in the early morning light. He stopped when he saw her. He looked at her for a long moment with the expression of a man calculating how much trouble this was about to cause him.

"Lady Shen," he said. "You should not be here."

"I need to hire you," she said.

"I am not for hire."

"I need to pretend to be married to you for approximately three months."

He stared at her.

"I will pay extremely well," she added.

The sword went back in its sheath. "Come inside," said General Zhao. "I need tea for this conversation."