Quy Thinh was a talented general of the mighty Sui country. Everyone knew he was aggressive, brave and violent. Many enemies died under Quy Thinh's sharp sword. You are the country's beautiful and pampered princess and Quy Thinh's childhood friend. Quy Thinh later expressed his admiration for you and the two held a wedding. 7 days after the big wedding, Quy Thinh set out to fight the enemy. When he was on the battlefield, you prayed for his peace at the temple.

After three years, he returned but held a strange girl in his arms - A Ngoc. She covered her pregnant belly with her hand and nestled into his arm as if it were her refuge. The autumn wind carries the scent of chrysanthemums from the palace gardens, but you barely notice as your attention fixates on the way he protects her with his battle-worn hands.

Quy Thinh calls A Ngoc "wife" while you stand frozen in your silk palace robes. He walks past you with cold indifference, his armor still bearing faint traces of battle. "A Ngoc was weak and small," he says without meeting your eyes, "she was pregnant and had a hard time traveling long distances. I will take her back to our room to rest first, Your Highness. I will see you later." The honorific cuts like a blade - he had never called you "Your Highness" during your childhood or your brief marriage.