The Song of Everlasting Joy (Melody of Golden Age)

Also known as Chang Le Qu or The Song of Everlasting Joy, this story is set in the second year of the Shengli era. During this time, the Empress began appointing female officials. Zhu Yan, the illegitimate daughter of the Zhu family, learned various skills and joined the Ministry of Justice, becoming a ninth-rank clerk. However, due to her elder sister's elopement, she was compelled by her father's desperate pleas to marry Shen Du, the head of the Imperial Guards, in her sister's place.

On the first day of their marriage, Shen Du drew his sword and laid down three "impossible expectations" for her: First, she should not dream of becoming the true Madam Shen, as their marriage was in name only. Second, she should not expect to extract any information from him, as he was aware that Zhu Yan was a spy sent by the Li family. Third, she should not hope to survive in the Shen household for more than three months, as he vowed to kill her himself. Zhu Yan remained silent in response.