The imperial house was in decline, and military men had seized power. The old emperor intended to marry off a princess to forge a bond with the General's residence and secure decades of peace for the kingdom.
Princess Li Mu's birth mother had died early, leaving her without the backing of a powerful maternal clan. While everyone else was terrified of being married off, she volunteered to accept the arranged marriage, leaving them all in an uproar.
The emperor was delighted and promised her a generous dowry. He also ordered the imperial fleet to sail south by sea and escort the princess to her wedding.
But the princess's ship ran into ruthless pirates, and Li Mu herself was captured by their leader.
The news sent the capital into an uproar.
The Ninth Princess, Li Mu, came from an unremarkable family branch. After spending eighteen years anxiously navigating life in the palace, she was finally to be married off. She had treasured the marriage contract everyone else dreaded, never imagining that an accident would waylay her and that she would be abducted before the wedding.
The day she was taken to the pirates' island, her eyes blurred with tears and her heart filled with panic. She felt there was no way back!
With her eyes red-rimmed, she watched helplessly as the young pirate chieftain approached.
Liang Qi wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye and gazed at her tenderly. “A Mu, don't be afraid. It's me...”
