[Strong female lead + not mutually devoted + leveling-up System + face-slapping + revenge + unhinged prince + powerhouse + satisfying read + gloomy, sickly young emperor]
Shangguan Yiren transmigrated.
She became a saintly white lotus, used as a target by her half-sister, coddled into ruin by her stepmother, and looked down on by the families considering her for marriage. The transmigrated Shangguan Yiren said: [Stepmother, you are a concubine, while my mother was the principal wife. You cannot overstep your station.]
[Father, my sister didn't do it by accident. She did it on purpose.]
[Heir Wen, I want you to admit in front of everyone that you're the one who isn't good enough for me.]
The white lotus transformed into the ruthless Shangguan Yiren and crushed everyone in her path. If someone crossed her, she'd beat them until they begged for mercy.
But what was going on with these two?
When someone picked on Shangguan Yiren, the young emperor summoned his secret guards and ordered,
[How dare she damage the toy I have my eye on? She will pay for this.]
Seeing the adoration in Shangguan Yiren's eyes, the young emperor convinced himself,
[So this woman likes me that much. I'll protect her a little.]
When the sinister prince imprisoned her in a secret chamber,
[You can only be mine. You'll never escape me in this life.]
He tormented her mercilessly.
The young emperor said, [I like you for who you are, nothing else. As long as you stay by my side, I'll grant you anything.]
When Shangguan Yiren prepared to sneak away,
The young emperor's eyes reddened.
[Have I been a burden to you? It's my fault. I shouldn't have hoped you'd stay for me. I was just being foolish. Leave me to grow old alone.]
[There is no one in this world who loves me.]
[Go. Don't look back. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from... killing you.]
Shangguan Yiren took one look at the young emperor's gloomy expression. Fine, she might as well bring this little schemer along.
