She is the most treasured “glass ornament” of the Beichen Dynasty, Yun Qingniao, the legitimate daughter of the Yun family. Frail and delicate, she is the apple of her father and brothers’ eyes and the Empress Dowager’s darling. The entire capital sees her as a canary that might shatter at the slightest touch. Little do they know that beneath this pitiful, sickly exterior lies a brilliant mind that leaves nothing to chance. A magnolia hairpin elegantly holds up her dark tresses, concealing its secrets; a silk handkerchief wipes the blood from her lips, revealing the edge beneath.
He is the sharpest “Emberfrost Blade” in the emperor’s hand: Prince Jing, Hua Mu. Cold and ruthless, his past a mystery, he regards love as meaningless. In an “accidental” rescue from drowning, he senses the currents hidden beneath her calm pulse; in a carefully staged battle to the death, he catches a glimpse of the sharpness behind her gentle eyes. They first meet in the water, his dark armor stained with blood. His icy gaze fixed on her, he says, “Biting your tongue to pretend you’re weak? What a trick, Miss.” Reclining against her bed, she smiles as a cold glint flashes from the tip of her magnolia hairpin. “Not as ruthless as you, Prince, diving underwater to search for evidence.”
When noble family intrigue collides with political machinations, when the “sickly darling” drops her disguise, when the “cold-faced lord of the underworld” feels his heart stir... She uses her frail body as a chess piece, stirring the winds of the realm amid brocade and splendor; he uses his iron resolve as a shield, protecting her through every peril. From testing one another to entrusting each other with their lives, from plotting behind the scenes to standing side by side. Why does the blue, venomous blood she coughs up burn less when she meets his mismatched eyes? What deadly connection does the secret of the previous dynasty that he bears have to her mother, who died young?
See how this seemingly fragile daughter of the Yun family, as ethereal as clouds and mist, uses her keen wits to quietly claim a place in that cold, guarded heart. Together, they will compose a breathtaking tale of peace and prosperity amid a million-word saga of political intrigue!
This book is really good to read. Although the female protagonist is in poor health, she is clear-headed and scheming. She is my favorite type. The male protagonist is also skilled and capable. Highly recommended