Autumn Chill Among the Paulownia Leaves

[Multiple secret identities, cross-dressing as a man, palace and household intrigue, failing to recognize each other, happy ending]

“Take off your clothes!” Leng Shuang ordered.

The man was stunned. He stared at Leng Shuang in terror, covering his chest with his hands as he stammered, “I-I’m not into men!”

Leng Shuang had already taken off her coat, revealing a white robe underneath. “Hurry! There’s no time!”

As she spoke, she started pulling off his clothes.

“I’d rather die than be with you...”

Before he could finish, Leng Shuang had already pressed his hand against her chest.

He stared blankly into Leng Shuang’s eyes. She was a woman!

The man hastily pulled his hand away in shock.

“You... you’re a woman?”

“Stop talking! Hurry, or we’ll both die.”

“My name is Zheng Ping’an, the third young master of the Zheng Duke’s household in the capital. I’ll take responsibility for you. If you’re willing, I’ll marry you.”

Lin Wuye, the young lady of the Lin household, had her father murdered and was driven from home by her stepmother, left to wander far from home. She was rescued by Leng Qinghan, the son of a disgraced official, who gave her the name Leng Shuang. He taught her martial arts and treated her as family.

Chen Qiuming, the son of the Lin household steward, was attacked by bandits while traveling. His father was killed, and he fell off a cliff. Rescued by Zheng Zhong of the Zheng household, he was adopted and renamed Zheng Ping’an. Zheng Zhong came to dote on him.

Lin Wuye and Chen Qiuming both bore the burden of avenging their fathers. As adults, they began searching for their enemies under their new identities. Chen Qiuming also quietly searched for Lin Wuye, who had been missing for years.

Leng Qinghan’s father was a powerful general responsible for guarding the frontier. Zheng Zhong plotted to have him killed in order to weaken his influence. Leng Qinghan narrowly escaped and began his path of revenge.