One woman, two men (the heroine is inexperienced, the men are not)
The domineering Grand Princess Shen Liyue + Chancellor Mo Lingchuan + newly crowned top scholar Xiao Yichen
Rumor had it that the young Grand Princess Shen Liyue wielded absolute power and was completely insane. She had once ordered a palace consort and the maids who joined her in a scheme beaten to death. That palace had since become a genuine haunted house. When she came of age, she had led her soldiers in a massacre. More recently, she had taken up a new hobby: romantic liaisons, one after another. Her lovers all bore a striking resemblance to Mo Lingchuan, the chancellor of the realm. Mo Lingchuan craved Shen Liyue's youth and had an endless appetite for her. Their intimate encounters were more like transactions, each taking what they wanted.
Then word spread that the chancellor would marry the beloved daughter of the Minister of Revenue. Not long afterward, the Grand Princess announced that she would choose a consort, and had already settled on the newly crowned top scholar, Xiao Yichen, a very handsome man.
Chancellor Mo Lingchuan said, “I also have the key to the late emperor's secret decree. Stay with me for two years. You must not marry during that time, and after two years, I'll give you the token.”
Grand Princess Shen Liyue thought for a moment, then replied as if the matter were of no consequence, “All right.”
It was a good deal. She would get what she wanted, and it would give the younger version of herself closure. After that, they would have nothing more to do with each other. On the day of the chancellor's wedding, the Grand Princess and her future consort came to offer their congratulations.
“Yichen, by this time next year, we should be just like them today, joined in a happy marriage.”
“Let's drink to the chancellor. May you enjoy a long and happy marriage, see all your wishes come true, and be blessed with more children, more blessings.”
Mo Lingchuan's face turned ashen. “What, Chancellor? Unhappy about your wedding?”
He said nothing more and turned to leave. Shen Liyue had chosen Xiao Yichen simply because she had abandoned their old agreement and found a new way forward: Xiao Yichen also possessed a token that could command the army.
