Tempting Xiao Man: The Grand Court Secretary Has Been Plotting for Ages

A marriage contract sealed away for years is a past she has forgotten, but for him, it is a carefully planned stepping stone.

Lin Xiaoman, daughter of Yong'an's wealthy silk merchant, lives a comfortable, carefree life and long ago forgot her childhood engagement to Pei Yan, a young vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review. That changes when the handsome, sharp-witted Lord Pei arrives at her door with the marriage contract in hand. Claiming to be investigating the suspicious fire that destroyed a silk shop three years ago, he moves into the Lin household with every appearance of propriety.

“Help me investigate the case. Once it's solved, the engagement is off, and I'll explain everything to your uncle myself.” Pei Yan's offer seems fair. Desperate for her freedom, Lin Xiaoman grits her teeth and agrees. One carefully advances step by step in pursuit of the truth behind an old case; the other does everything possible to end their engagement.

But as they uncover secrets in the ledgers, test each other in the dead of night, and stumble into unexpected danger, the deeper their investigation goes, the more they realize the fire is tied to the betrayal of loved ones, official corruption, and even the imperial family! The mastermind turns out to be someone closest to them.

Amid their tests of truth and lies and the dangers they face side by side, forgotten feelings quietly return. When he takes an unseen arrow for her, and she sees the concern beneath his calm exterior, the sincerity buried beneath their contract can no longer be hidden. By the time the truth comes to light, the “contract to annul their engagement” in their hands has already become the “vow” neither wishes to relinquish for the rest of their lives. The emperor himself grants them a match with his imperial decree. This time, theirs is a destined reunion and a life together they both choose wholeheartedly.