Du Qin'er, the eldest legitimate daughter of a general's household, should have enjoyed every privilege. Instead, reality is brutally cruel. Her father followed her grandfather, the veteran General Du, fearlessly onto the battlefield, but a war injury left him with a leg ailment and ended his days as a soldier. The general's household, once glorious, now has little more than an empty title to show for its former splendor.
At court, their political rival, Prime Minister Qin, and his family watch them like hawks. They even plot to marry Du Qin'er off to Prince Kang, the son of Dowager Consort Qin, hoping to bring the Du family completely under their control. How could Old Madam Du let her granddaughter fall into such a trap? Drawing on her deep friendship with the Grand Empress Dowager, she does everything she can to send Du Qin'er into the palace.
New to palace life, Du Qin'er knows how treacherous people can be. To keep a low profile, she cleverly avoids favor and plays the fool twice. This only earns the emperor's displeasure, making her life in the palace increasingly difficult. Everyone thinks she will fade into obscurity, but fate can turn in an instant.
On the Grand Empress Dowager's orders, Du Qin'er copies scriptures in the Scripture Pavilion. There, she meets a young eunuch who calls himself “Changfu.” Quick-witted and amusing, Changfu treats Du Qin'er with great care. They grow close, and she gradually opens her heart to him. But fate has a startling joke in store: when the truth comes out, “Changfu” turns out to be the emperor in disguise!
By then, Du Qin'er has already captured the emperor's heart!
Meanwhile, Prince Kang burns with jealousy over Du Qin'er and plots to join forces with the Crown Prince of the Southern Kingdom to seize power by force, all so he can win the beauty he desires.
A fierce struggle unfolds, one that will decide both the fate of the realm and the fate of love.
The realm and true love collide like ice and fire; sincerity and deceit intertwine like mist and haze.
Together, it all weaves a breathtaking tale of a general's daughter and imperial power!
Stable writing style! The main plot is clear, I quite like it.