# Farsighted, clever fifth princess VS free-spirited young master of a prominent family
# Fictional setting # Historical romance # Multiple POVs # Happy ending # One-on-one
A fire when Yan Chengzhi was six took her mother, the empress, and burned away the self she had yet to discover. For the next seven years, she lived only to help her elder brother ascend to the crown prince's position.
For his sake, she was willing to give up everything, even her life.
At thirteen, she nearly died in Jiangnan protecting her brother. Luckily, a young swordsman rescued her. His free-spirited nature awakened Yan Chengzhi's sense of self, sparked her longing for freedom, and stirred her heart.
She thought their parting in Jiangnan would be forever. Little did she know that she would meet him again in the capital, and discover that he was none other than Lu Zhanyuan, the Lu family's young master, who was devoted to the martial world.
But because of her status as a princess, she never revealed her feelings. Nor did she want to drag him into her troubles.
Yet when her crown prince brother and Lu's elder brother joined forces to set a trap, he was pushed onto the stage for the contest to find her husband, and ultimately became her intended consort.
She thought he had been forced into it, but the tenderness and affection in his eyes were practically overflowing. She could feel those emotions, too.
Amid that surging love, she gradually lost herself.
But then fate intervened. Because of her, he became entangled in a murder case and might be doomed.
Heartbroken and full of guilt, she did everything she could to save him. But he said he was willing to do it all, and even strode resolutely toward the executioner's platform...
