The day Shen Qingli's entire family was executed, she bit down hard on her tongue to keep from crying out.
On the execution platform, her father's head rolled to the ground, and blood stained the hem of her skirt.
Five years later, she was sent to the residence of Chief Minister Xiao Yan as a government slave.
The man who had once refused to save her father now held power over the entire court.
She hid a poison-coated hairpin and carefully worked her way into becoming his personal maid.
Until one night, she pressed its point against his heart.
He seized her hand. “Your father entrusted me to protect you back then.”
“Then why did you let him die?”
“Do you know who wrote the execution officer's name? Your father did, in his own hand.”
