Zhou Youqing and the Heir of Prince An grew up together and were betrothed as children.
At the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, Xie Xingqi caught the eye of the willful Sixth Princess.
The emperor issued an imperial decree ordering them to marry on an auspicious day.
That very day, Xie Xingqi stormed into the imperial study with the decree in hand, vehemently declaring that he would rather die than marry the princess.
The emperor flew into a rage, and Xie Xingqi was forced to endure fifty strokes of the rod for defying the imperial decree.
As he was carried back to the residence, covered in blood, he smiled at Zhou Youqing and said:
“Don’t cry. Our wedding is still on.”
Three months later, the two got their wish and married.
But just as she was hoping to spend her life with this man, his only younger sister died at her hands.
From then on, love turned to hatred.
He personally ordered Zhou Youqing confined to her quarters, where she remained for five years
