A Thousand Pieces of Gold for One Smile

Gu Miao, daughter of the prime minister, is known in public as the capital’s most talented and refined young lady. In private, however, she has a very low threshold for laughter and an endless stream of sarcastic inner commentary. An imperial decree arranges her marriage to Huo Yan, the Prince of Zhenbei, who is famous for his ruthless nature.

On their wedding night, Huo Yan unexpectedly gains the ability to read minds, opening the door to a whole new world.

He gives her a stern lecture, and she thinks, “He’s just like that grumpy lion cat I used to have. Hahaha!”

He encounters an assassin. She looks alarmed, but thinks, “That assassin moves like a moth flapping around!”

He tries to assert his authority. She looks obedient, but thinks, “Of course I’m doing this because of the imperial decree. It’s not because you’re handsome... though, okay, you are pretty handsome.”

From then on, Huo Yan’s life goal changes from building a grand empire to figuring out how to stop his princess consort from laughing herself to death. First comes anger and despair, then curiosity, and finally: “Why has she stopped laughing? What can I do to make her laugh again?”

When an icy, ruthless man meets a volcano of joy, all his posturing crumbles amid her inner laughter. Huo Yan discovers that the noisy chaos illuminating his gloomy world is a priceless treasure beyond all measure.