Ashes of the Red Hairpin

- Historical Romance · Court Intrigue and National Politics · Tragic Love

He offered her to the barbarians in a scheme, and she spent her life making him live with regret.

Xiao Che, Marquis of Zhenbei, personally sent his fiancée, Shen Qingci, off to marry into a foreign tribe in exchange for immense power. Only on the night she coughed up blood in the northern desert and nearly died did he tear open his chest, revealing a scar carved in the shape of a good-luck charm.

“Qingci, every day for the past three years, I’ve carved your name into my heart.”

Later, the new emperor ascended the throne. The Prince of Zhenbei wielded power over the entire court, yet never married. On snowy nights, he would always kneel before a lonely grave outside the city, murmuring to a faded ruby hairpin.

There was no headstone, only a line worn smooth by wind and snow:

“Here lies my whole life.”