[All-powerful, dark and unhinged eunuch of the highest rank] vs. [sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, outwardly gentle yet inwardly strong princess]
[1v1, both leads are each other’s only ones, forced love + rekindled love + a touch of palace intrigue + a touch of political scheming + everyday life]
Princess Pei Chongjin of the Yi Dynasty had a secret everyone knew: she had fallen in love with the one person she should never have loved, Shen Ruhui, the Eastern Depot’s Chief Eunuch and the Directorate of Ceremonial’s chief secretary.
In the eighth year of Tianshou, a heavy snowfall blanketed the capital. The snow was piled thick enough to cover their ankles. Pei Chongjin was crouching by the wall when a snowball hit Shen Ruhui in the face. She dusted off her hands, then looked up. The newcomer wore a jade belt and a flying-fish robe, with a face as handsome as a polished jade.
Pei Chongjin was captivated. Her heart seemed to miss a beat. She pursued Shen Ruhui relentlessly, earning a notorious reputation throughout the capital for her shameless, wanton behavior that made everyone despise her.
“Princess Shouning is worse than a brothel girl. She won’t even leave a eunuch alone.”
The adoration in her eyes dimmed, and her smile froze. As she looked at Shen Ruhui’s mocking gaze, her face burned painfully, though it was the coldest part of winter.
Head bowed, she wandered out through the Meridian Gate, not knowing where she was going along the foot of the city wall. The fish-patterned jade pendant in her hand felt like a burning coal. She hurled it against the red palace wall. Shards of jade flew everywhere, cutting her cheek.
She hid herself away in the Princess’s residence until red silk adorned the entire estate and eight bearers carried her sedan chair through the top scholar’s gates. She had once believed that a respectful, harmonious marriage with the top scholar would be the best life she could hope for. But the door to the bridal chamber was kicked open, and when she opened her eyes again, her arms and legs were bound in chains. In the darkness, she uncovered Shen Ruhui’s secret, a secret powerful enough to get his entire clan executed.
“Shen Ruhui, which of us is more despicable?”
