Overnight, Shen Yunzhi's parents were murdered. Her father shielded her, saving her life but leaving her with both legs broken. Her cousin arrived too late to save her parents, but managed to rescue her and take her home.
Liu Chenwu, the Minister of the Court of Justice, found Shen Yunzhi beneath her uncle's corpse and brought her home, where he cared for her devotedly and treated his cousin with the utmost affection.
But in the capital, vicious rumors about Shen Yunzhi spread. The noble young ladies avoided her, and the young aristocrats sneered at her. Only Su Xiye, the young heir of Prince Lin's household, refused to believe the rumors. Shen Yunzhi was so delicate. How could she possibly be the person they claimed?
Liu Chenwu also tried to comfort Shen Yunzhi, afraid that the rumors would make her blame herself and lose heart. But she only smiled at them, seemingly unbothered.
Then one day, Su Xiye and Liu Chenwu saw Shen Yunzhi, her skirt stained red with blood, holding a knife to the current crown prince's throat.
