She was once the world's greatest master of incense, famous across the Nine Provinces for her peony fragrance.
For him, she exhausted the foundations of her art and defied fate.
For him, she leapt from a cliff thousands of feet high, choosing death over becoming a tool of the enemy.
Beyond being her beloved, he was the fated emperor, the only person in the world who could bring peace and prosperity to the land and happiness to its people.
As she died in his arms, she said, "Xiao Yan, you did nothing wrong. This world is simply too cruel."
Cradling her body, he died of a broken heart.
When she opened her eyes again, she was nineteen.
The foundations of her incense art were intact, and the fragrance of peonies still lingered.
In this life, she wouldn't rush to take revenge, save anyone, or fall in love with him.
First, she would win.
But he came after her.
He said, "In our past life, you saved my life, and I saved yours. We're even. In this life, neither of us owes the other anything. We owe each other a lifetime together."
She said, "Let's take it slow."
He said, "I'll wait."
But waiting for them were soul-locking incense in the Empress Dowager's palace, the Third Prince's blade honed over ten years, and deadly plots at court where every step could be their last.
In their past life, they lost to fate.
In this life...
She would defeat time. But he had already waited a whole year for her.
"Shen Jinye, I'm not trying to atone. I just want to live alongside you."
"Then let's talk after we win."
"All right. But before we win, can we at least hold hands?"
