Shen Zhaoning, Princess Yong'an of Daliang, was forced to marry after the fall of the country and married Pei Xuandu, the "sick son" of Beichen.
On the wedding day, the consort coughed up blood and fainted. She built a wall with cold eyes, lived in a separate house with him, and did not share three meals with him for three years.
She thought he was just a good-for-nothing who could be bullied - until the death of Emperor Beichen, he tore off his disguise in the palace and killed twelve political opponents in one night.
"Princess, I remember the humiliation of the past three years." He held the blade she stabbed with, blood dripping from his hand.
Only then did she realize that the fall of Daliang, the tragic death of her father, and the three-year marriage were all his fault.
She hates him to the core, but she has to join forces with him - because some people want to kill him, and some people want to kill her.
They live in the same house and have their own plans. She grows crabapples on this side of the wall, and he grows her favorite tea on the other side of the wall.
She thought she wouldn't be tempted - until he blocked an arrow for her and said, "I owe you what I owe you, and I will repay it with my life."
But when she finally let go of her hatred, she discovered that her most trusted adviser, Xie Heng, was his pawn.
She thought this was the greatest betrayal - but she didn't know that the greater price was yet to come.
Zhao Qingfeng died fighting for her, Gu Changqing died of illness in his arms, and Empress Dowager Xie burned herself in the palace.
The young emperor Xiao Yun took the initiative to take the Zen position, and the last words he said to him were: "Uncle, don't be a loner."
Pei Xuandu won the world, but lost to her.
Shen Zhaoning won freedom, but lost to him.
At the end, she stood in the ruins and asked him: "Is it worth it?"
"It's not worth it," he said. "But there's no turning back."
She said: "Then I will lay one for you."
