Shen Luxi fooled the entire capital for three years and had never once been caught.
Until she cast a fortune for the regent, a man who killed without batting an eye: “Your Highness, you will find love within three days.”
The next day, an imperial edict of marriage arrived. It named her as his bride.
She ran. Feigning illness, climbing over walls, disguising herself to leave the city: she tried to escape three times and was caught three times. The Black Armored Guards even had hot tea ready for her. “Your Highness, the prince says to keep warm on the road.”
Cornered atop a wall, she looked down at the regent as he gazed up at her. “Why are you running?”
“Because you've killed people!”
He fell silent for a moment. “Then would you like to find out who I killed them for?”
He gave her three months. When the time was up, if she wanted to leave, he wouldn't stop her.
She thought she could read anyone's fate and would never fall for a cold-faced prince.
But she hadn't reckoned on him silently taking her hand when she woke from a nightmare, declaring “Who she is doesn't matter. She is my wife” when the entire court demanded he divorce her, or shielding her with his whole body when swords closed in, blood dripping from his blade onto the hem of her dress.
What she hadn't reckoned on most was that her fortune had been right.
He really would find love within three days.
It was her.
