A slow-to-catch-on, alluring beauty with an indifferent air × a tyrant who doesn't realize he's deeply in love, then turns into a devoted puppy
Love at first sight × pure leads × imperial harem × light palace intrigue × a small-scale groveling chase
Shen Qingyao may be slow to catch on, but she dares to do big things. When her stepmother tries to marry her off to a wastrel to curry favor, she decides to find the top scholar and make the deed a fait accompli. But her plan goes awry, and she mistakes Emperor Qian'an for the top scholar. After one wild night, Shen Qingyao finds herself aboard an even bigger pirate ship. The pirate, however, seems to treat her rather well.
After enduring night after night of agony from the poison in his body, An Xuanling stumbles upon the antidote he needs. He cannot control his bloodlust, yet uses reason to restrain himself time and again, gradually losing himself in her gentle embrace.
The seeds of pain were planted at their first meeting. Only when the one he loves leaves without looking back does An Xuanling realize that what he thought was reason was actually love.
The story mainly follows the heroine's growth, with both sweet and bittersweet moments. Both leads are pure! I'd rather have the male lead cheated on than compromise on that!
