Everyone says that Commandery Princess Yongning is the most honored woman beneath the heavens.
She is the legitimate daughter of the late emperor's most beloved Tenth Prince, a commandery princess personally appointed by the current emperor. Raised in the Empress Dowager's palace since childhood, she has lived in wealth and luxury, showered with unending favor.
Only Changning knows the truth: she is no more than a hostage used to keep her father in line.
Those gifts are chains. That favor is a death warrant.
If her father, far away in the northwest, ever shows signs of rebellion, she will be the first one sacrificed.
For ten years, she has danced on the edge of a blade in her gilded shackles, asking only to stay alive.
Until the day a blizzard sealed the palace.
The emperor casually tossed a marriage edict at her feet, betrothing her to the Seventh Prince, the most useless prince in the palace, whose maternal family had fallen into ruin.
The court was in an uproar. Everyone said the golden phoenix had fallen into a muddy ditch.
On their wedding night, the bridal chamber was cold and empty.
The Seventh Prince, rumored to be sickly, gloomy, and practically invisible, lifted her red veil. He saw the poisoned dagger hidden in her sleeve and, far from being alarmed, let out a low laugh.
“That blade of yours is sharp, Commandery Princess.”
“Too bad it can't kill the person you need to kill.”
Changning looked at him coldly. “Aren't you afraid, Your Highness?”
He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear. His voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear:
“I am. I'm afraid the only people your blade dares to face are your own.”
The world thinks she is a trapped beast and he is worthless mud.
But they don't know that sooner or later she will bite through her cage, and he is a vicious dragon that has been lurking in the abyss.
Not bad, follow up