[Strong female lead and political intrigue | Intelligent marriage first, love later | No rebirth or golden finger | Two powerful partners]
She was the Prince of Chen’s caged songbird for five years, and everyone thought she would depend on him for the rest of her life.
At the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, she prostrated herself before the court and requested permission to marry the Prince of Zhao, the Prince of Chen’s sworn enemy.
The entire court was in an uproar. The Prince of Zhao looked down at her coldly, convinced she had an ulterior motive.
On their wedding night, before her veil had even been lifted, she handed him a letter of separation:
“In public, we’ll act as husband and wife. In private, we’ll be lord and subject, with no interference in each other’s affairs.”
He accepted it with a sneer, waiting to see when she would let her mask slip.
But later...
When stray arrows whistled through the borderlands, she threw herself in front of his horse.
When impeachments came raining down at court like knives, she alone verbally sparred with the entire hall of high officials.
The Prince of Zhao tore the yellowed letter of separation to shreds and pinned her against the edge of the desk, his voice low with anger:
“You’ve been plotting step by step for five years. What is it you want?”
She lifted her eyes, her gaze as calm as if she had been waiting for him to ask:
“You.”
