Historical Romance, Political Intrigue + Angsty Love + Intense Push and Pull + Mutual Redemption
[Orphaned Avenger x Master of Political Schemes]
The fire at the Yong'an Marquis estate burned for three days and three nights.
Five-year-old Wei Yuanxi knelt in the ashes and made a vow.
Clear the family name. Avenge them. Leave no one alive.
Thirteen years later, she stood in court under the identity of Xiao An, crushing her enemies one by one.
She realized she had long since stopped doing this only for the Yong'an Marquis estate.
She had tasted power, and now she could never let it go.
Chu Junyue was the only one who saw through her.
The cold-hearted Grand Commandant used her to investigate the salt and iron trade and seize power.
She used his blade to fight her way back to Chang'an.
There was no genuine affection between them, or so they both insisted.
After the fire, he imprisoned her in the Kingdom of Qing while she was poisoned, feeding her the antidote one mouthful at a time.
When she regained consciousness, she said only three words: "Let me go."
He replied, "When you're better."
Later, she returned to court, helped Prince Yu ascend the throne, and cleared her family's name.
On the night everything was finally settled, the emperor ambushed Chu Junyue in the outskirts and sent men to kill him.
Wei Yuanxi pushed open the palace gates and walked toward the killing ground.
The lights of Chang'an shone in every home, but none of them offered her a place to belong.
That night, she rode out of Chang'an alone.
[Reader Advisory]
Both leads have no prior romantic or sexual relationships; the story leans angsty. Every character is both virtuous and wicked. The ending is open-ended.
