A Thousand Miles Along the Xiaoxiang, Together

In the thirty-fifth year of Yuangu, Wen Ming was promoted to the fourth-rank post of Shaofu Minister and, by imperial decree, moved to the capital with his entire family.

In the fortieth year of Yuangu, Wen Zhiyu traveled a thousand miles to find her father. She arrived in the capital and was recognized as his daughter. From then on, the Wen family had a concubine-born daughter of unparalleled beauty and talent.

The Wen family's concubine-born daughter, Zhiyu, was strikingly beautiful. She made a name for herself at a poetry gathering and became the most celebrated woman in the capital. She even won the affection of the legitimate son of the Lanling Xiao clan, the foremost of the great aristocratic families.

Everyone sighed that if a concubine-born daughter could marry into the prestigious Xiao family, even as a concubine, she would have nothing to regret in this life. The Wen family, too, could rise among the great clans.

Only Wen Zhiyu knew in her heart that she had not come to climb the social ladder. She had come to kill.

-- A scene with the leads --

After arriving in the capital, Wen Zhiyu met the legendary favored son of heaven, a scion of the powerful aristocratic clans. But at the time, this “Lord Xiao” was hard-hearted and utterly indifferent.

The first time they met, his sword was at Wen Zhiyu's throat.

“You have some nerve.”

Indeed, the first time Wen Zhiyu met him, she used him, angering him and nearly losing her life.

But she never expected that this one act of manipulation would entangle them more and more deeply. When Wen Zhiyu tried to sever their ties, this “Lord Xiao” refused to let her go.

“If you can stay by my side, I would gladly accept it even if you only use me.”

“We are destined to be entangled. How could we ever be even?”

“Just do what you want. I will always be behind you. Power, status, glory, even my life: if you want it, and I have it, I will gladly place it in your hands.”