Born a Bewitching Beauty, I Faked My Death and Drove the Powerbrokers Mad

Sheng Jingwan is the least conspicuous sinner in the Sheng family.

After becoming a convict's slave, she is reduced to the lowly ink-grinding maid in Chief Councilor Huo Chenyuan's study.

By day, she obediently grinds ink and endures his cruelty; by night, she is the caged bird he cannot bring himself to acknowledge.

Huo Chenyuan is ruthless and wields power over all under heaven.

When the imperial decree arranging his marriage arrives, he grips her chin and says cruelly, "Jingwan, be good. Even if I marry the princess, you will still have fine clothes and food in my villa."

Sheng Jingwan neither cries nor makes a scene. She simply curves her lips into an obedient smile.

Then, on the day of his wedding, a great fire burns the villa outside the capital to the ground.

Amid the flames, Sheng Jingwan destroys her own peerlessly beautiful face and vanishes without a trace.

That night, Chancellor Huo, usually so calm and restrained, rushes madly into the fire. He weeps until he vomits blood, and his hair turns white overnight.

Two years later.

Sheng Jingwan returns to the capital in the guise of the neighboring nation's most esteemed Ninth Princess, her beauty as breathtaking as ever.

Looking at Huo Chenyuan, who blocks her path and drops to his knees with bloodshot eyes, Sheng Jingwan parts her red lips. "Sir, do we know each other?"

Behind her, the aloof Imperial Tutor, the unhinged Imperial Astrologer, and her possessive cousin all draw their swords in unison. "Let her go."