Ruan Lingyi, the Chancellor's legitimate daughter, had been betrothed to someone. But on the eve of the engagement, her father and brothers were massacred, her mother died by suicide to preserve her honor, and a loyal servant traded her own child for Ruan Lingyi, preserving a single bloodline of the Ruan family.
Ruan Lingyi and her nephew were rescued and went into hiding under assumed names.
Later, she infiltrated the Imperial Music Bureau to assassinate Lu Xun, but failed and nearly died. After that, she vanished without a trace for two years.
By chance, she saved Lu Xun's father and gained entry to the Lu residence as a maid, under the assumed name A Yuan.
A year later, when Lu Xun's father died and Lu Xun returned home for the funeral, Ruan Lingyi finally saw him again.
At their first meeting, Lu Xun's icy word, "Stepmother," tore through her disguise. He demoted her to a laundry maid and tormented her in every way, threatening the lives of her loved ones.
"Since you want to be part of the Lu family, I'll make sure you get your wish one day. You'll be buried alongside me."
She endured and kept herself hidden, staying clearheaded as she carefully avoided his traps at every turn.
But inside the cage of hatred, feelings began to grow beyond her control.
The cold, cruel, ruthless power minister completely lost his composure. He cornered her against the wall, his bloodshot eyes burning with obsessive possessiveness, his voice hoarse and trembling. "You went to such lengths to attach yourself to my father and seduce other men. Why can't you come to me?"
She fled, he pursued. In this prison of a mansion, she had long since lost any chance of escape.
The male and female leads are faithful to each other and five years apart in age. The heroine is gentle, resilient, and never gives up. The hero is domineering and will not let her go.
Inspired by the Northern Wei era. Any resemblance is coincidental. Please do not read too much into it or assume it refers to real people.
A different story 😘