[Wild, foxlike, sweet-tempered orphan VS ascetic, bead-wearing, unhinged chief minister]
[Mutual first love + sweet indulgence + fatherly powerful official + nine-year age gap + careful scheming + secret identities + face-slapping villains + rise in a noble household]
On a snowy New Year's Eve, Sheng Zhiyi, falsely accused of theft and cast out by the marquis's household, collapsed in front of the carriage of Pei Du, the chief minister who held power over the entire court.
She lived in the chief minister's residence for five years, and Pei Du was strict with her. She wasn't allowed to come home late or drink. Even a skirt hem an inch too short earned her a punishment of copying books.
After her coming-of-age ceremony, Sheng Zhiyi obediently brought home her childhood sweetheart, now her betrothed, for Pei Du to inspect. But the man, usually cold and desireless, suddenly seized her slender waist and pressed her against the desk. His eyes darkened with dangerous intent. "Between him and me, you can only choose one today!"
The noblewomen of Shengjing all said that Chief Minister Pei wore agarwood Buddhist beads on his wrist and was so free of desire that he would never bend to a woman in his life.
Until the night Sheng Zhiyi fled, leaving a letter behind. Everyone saw the exalted chief minister snap the Buddhist beads around his wrist and drop to one knee among the scattered pearls, his eyes bloodshot as he kissed her ankle. "Zhiyi, don't go... I beg you..."
