The Vermilion Edict

[Rational, independent, cold-hearted black-lotus princess & aloof, arrogant, celibate powerful official]

[Reader's guide: Two strong leads, villains get what they deserve, intellectual romance, plot-driven, the hero is protective and hopelessly in love]

[The hero has a secret identity]

01

Luo Zhi really did not want to end up here.

Yun was a world full of villains:

a vicious empress dowager bent on seizing power, an emperor who could not tell right from wrong, and a male lead who watched everything with cold indifference.

At first glance, she had landed on her feet, living in comfort as the mighty regent princess who held the late emperor's secret edict.

In reality, she was a lamb waiting for slaughter, constantly clinging to her own life and afraid the people around her would tear her apart.

02

Luo Zhi's one comfort

was her golden finger from her previous life: she had been an auditor.

Whether civil or military officials,

whoever controlled the purse strings had nothing to fear.

Her first move was to investigate the court's corrupt accounts and establish her authority.

But

Shang Jue was such a nuisance. He was everywhere, and he looked down on her no matter where they were.

At last, the day came when she had no choice but to tie herself to him.

So Luo Zhi decided to follow fate's lead and cozy up to him.

She never expected that, up close, Shang Jue was only sharp-tongued.

It turned out that even a man as celibate as he was could lose control of his feelings when he met Luo Zhi.

03

Shang Jue's world

was eating, sleeping, and keeping accounts.

Besides the accounts he handled in his official capacity as Minister of Revenue,

there were the secret books of the Cangjiang Network.

No one knew

that Shang Jue, who always seemed so proper, actually loved trading intelligence and robbing the rich to help the poor,

because he had another special identity.

After Luo Zhi came along,

Shang Jue's world had only three things:

eating, sleeping, and Zhi Zhi.

04

In Shang Jue's eyes,

Princess Chaoning was nothing but an empty-headed fool, a pretty ornament.

She liked keeping handsome men and was lustful.

She listened to scheming officials and had no brains.

She drove away the regent ministers and was foolish.

In short, other than her beauty, she had nothing going for her.

Then one day, he was forced to tie himself to her, and all those stereotypes shattered.

She was beautiful, warmhearted, gallant, and righteous.

In short, everything about her was wonderful.

But because he had failed to help her, the empress dowager sent her away to marry for an alliance.

Shang Jue was consumed by regret and rage!

He would give anything to keep her in Yun.

When at last she truly saw him,

he would gladly bow at her feet, be her support, and serve as her subject.

Theme: The power of women