Wei Xiao is the sharpest blade of the Wei family, yet also the sickliest weakling in Jinling.
Her hand trembles as she plays chess, but every move she makes is deadly.
Everyone pities the Wei family's adopted daughter, yet with a smile and a few words, she has the fate of the entire clan in her hands.
General Rong spent his life on the battlefield, earning one illustrious victory after another. The day he returned triumphantly to the capital, the people of Jinling lined the streets to welcome him, and he was the picture of glory.
What no one knew was that he'd spent decades fighting for the court, paying for his own troops and exhausting his family's wealth, all while enduring the death of his eldest son in battle. On this return to the capital, he received not a single coin in military pay, and his second son was still trapped in the city.
Rong Jing followed his father to war at fifteen and became famous along the frontier at sixteen, earning the nickname "Wolf Cub of the Steppe."
At twenty-two, however, he was imprisoned in Jinling's gilded cage. He was showered with honors on the surface, but in truth they were meant to grind away his wolfish nature.
That night, Rong Jing played a black piece, cutting off every one of Wei Xiao's avenues of escape. His gaze was keen. "Why choose me?"
Wei Xiao played a white piece, breaking the deadlock with a single move.
Her breath was faint as she spoke slowly. "Unlike my older sister, I wasn't born with plenty of choices. If I want something, I have to risk my life to fight for it."
A low laugh slipped from Rong Jing's throat. "As it happens, my life is the one thing I have plenty of."
One is ambitious as a wolf, the other harbors secret designs. What a perfect match!
Blurb written on November 21, 2025, and archived with screenshots on Weibo.
Theme: Meeting a worthy opponent is also a fated redemption.
