⬇️ Stern, upright minister x willful young woman
➡️ Powerful man bows his head | Gloomy and obsessive | Intense push and pull
Zhu Zhimei had grown up away from home. She came to the capital because of the childhood love of her life, and on her very first day, she caused a scene and was thrown into prison, earning the ire of the powerful minister Qin Zicheng.
After being released, Zhu Zhimei did not mend her ways. She lusted after her childhood love and, upon learning that he was already promised in marriage, schemed to ruin the match.
Qin Zicheng saw it all. He uncovered the sordid secret in her heart, while she, in turn, found evidence of his own disloyal intentions.
They turned against each other. On a dark and windy night, she shoved Qin Zicheng into the water with murderous intent, and he cried out in agony as he sank.
He grabbed her by the throat in return, bringing her to the brink of death.
Zhu Zhimei thought they would never stop until one of them was dead.
*
Qin Zicheng held immense power, yet beneath all his glory, he was constantly subject to the emperor's suspicion.
Even a young woman fresh out into the world had seen through his vulnerable secrets and dared to bare her teeth and taunt him.
"If you kill me, will that hide your... despicable intentions?"
He came to his senses and realized that, for the first time, someone had seen right through him.
As she repeatedly risked her life to save him, his heart began to fall. He struck someone in public for Zhu Zhimei and neglected state affairs for her sake.
In the end, she still doubted his feelings.
"I believed you. I convinced myself you cared deeply for me, but you kept letting me down."
She actually wanted to leave him. Qin Zicheng was lost, and decided that perhaps it would be all right to keep her trapped by his side.
Theme: Some things are beautiful only in memory
