A bewitching, spoiled, scheming little princess x a high-and-mighty, patriarchal tyrant. The male suitors compete in a hellish battle royale.
Li Lingyi is born in the damp, chilly Southern Garden palace. Her parentage is ambiguous, and her status precarious. Even the palace servants dare to look down on her.
To survive, one summer when she is thirteen, she walks barefoot across the cold brick floor, eyes red, and kneels beside Crown Prince Li Chengyan's bed, clutching his sleeve. With that, she seizes a fortune beyond her wildest dreams and becomes the most honored princess in Great Yong.
She is delicate and pretty, and knows best how to read people's expressions and play sweet and obedient.
For years, she has known that Li Chengyan is cold and heartless, and keeps her like a pet bird. So she cautiously plays the timid, obedient little sister, winning the Empress Dowager's affection and getting along with everyone. She only hopes that one day she can marry a gentle, upright consort, leave the palace in splendor, and never again have to depend on anyone.
But every man comes to compete for her, and none of them are the kind of good match she can afford to want.
*
Three years after the princess came of age, suitors abound in the capital.
A young general snaps a plum branch in the snowy night and climbs over the wall to deliver her a message of spring.
The Prince of Cheng returns to the capital after traveling a thousand miles, all to coax her into softly calling him "older brother," both openly and in secret.
A new favorite, renowned throughout the capital and proud and aloof, turns out to be willing to bow before her in the snow outside the palace and beg the emperor to grant his wish.
Li Lingyi is anxious and cautious, weighing every option and calculating every move. Her eyes are full of longing for a world where she can be free.
Li Chengyan sits high upon the throne, seeing through everything.
He knows she's selfish, understands her cold-hearted nature, and sees through her timid act to the greed in her heart. But so what?
She's just a little toy he's tamed in the palm of his hand, something to amuse himself with when he's bored.
*
Until one day, Li Lingyi accidentally wanders into a secret room deep inside Zichen Hall.
Behind the layers of curtains, there are no military secrets, only paintings covering every wall. Each one depicts a girl, meticulously rendered in rich colors: sleeping soundly, frowning, weeping. Her most private expressions are captured on paper.
Every one of them is her.
She is terrified and tries to flee, but a hand has already clamped around her waist. The young emperor presses close behind her. With his other hand, he lifts her chin, forcing her to look at the portraits on the wall.
"Others compete for you, fight over you, and try to win your favor."
"Have you been enjoying choosing between them, too?"
He lowers his eyes, his thin lips brushing her earlobe as he laughs coldly. "I gave you dignity, yet you insist on provoking other men. Lingyi, have they ever seen you like this?"
*
They are not blood relatives, but remain brother and sister in name until their false kinship ends.
Both are sexually inexperienced, and all the male suitors are chaste.
Theme: If freedom is at stake, both can be cast aside
