Shen Zhiwei, a Daoist prodigy, is fated to face a deadly calamity.
One day, her master tells her gravely, "The Ziwei Star dims, and a demon star appears. A general's star is wavering in the north. This person is also the son of a friend of mine. Go and help him."
At their first meeting on the frontier, she saves the young general Wen Ruxu, who is drenched in blood.
Before she can get to know him, a letter from home summons her back to the capital.
She leaves a note and departs, thinking theirs was nothing more than a chance encounter.
Who could have known that the capital would be steeped in foul energy, making the backlash from her fated calamity worse?
Her health grows worse and worse. To stay alive, she has no choice but to try getting close to the Crown Prince and "borrowing a little of his imperial dragon energy."
But at her very first palace banquet, Wen Ruxu, who has been summoned back to the capital by imperial decree, catches her in the act.
He watches the Daoist priestess who once fearlessly vanquished demons speaking softly to the Crown Prince, her pale face lit by a radiant smile. He nearly crushes the wine cup in his hand.
Later, he corners her in a moonlit corridor, his voice hoarse. "Miss Shen, I've seen for myself how good you are at climbing the social ladder."
Shen Zhiwei: ...I didn't! I haven't! Just hear me out! (But I really can't tell him about my fated calamity!)
Wen Ruxu: Hmph. (Then turns around and investigates what the Crown Prince has been up to lately.)
Until she risks triggering her fated calamity to save him from a demon's trap. He carries her, barely alive, on his back in his mortal body and says each word distinctly:
"I'll protect your life, no matter what. What good is the Crown Prince's dragon energy? Whatever he can give you, I can give you too. And whatever he can't, I'll fight to the death to get for you."
[Later, the new emperor ascends the throne, and humans and demons are governed separately.]
A decree shocks the court: Shen Zhiwei of the Shen clan is to be named empress and serve concurrently as the Protector of the State Celestial Master, overseeing the world's supernatural affairs. At court, she is Empress Shen, advising on state policy. At the Demon Investigation Bureau, she is the Imperial Preceptor, passing judgment between yin and yang.
He even immortalizes her in the history books: "My wife, Zhiwei, is virtuous enough to match Heaven and Earth, and talented enough to bring balance to yin and yang. I am blessed beyond measure in this life, and her calamity has passed."
Those who once mocked her for "climbing the social ladder" are left dumbfounded.
And in the imperial study, Wen Ruxu wraps his arms around the empress and imperial preceptor as she reviews demon case files, and asks in a muffled voice:
"Back then... did it really have to be the Crown Prince?"
Shen Zhiwei keeps writing, the corners of her mouth turning up.
"Mm. Later I found out there's a general whose jealousy works a lot better than dragon energy."
"..."
Reader's Guide
Resourceful Daoist prodigy heroine x outwardly cold, secretly jealous young general hero
Theme: Slay demons and exorcise evil, restore order and set things right
By a Twist of Fate, I Really Became a God
That Wise Ruler Is Insane
The Immortal Realm's Heart-Demon Crusher
One Kiss to Seal Immortality
The Old Crooked Tree's Last Stand
After Losing His Job, the Demon Venerable Switched to Raising Dragons and Fawning Over the Protagonist
I Became the Top Immortal in the Realm by Being a Stand-In