Winter Honeysuckle

Xie Qinglan is Hangzhou’s foremost tea merchant and the sole surviving descendant of the former imperial family.

She has known her true identity since childhood. She studied diligently every day without the slightest slack, and after growing up, inherited her adoptive father’s business while secretly building up her strength. She did it all so that one day she could return to the capital, avenge her family, and restore the realm.

Before her adoptive father died of illness, Xie Qinglan was ambushed. A man who appeared out of nowhere saved her.

Later, when they met again, Xie Qinglan sensed that there was more to him than met the eye.

And she was right. He was a Brocade Guard sent by the court to suppress bandits in Zhejiang, and also the adopted son most trusted by the current emperor.

To conceal her restorationist network, Xie Qinglan had no choice but to deal with him. Then she realized that he seemed to have fallen for her, and was even willing to hide the secrets he had uncovered just to protect her.

But I’m sorry.

I’m bound to disappoint him.

*

On the winter solstice, the first snow blanketed West Lake in Hangzhou. With a rare break from investigating a case, Pei Chunjun went boating on the lake with the woman he loved.

It was on that very boat that he fell in love with Xie Qinglan at first sight, and from then on, he could never let her go.

When Xie Qinglan took the initiative to break through the barely-there barrier between them and agreed to pledge herself to him, Pei Chunjun thought his wish had finally come true. His heart, long adrift, had at last found a home.

Who could have guessed that night he would receive an urgent secret letter from the capital

[A remnant of the former dynasty is hiding in Hangzhou. Find and kill them. Leave no survivors.]

*

[The story hasn’t been abandoned. The full manuscript is in progress~]

Premise: Strive tirelessly.