By the time Helian Mingzhu came of age, she had nothing left.
Her eldest brother was gone. Her mother was gone. Her maternal family, the Gu clan, had been exterminated.
Her title was stripped away, and she was banished to Zhaohua Palace.
Everyone said that the once mighty princess who had protected the nation had fallen into the dust, and would eventually die in silence at Zhaohua Palace.
But she refused to accept that fate.
She went to Chen to marry its old emperor, and entered a game of wits with Wen Tao, the regent.
In her dark and restless life, there was only one exception.
On a stormy night, he gripped her throat, yet couldn't help leaning in to shield her from the pouring rain.
At court, they kept each other in check, yet time and again, he was the one to yield.
On the night the Gu family was cleared of its crimes, he leaned beside her bed, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. "Your Majesty, after using me, are you just going to leave me hanging?"
Without turning her head, she replied, "What does Uncle want?"
He leaned close to her ear, his breath scorching. "I want to be your husband."
Theme: The world is a cage. I will not be a pawn.
