Synopsis
Marriage first, love later / love-hate relationship / equally matched / a battlefield of male rivals / adored by everyone
Zhou Jianqi is troubled. She has reunited with her childhood friend Song Langlang, whom she lost touch with years ago, but now she is disguised and wearing someone else's face, so she cannot reveal her identity to him.
Though she cannot acknowledge him, she still wants to keep him by her side. So she acts frail at every opportunity and asks him to protect her.
She never expected an unwelcome guest to show up just then.
Surrounded by dangerous foes, the two are trapped in a perilous situation. A woman in white comes to their aid, and Song Langlang takes a great interest in her, showering her with attention every day. Zhou Jianqi grows jealous, but there is nothing she can do about it.
Not only that, she suspects this person has ulterior motives for approaching them. Why else would she keep pressing herself against her?
The two of them clash until Zhou Jianqi finally forces her to reveal her true face. One day, pursued to the edge of a cliff with nowhere left to run, Zhou Jianqi decides to drag the woman down with her. Together, they plunge over the precipice.
She thinks she is sure to die, but when she opens her eyes, she sees the woman taking off her clothes to wade into the river. She wonders if she is still dreaming, because otherwise, why does the woman look like a man?
The woman looks up and their eyes meet. She freezes, blushes, and silently turns away.
*
"Protect the king! Protect the king! Boohoohoo, Lord Song, I'm so scared!"
Duanmu Yin is speechless. He came to assassinate the King of Qin. After watching for days, he discovered that although the prince has a slender frame and seems as delicate as a willow in front of his guards, whenever that foolish guard is absent, he drops the act and cuts down his enemies in droves, displaying astonishing martial skill.
Since a direct approach won't work, he decides to try a softer one. But even after dressing as a woman and trying every trick in the book, the prince remains unmoved. He even avoids Duanmu Yin like the plague, while that guard becomes ever more attentive.
Seeing that the prince is always paying attention to his guard, Duanmu Yin grows suspicious: Could this prince be into men?
That would make things even easier. He's no less handsome than the guard. All he needs is the right moment to return to his male form, and the prince is sure to fall for him. But before the prince can do anything, Duanmu Yin realizes that something is changing in himself. The more he looks at the prince, the more handsome and gentle he seems. Whenever the prince smiles, Duanmu Yin's heart races.
He comes up with two possibilities. Either the prince is not only a master of martial arts but also knows how to cast love spells, or Duanmu Yin himself might be turning into a man who likes men. Once he figures it out, Duanmu Yin decisively changes his plan. He will stop trying to kill the prince and kidnap him instead, so he can make him his wife.
Atop the cliff, Duanmu Yin intends to save the prince, but she misunderstands him, and they both fall. After the fall, Duanmu Yin plans to take off the prince's clothes and treat his injuries, but silently closes his eyes instead.
Then he realizes just how wrong he was. First, that guard isn't a block of wood at all. He's a cunning fellow assassin who pinned the crime of trying to kill the prince on Duanmu Yin. Second, the prince isn't into men, because the prince is a woman. And finally, Duanmu Yin himself isn't into men either. A cause for celebration.
So he still has to kidnap her and make her his wife.
*
After Zhou Jianqi successfully impersonates the prince and ascends the throne, a princess from a neighboring kingdom arrives to marry into the royal family. Beneath her veil is a familiar face.
Zhou Jianqi: ...
He's dressing as a woman again. Could someone please drag him off and execute him?
Congratulations: the fake emperor and the fake princess are getting married.
On their wedding night, she presses a sharp blade to his throat and asks whether he still wants her life.
Duanmu Yin looks at her face, so close to his, and thinks, It's not that I want your life. You have mine in your hands.
Then he chuckles. "Have you forgotten how I saved your life at the bottom of the cliff, Your Majesty? I've come to ask you to repay me by becoming my wife. If that won't do, I can become yours instead."
He knows Zhou Jianqi has someone named Song Langlang in her heart, so he uses every means at his disposal to drive Song Langlang away from her. In revenge, she destroys his homeland and imprisons his sister, the real princess sent to marry into another kingdom. She lifts his chin and asks, "You've nowhere else to go, so you can only stay by my side. Are you satisfied?"
He obediently nuzzles her palm. Though he lowers himself, his eyes remain fixed on her, filled with fierce possessiveness and desire.
"Just what I wanted."
*A seemingly wild dog who is actually a loyal one: a man disguised as a woman, pretending to be a princess sent to marry into another kingdom × a woman disguised as a man, pretending to be a prince, who hides her true strength. Both are devoted only to each other. The heroine is adored by everyone, with a lively ensemble cast where everyone gets along. The story covers both the martial world and court politics, and promises plenty of sweetness. I'll start once the project reaches 300 saves. If you're interested, please show your support!
*Blurb recorded on 2026.8.23
Theme: A woman by birth, a phoenix at heart; the phoenix rises through the clouds and breaks the world's clamor
