Back Before the Princess Consort Died for Me

The Lady Top Scholar

To save the hostage prince and avenge her father, Cen Xiaoxiao lay low for years. Disguised as a man, she passed the imperial examinations and became the new top scholar. Because of her handsome looks, the emperor summoned her to court as an imperial consort and arranged her marriage to Zhao Ye, Princess of Xiaoxiang.

The princess was pampered and privileged. Her grandfather was the emperor, her father the crown prince, and her mother a princess of Western Zhou.

On their wedding night, Cen Xiaoxiao pressed a dagger to Zhao Ye's throat. "Your Highness, don't worry. I have no intention of hurting you." She forced Zhao Ye to hand over a map of the city's defenses, then broke the hostage prince out.

She and the prince found a secluded estate and planned to leave the court's intrigues behind and live in a peaceful paradise.

They had been eloped for only two years when one day the prince suddenly told her that she was pregnant. The child belonged to a certain general of Western Zhou and could help her reclaim power.

The prince had Cen Xiaoxiao bound hand and foot and hung her at the city gate. He spread the word that he would release her if Zhao Ye ordered the gates of Xiaoxiang City opened.

After being tortured, Cen Xiaoxiao cursed him viciously. "I loved you and trusted you, and this is how you use me? You won't get away with it."

That day, Cen Xiaoxiao died. After death, her spirit wandered by the city gate for three days. Her body lay exposed in the wilderness until Zhao Ye led the imperial guards out of the city, gathered up her remains, and dealt with the adulterous couple.

But there were too many enemy soldiers. Before reinforcements arrived, Zhao Ye had already run out of strength. A long arrow pierced her heart, killing her in a single blow.

Cen Xiaoxiao's vengeful spirit watched it all. She had never known that such slender, pale wrists could wield such heavy weapons.

She knew even less why Zhao Ye had come to save her with the imperial guards after she had betrayed her.

*

When she opened her eyes again, Cen Xiaoxiao realized she had been reborn. She was dressed in fine clothes, seated in a red bridal sedan, apparently on her way to the princess's residence. This time, she would treat the princess well.

She had barely made her vow when the hostage prince turned and cooed in her ear, "Where's the map of the city's defenses, big sister?"

...This wasn't the way to her wedding. It was the way to where she threatened Zhao Ye, broke out the hostage prince, and stole the map of the city's defenses!

*

Years later, Cen Xiaoxiao finally learned why she had passed the imperial examinations so easily and married the princess without a hitch. It turned out someone had pleaded desperately with the emperor on her behalf.

Even though that person knew her heart belonged only to the hostage prince, and knew she was a woman.

Theme: Justice may be late, but it will come