[Sharp-tongued heroine who turns into a courtroom powerhouse × insanely possessive, sickly peacock of a hero]
【Heroine's perspective】
Take cases, litigate, challenge the powerful, and overturn wrongful convictions.
Yu Ning is the sharpest-tongued woman in all of Daliang.
She made a name for herself in Chang'an with a petition on behalf of a mute person, and her fame reached the emperor himself. Delighted, he created the position of courtroom advocate just for her and allowed advocates to speak in court on behalf of the accused.
Yu Ning works hard to represent people in court, only to discover that her sickly cousin keeps tripping her up at every turn.
But the good times don't last. The more advocates there are, the murkier the waters of court politics become. Yu Ning calls for a reform of the judicial system, but the proposal offends countless officials, and assassination attempts soon follow one after another.
She gradually realizes that her cousin, who coughs up blood every day and seems too frail to stand, isn't just intent on ruining her plans. At the most critical moments, he always manages to pull her back from certain death.
But pawns are eventually discarded. Those in power want her dead, and despite all his careful planning, Shen Que is still too late.
To survive, Yu Ning has no choice but to fake her death and flee to the countryside.
In Chang'an, her disappearance unleashes a storm of bloodshed. The influential family that ordered her assassination is executed to the last member, and every family connected to them is exiled.
The young man who was once frail and sickly rises step by step to become a powerful minister.
Years later, Yu Ning returns to Chang'an disguised as a man to sit the civil service examinations, determined to reenter court. Chancellor Shen is there on the day the results are posted. Their eyes meet, and he recognizes her as Yu Ning.
The chancellor climbs through a window into her home and grabs her tightly. His usually cool eyes are frighteningly red, and his voice trembles as he asks:
“Yu Ning, where have you been all these years?”
【Hero's perspective】
Shen Que, poisoned and in poor health, once thought that the best he could hope for was to use his power to marry a well-behaved noblewoman who would manage his household.
But Yu Ning's arrival makes him personally overturn every plan he'd made.
She's audacious and always getting into trouble, but he can't take his eyes off her.
He begins to regret sending her into court. He hates his illness and wants to live. He wants her to belong to him alone, and to spend every night with her...
So he pretends to be sick and, like a peacock, makes sure to show off his charms. But why is Yu Ning so oblivious?
And it seems she has feelings for someone else. She's getting better and better at causing trouble, and she acts as if she can offend absolutely anyone!
On the first night after her death, Shen Que stays beside her memorial all night. At last, he understands that nothing in this world is more agonizing than wanting someone you cannot have, not even poison in your lungs.
Years later, when he sees a man who looks just like her on the day the examination results are posted, Shen Que thinks he's gone mad.
When he confirms that the man really is her, Shen Que decides Heaven must have sent her back so she can return to his side.
Yu Ning, this time, you aren't leaving.
*Reading guide*
The hero's delusions get exponentially worse later on; they're more restrained at first.
Both leads are each other's first and only, and both are formidable.
The hero is a perfectly qualified peacock.
The heroine is oblivious, with an unusual way of thinking.
*Tips*
This is a feel-good story centered on the heroine. She won't be allowed to suffer even the slightest grievance!
Choosing a husband is risky, so Chancellor Shen has already picked one for you. Don't look at anyone else, just look at me.
There will be a forced marriage later on.
Theme: Still waters run deep.
