Synopsis
[Fake Incest]
[Teary-Eyed, Delicate Young Lady vs. Sombre, Scheming Young General]
Shen Quezhi is the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Ruyang. Not long after her fifteenth birthday, her mother passed away.
Without her mother to protect her, she struggles to survive in the household, where the strong prey on the weak. Her father listens to the other concubines' goading and decides to marry the not-yet-adult Shen Quezhi off to a notorious old widower in the capital.
Naturally, she refuses. She kneels in her father's courtyard for an entire day, nearly crying all the tears she has in her. The sound of her father bantering with a courtesan never stops. Despairing, she slumps to the ground, and for a moment, the thought of ending her life crosses her mind.
Through tear-blurred eyes, she sees a tall figure pass by her side.
Shen Quezhi recognizes him. He is her father's only legitimate son, the youngest general in Great Yong, and her full brother, Shen Chi.
Since childhood, he has campaigned beyond the frontier alongside his maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Jibei. In a great battle, he once charged alone into the enemy camp, felling countless enemy generals with his spear and striking terror into the barbarians.
She watches Shen Chi kick open the door, silver spear in hand. In a flash, he strikes, and the courtesan in her father's arms is beheaded, blood spraying everywhere.
Shen Quezhi faints from fright.
*
Shen Quezhi fears Shen Chi, but she also knows that he is the only one who can save her now.
So, on the eve of her wedding, she sneaks out of the manor and makes her way to the military camp. Staggering, she grabs the hem of Shen Chi's robe as he sits astride his horse and stammers, barely able to form a complete sentence:
“Please... b-brother... take me away... I... I...”
He lifts her chin with his silver spear, and she meets his pitch-black gaze. He stares at her for a long moment, his eyes as cold as a bottomless well.
Then his gaze shifts. With a few quick movements, his spear opens the front of her robe. He fixes his eyes on the pendant her mother left her, visible on her chest, and asks from above:
“Are you Concubine Liu's daughter?”
Her mind goes blank. She almost forgets to pull her loose robe closed, only nodding in a daze.
The next instant, Shen Chi bends down, takes her by the wrist, and pulls her gently toward him. Before she knows it, her back is pressed against his chest.
Just like him, it is cold.
*
In all the years since Shen Chi brought her back to Yu Commandery, she has followed him everywhere, calling him “Brother.”
After coming of age, the young woman blossoms into a graceful beauty, and the suitors visiting Shen Chi's manor are practically breaking down the gates.
She never imagined Shen Chi would actually promise her to someone else!
To avoid getting married, she makes every kind of fuss, nearly turning Yu Commandery upside down. But she cannot overcome Shen Chi's cruelty. On her wedding day, he has her bound and stuffed into the bridal sedan.
The wedding candles flicker. Through tear-blurred eyes, she sees her veil lifted. The man before her is devastatingly handsome in his red wedding robes, wearing the familiar, cool smile she knows so well.
How can it be Shen Chi?!!!
Like a bolt of thunder, the revelation leaves Shen Quezhi dazed. Shen Chi presses her onto the bed and gazes down at her for a long time before slowly lowering his head to kiss the bright red lipstick from her lips.
For someone so cold, his lips are warm.
She feels as if she has fallen into an icy abyss. Frightened, she cries and struggles, calling him “Brother” for the first time:
“Shen Chi! We can't do this...!”
The man leaning over her acts as if he hasn't heard. He restrains her flailing hands and fixes his dark eyes on hers.
“We aren't siblings by blood, so why can't we?”
[Reader's Guide]
1. The leads are not related by blood. The male lead has always known this, while the female lead learns the truth later.
2. There is some coercion later on. Please proceed with caution if that's not your thing.
3. The female lead is not a strong, independent heroine. She is soft, spoiled, and prone to uncontrollable tears.
4. The male lead is not perfect. He has personality flaws and is somewhat unhinged.
[The blurb was screenshotted and saved on September 14, 2026. Plagiarism will be pursued!]
Theme: Everyone should dare to pursue love.
