When Yan Yuan was nine, her empress mother died in a carefully orchestrated palace coup. The one who took the throne in her place was none other than Yan Yuan's father, the imperial consort.
On the road to exile, with nowhere left to turn, a System mysteriously awakened inside her. She could trade the people's admiration for her life, for food, and for a chance to rise again.
Ten years passed. From elderly farmers in Jiangnan to passing merchant caravans, everyone who met her held her in high regard and had nothing but praise for her. Even the local officials who had once been too lazy to give her a proper bow now greeted her with utmost courtesy.
On the day she set out for the capital, a band of assassins ambushed them halfway there. A shadow suddenly darted out from the darkness, and in the blink of an eye, more than a dozen lives were left behind. The figure turned and dropped to one knee, offering up an old jade pendant with both hands. "This humble general was entrusted by the late empress to protect Your Highness for ten years."
Before the words were out, Gu Xingzhou, his shoulder already wounded, had helped her down from the carriage first. His movements were so brisk it was as if he hadn't even noticed the shadow guard who had just performed such a great service. Feng Shi lowered his eyes and followed without a word, but his gaze stayed fixed on the hand supporting her the entire way.
Yan Yuan noticed nothing. Thinking the two men had hit it off unusually well, she even smiled and said, "You two should get along from now on."
Both men's expressions turned indescribable at her words.
Meanwhile, in the capital, her father was scheming about how to shove his biological daughter back into the role of the "frail, sickly" one...
Theme: Loving yourself is most important.
