Princess Xiao Yuwei of Yaohua was born into a life of wealth and privilege, and was betrothed to the crown prince. She had never learned to bow her head to anyone.
Then a palace coup turned her into the daughter of a disgraced minister, with her life hanging by a thread.
Yet whether she wanted to survive or clear her family's name, she had no choice but to deal with the new emperor, Li Yuanqiao: her sworn enemy, the man she'd fought to the death, and whose blood she had spilled even as he spilled hers.
Xiao Yuwei had no choice but to put away her blade and rein in her temper. She kept one eye on him in case he decided to bring up old scores, while carefully drawing him into her plans.
When he refused to investigate, she put the evidence right in front of him. When he refused to get involved, she used his influence to act first and ask questions later. Eventually, she even sacrificed both their reputations.
Things had gone so far that Xiao Yuwei was terribly uneasy. Yet Li Yuanqiao remained silent. Whenever she met his somber gaze, she felt as if her life had moved one inch closer to the blade's edge.
At last, the old case was overturned and her name cleared. Relieved, Xiao Yuwei packed her bags that night, ready to return to her residence.
But she didn't make it out of the palace.
Her luggage remained beneath the imperial bed, while the cord meant to tie up her belongings was wound around her wrist. The bed curtains stayed drawn all night.
Her sworn enemy of many years sat beside the bed and bent his head to untie the knot. “Xiao Er, after getting me into this state, you're just going to leave?”
*
That day, Xiao Yuwei finally agreed to seduce him so she could stay alive.
Li Yuanqiao thought that if she ever begged anyone else like this, he'd kill them both.
But she had come to beg only him.
And so he suddenly felt that perhaps he didn't have to take her life after all.
Theme: Never bow to fate
