The Regent I Once Used and Abandoned Usurped the Throne

Sharp-minded, sweet-on-the-outside-and-scheming-within heroine vs. blunt, upright, arrogant hero

Jiang Yu passes herself off as an orphan out in the world, making her way through the jianghu. She meets a wandering swordsman. The man has no sense of romance.

Jiang Yu: “Today’s roast duck cost five coins. You ate a leg, so I’m charging you one extra coin. You pay three, I’ll pay two.”

The swordsman looks up at her. “You’re the one who shoved that leg onto my plate.”

Before the banquet, Jiang Yu gazes at her delicate, charming reflection. She is still the Jiang family heiress’s stand-in, a shadow for ten years, hidden from the light.

But she is determined to find herself a powerful patron.

A senior maid in the household tells her that the emperor’s younger brother, Prince Jin, is still unmarried. He’ll do nicely.

Wearing red, Jiang Yu prepares to put on a gentle, charming act. But when she gets a good look at him, the cup in her hand trembles and nearly falls.

At the banquet, amid clinking cups and lively conversation, he sits in the seat of honor, turning his wine cup in his hand while his alluring, peach-blossom eyes stare straight at her.

Jiang Yu’s pupils contract. Her smile freezes on her lips. Just two days ago, she dumped him because she thought he was only a wandering swordsman.

Pei Jin is the emperor’s own younger brother, a member of the imperial family whose status is beyond compare. People are always trying to curry favor with him.

He has never seen such a crude approach.

She sways her waist and stares right at him with bright, lively eyes.

He has never seen anyone so shamelessly fawning.

She pinches pennies with a wandering swordsman, then tries to ingratiate herself with him once she learns he comes from a distinguished family.

He has never seen anyone so flirtatious...

She clings to his arm, her body almost pressed against his chest, her eyes shimmering with tears and her cheeks flushed.

Pei Jin pushes her away with force. A scorching sensation seems to linger on his hand, but he coldly turns her down.

At the palace banquet, amid clinking cups and lively conversation, the chill on his face drives away the officials trying to curry favor with him.

Pei Jin stares at the wine cup in his hand. He can almost still feel her breath by his ear.

His heart stirs. Perhaps he should give her another chance and grant her wish.

“Please present your gift, Lady Cai.”

Pei Jin casually lifts his eyes. His palm tightens, and the wine cup in his hand shatters, making the palace servants cry out in alarm.

The lady presenting the gift is the very woman who clung to him that night and begged him to give her a title.

*

Jiang Yu decides Pei Jin’s branch is not high enough, so she enters the palace, dreaming that her son will become emperor and she will become empress dowager.

Who could have expected a sudden palace coup? Her old flame from years ago rises to the occasion, quells the rebellion, and gazes at her from horseback across the distance, a smile playing on his lips but none in his eyes.

“Sister-in-law, why must we be so formal with each other?”

Warnings: The male lead is pure in body and heart. Happy ending. The story begins after the *.

Theme: Seeking freedom