When Chi Beining awoke, the mourning period for her mother had just ended. The old madam, far away in Kyoto, had yet to send for her. Nothing had happened, yet everything seemed already settled.
She closed her eyes, as if she had just woken from a dream. Whether it had been real or not, whether it was fate or calamity, no one could say for certain.
In that dream, she had fallen in love with a man and given him the rest of her life, but he had chosen the realm instead.
She resented his cold-bloodedness and hated his heartlessness. In the end, however, the person she despised most was herself.
Given another chance, she would never again let anyone hurt her, harm her, or abandon her!
But... there was always someone foolish enough to come and test her.
"Chi Beining, alone upon the throne as Crown Prince, The Outcast, second only to one yet above ten thousand. My father suspects me, my brothers despise me, and spies surround me within and without the court. One wrong move, and I could lose my life and everything I have. If I dare offer ten miles of wedding finery and come to receive you in an eight-carriage sedan, would you dare marry me?"
"If I marry you, will I die?" Chi Beining asked, rubbing her chin.
Chu Nansheng was silent for a while, then said, "If I survive, I will become the supreme ruler, and no one under heaven will be able to hurt or harm you. If I should die, I won't leave you alone, either. I know I have many enemies. I'd rather take you with me than let anyone bully you as they please."
"No. I'm not marrying you!"
"...How can you refuse to follow the script?!"
