The Golden Sparrow in Chains

Jin Que'er knew she had been bought as a plaything for the Third Prince's household. She didn't really care. Who would have thought that just a few days after arriving at the Third Prince's residence, she'd stumble upon his secret? She thought he'd have to kill her to keep it quiet. But when the Third Prince saw her, he looked delighted, his long, narrow phoenix eyes fixed on her. “Everyone said you were dead. I never imagined you were here.” Jin Que'er understood. The Third Prince had mistaken her for the late Crown Princess. If she just went along with it, maybe she wouldn't have to die? But the Third Prince held her face, identical to the Crown Princess's, and spoke softly: “Though I don't know why you came to find me... Now that you're in my household, you'll never leave for the rest of your life, little sister-in-law.” Help! I'm not your sister-in-law! When the Third Prince discovered she was only an ordinary little sparrow, he came up with a new plan: “You have two choices. Either stay locked in my dungeon until you die, or swallow this pill and go to the Crown Prince's residence to spy on him for me.” Only then did Jin Que'er realize that for all his beauty, this man was cold-hearted and cruel, without the slightest compassion. Knowing there was no turning back, Jin Que'er took the slow-acting poison from his palm and swallowed it. She was only a little sparrow... Yet she was quite decisive when it came to making choices. The Third Prince sent her to the Crown Prince's residence and met with her regularly each month. He watched her grow more and more beautiful, then suddenly realized she didn't look anything like the Crown Princess after all. On the night the Crown Prince staged his rebellion, she risked her life to come back and warn him, winning the last antidote. He watched the little sparrow who had risen to the top, and was just about to take her hand and tell her that the position of his principal consort had been left empty for her, when she flung his hand away. “Now we're even.” The Third Prince watched her walk away. If he regretted the choice he'd made back then, could he still get another chance? * A scheming, calculating Third Prince x A little sparrow who accidentally got caught up in his web * A fake stand-in story. The Third Prince isn't in love with his sister-in-law. * The female lead may be unable to avoid getting involved with the Crown Prince, but she doesn't love him. * A groveling-for-forgiveness romance, but with a happy ending. The male lead won't change. * Nine-Headed Lotus couldn't be written due to its subject matter, so this novel has replaced it as a coming-soon title. Theme: Under the power structures of a feudal society, love can only become a tool.