The Secret History of the Grand Princess

[Unrestrained, reclusive power behind the throne x patriotic and dutiful princess]

The state of the court is a mess, officials scheme against one another, and the emperor has the temperament of a child. The eldest princess, Zuo Shu, is under so much pressure at work that she follows a friend's suggestion and goes to a men's brothel to indulge herself for once.

The next day, she takes a man home with her.

The man is unbelievably handsome, with a pair of enchanting phoenix eyes and a gaze that captures the soul. His face is as beautiful as a peach blossom. He can sing and play music, and he knows poetry, books, and etiquette.

Only his temper leaves something to be desired. He's as demanding as a lord, and often makes Zuo Shu feel as if he's the one in charge.

After keeping him for a while, Zuo Shu needs to marry, so she gives him some money and tells him to leave and start a respectable life.

On the day he leaves, the man, usually so carefree, stares at the money Zuo Shu hands him for a long while. He presses his tongue against the roof of his mouth and gives a mocking laugh, his expression impossible to read.

"Zuo Shu, you're something else," he says.

Only when they meet again does she learn that he's no poor little thing who's gone astray. He's Puyang Zixi, the man the young emperor has long feared, a shadowy figure who rarely shows himself.

They say Puyang Zixi is solitary, richer than a kingdom, and commands hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers. With a casual move, he could throw all of Great Qi into chaos.

Zuo Shu looks at Puyang Zixi, approaching her in wedding robes, and swallows nervously.

A tiger out of the mountains, oh no, I'm doomed.

*

Puyang Zixi thinks Zuo Shu is fascinating.

In court, she's ruthless and keen-eyed, and has taken down many of his prized subordinates. In her private life, though, she's as gentle as flowing water, looking at him with her charming fox eyes and softly asking if he'd like to play chess with her.

For the first time, Puyang Zixi feels that life isn't utterly boring.

So he lets the misunderstanding continue while secretly helping her deal with her troubles.

Until one day, Zuo Shu tells him as gently as she can, "A Xi, General Li has been helping me a lot, so I'm going to marry him. Why don't you pack your things and leave?"

Puyang Zixi, who does good deeds without taking credit: ?

Theme: The greater good of the country and its people