When Gu Jinjin was six, her father brought home a child from outside and said he was the son of his former mistress.
Gu Jinjin disliked him intensely. She thought he had stolen her mother's affection, and she found fault with him every day.
But this elder brother was generous and patient with her, yielding to her at every turn, as if he were her full brother.
Gu Jinjin thought, It doesn't matter how nice he is to me. I won't accept him.
Gu Jinjin remained wary of this brother until one day, when palace eunuchs came to take Gu Xiao away and declared him to be the prince who had gone missing from the palace.
Gu Jinjin was dumbfounded.
Gu Xiao asked if she wanted to go to the palace with him.
Gu Jinjin thought, "If I can be a princess, sure."
But once Gu Jinjin got her wish and entered the palace, things weren't as she'd imagined. Her imperial brother made her a princess, but then he also set his sights on her.
Late one night, he gripped her wrist and said,
"If you're tired of being a princess, you can be empress instead. A princess has to marry out of the palace, but the empress is the only one who will always be mistress of this place.
You can eat, drink, and enjoy yourself, have the best food and clothes. Your only duty is to eat and sleep with me, and give me a son."
Gu Jinjin thought, The rest sounds fine, but sleep with him and have a child?
Gu Jinjin: I won't--
Gu Xiao: Fine. I'll marry you off to the son of Marquis Wei. He's crippled and has trouble getting around.
Gu Jinjin: Well... all right, then. (In floods of tears.)
Theme: Those who cherish you will protect you at every moment.
