In the spring of the sixteenth year of the Qianyuan era, Lin Yuan had a nightmare.
In her dream, Xie Shu, the celebrated nobleman of Cangjing, rebelled, slaughtered the royal family, and became the new emperor, supreme ruler of all.
Her father had refused to submit to the new emperor, so her whole family was thrown into prison. Once the new emperor ascended the throne, they would be subjected to the most severe punishment as a warning to others.
Lin Yuan woke in a cold sweat, unable to understand why she would have such a dream. Everyone knew that Xie Shu was an exceptional scion of a distinguished family and a close aide to the emperor, with a limitless future. Why would he rebel?
Besides, her father was only a low-ranking clerk at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was timid by nature. How could he dare defy the new emperor?
At first, Lin Yuan assumed she was delusional and paid it no mind.
Until the first time she encountered a violent attack outside the capital. Xie Shu fought off several assailants before being knocked off a cliff, nearly losing his life.
Terrified, Lin Yuan fled in panic and hurriedly reported it to the authorities, summoning the patrol office to rescue him.
The second time, at the peony banquet, she saw someone drug a drink, though she didn't know who it was meant for. Just as she was pondering it, a commotion broke out in the hall. Xie Shu had accidentally drunk the poisoned wine and was spitting blood.
Lin Yuan was horrified and pushed through the crowd, leaving behind a glimpse of a graceful figure in pale yellow that became the last color Xie Shu saw.
They say bad things come in threes. The third time Lin Yuan saw Xie Shu being framed and poisoned with an aphrodisiac, she finally understood that Heaven had its own plans.
So she stole Xie Shu away from the commandery princess...
Bonus Scene
One day, after she and Xie Shu had become close.
Xie Shu rose from the bed. The unique, delicate fragrance of a young woman still lingered in his nostrils. In the darkness, he deftly pulled his belt out from beneath her and leisurely straightened his clothes.
After a long while, a faint rustle came from behind the bed curtains.
Xie Shu spoke up. "The twenty-third day of the twelfth month is an auspicious day. What do you think?"
Lin Yuan froze, her lips moving without finding an answer.
Xie Shu furrowed his brow in confusion and turned toward the sound. "You don't think it's a good day?"
Lin Yuan looked at Xie Shu's blind eyes and slowly swallowed. "It... is a good day. That's the day I'm marrying the Marquis's illegitimate son."
Xie Shu's expression went still. After a moment, he understood what she meant and sneered. "Lin Yuan, you climb out of my bed, and you think you have the nerve to marry someone else?"
Content warning:
I'm not sure what the warnings are.
Theme: Stay true to yourself and keep striving in adversity
