The Powerful Minister's Favorite Princess 1

Blurb:

[Fake enemies-to-lovers] [Fake forced marriage] [Sweet romance]

[Gentlemanly on the outside, ruthless on the inside chief minister vs. bewitchingly beautiful, spoiled princess of the former dynasty]

Hua Yu, the most beautiful woman in Chang'an, was a princess of the Jin Dynasty, blessed with beauty and adored by all.

When it came time to choose a husband, every eligible man eagerly sought her favor.

Hua Yu pointed a jade-white finger. "I want him."

Ping Zhuo was dressed in white, as ethereal as an immortal. A refined gentleman, he was unfortunately lowborn, merely a teacher of painting and calligraphy.

Everyone sighed, sure that he was about to rise from obscurity to marry into royalty.

Unexpectedly, Ping Zhuo straightened his back and knelt, his voice firm. "This commoner is unwilling."

Hua Yu spoke imperiously. "There is nothing I want that I cannot have."

Later, Ping Zhuo resisted the marriage even at the cost of his life. The upright faction submitted vehement protests, and Hua Yu ultimately failed to get what she wanted.

Hua Yu personally drove him away. "If you dare set foot in Chang'an again, I will kill you myself."

Later, Princess Hua Yu married the top scholar Su Xian, and the couple lived in harmony. The affair gradually faded from people's memories. Three years into their marriage, Prince Liang raised an army in rebellion and ascended the throne.

The once-destitute young man Ping Zhuo had risen to become Chief Minister Ping, while Hua Yu was imprisoned and placed under house arrest.

A deputy general under Ping Zhuo, hoping to avenge him, slashed a bloody cut across Hua Yu's neck with his sword.

Chief Minister Ping arrived in his sedan chair, dressed in flowing white. He glanced at her and drew a blade.

The onlookers all sighed that the princess was as good as dead. But in a flash of steel, Ping Zhuo killed the deputy general with a single slash, without even blinking.

He said coolly, "I am the only one allowed to kill my people. Nobody else can lay a finger on them, not even a hair."

Everyone: ?

Everyone said Chief Minister Ping was the very model of a gentleman, always proper and courteous.

But the maids of the princess's residence clearly saw him arrive in the rain that night and forcibly pull the princess, already another man's wife, into his arms.

His long, narrow phoenix eyes lifted slightly as he spoke with frivolous arrogance. "Other than coming with me, does the princess have another choice?"

*

Everyone said Chief Minister Ping kept Hua Yu by his side only to take revenge and torment her slowly.

But one day, when Hua Yu was attacked in the street, the chief minister shielded her with his own body.

Blood stained his white robes, but he paid it no mind. Holding her, he said gently, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

*

That night, all the flowers in Chang'an fell. She didn't know that he had long since become her devoted subject.

[Content warning: Both leads are virgins. The princess has her own reasons for marrying.]

Theme: Love is priceless