In a chaotic age, the imperial clan turns against itself.
Fifth Prince Chen Shuo is the worst kind of villain.
He is also the one who places a sword in Xie Qingfang's hand and tells her, "Anyone who threatens your life, you may kill, be they your parents, your husband, or even your children. And a mere lover? Why hesitate?"
On the night she is passed around and made a concubine,
Xie Qingfang pushes aside the umbrella Xie Yi holds over her head.
Beneath the torrential rain, she swears to heaven that for the rest of her life, she will carry the name this man gave her and walk over blades to reach the summit, where countless people will look up to her.
She will never again be anyone's subordinate.
All her life, Xie Qingfang is forced to give herself to treacherous heroes and princes in repayment for their favors. Her flesh and bones have long since rotted through.
Later, she comes to understand: rather than fret over her looks, she may as well enjoy the conveniences power brings.
"Even if I'm a fish, I'll swim to shore."
"I will control everyone's life and death, including yours, Xie Yi."
Trapped in this endless prison of a world, everyone wants her to be a docile canary. But she stubbornly insists on being a beast in a cage, even if she's not a pretty one.
*
On the day the demon empress Xie Qingfang is laid to rest, the only person to perform rites for her is a princess banished from the palace.
The princess was offered by a conquered kingdom. Her name was unknown. After entering the Chen court, she was given the surname Wei and called Yanyan.
Xie Qingfang mocks herself as a broken ship trapped in endless night, never to see the sun. Yanyan willingly becomes the one to steer her, ferrying her to shore.
Yanyan awakens the last remnants of compassion in Xie Qingfang's remaining years, and brings an end to that boundless night at dawn.
Theme: Hold fast to your heart even when facing adversity.
