Has Your Highness Been Burned to Ashes Yet?

Yun Sui grew up in the countryside until, at thirteen, she was told that she was actually the daughter of Jiangnan's wealthiest family.

A crowd of household guards packed the small farmhouse courtyard. Their leader tossed down a bag of silver and took Yun Sui back to the Su family.

Yun Sui thought she would have more family to love her, but instead her father was dismissive, her mother resented her, and her older brothers ignored her.

In the splendid hall, pearl curtains and jade screens shimmered as fragrant breezes wafted through. Everyone was dressed in finery. Only Yun Sui seemed out of place.

In the bitter haze of a dream that faded like yellow millet, Yun Sui's insecurity grew unchecked. The only person who ever offered her comfort and kindness was Xie Qinyu, her brother's friend.

It seemed only natural that she would fall for Xie Qinyu.

He was gentle and refined, talented and brilliant, with a clear, noble bearing. His eyes never held the disdain she saw in everyone else's.

He didn't mind when she wrote her name incorrectly. He taught her the rules of the noble clans and even reluctantly helped her cheat when her vanity got the better of her. Her parents and brothers all grew more cordial toward her because of Xie Qinyu.

Once again, after winning everyone's attention with Xie Qinyu's help, Yun Sui instinctively looked toward him. The young man was smiling warmly amid the crowd.

Standing on the high platform, Yun Sui thought this would be the last time. She would tell Xie Qinyu that she no longer cared so much about all this. She liked him.

That night, when the two met, the aphrodisiac someone had slipped Yun Sui began to take effect. Before she could even say "I like you," she saw the young man's gaze settle on her flushed face. He patted her head, his tone gentle but helpless, and spoke without much reproach.

"Yun Sui, currying favor with the powerful is only human nature. But from now on, don't use such a despicable method as drugging someone. It will only hurt you."

He hadn't even asked her a single question, yet he had already condemned her.

That night, beneath a sky scattered with bright stars, Yun Sui was locked alone in the study.

As the drug's effects tormented her until she was nearly unconscious, the study door remained shut. One thought kept circling endlessly in Yun Sui's mind: she didn't like Jiangnan, she didn't like the Su family, and she didn't like Xie Qinyu anymore. She wanted none of it. She only wanted to go home.

After dawn, the first light revealed how wretched she looked. The young man stood in the sunlight, elegant and composed, gently offering her a handkerchief.

Born into the imperial family, Xie Qinyu had met many people like Yun Sui.

Shallow and vain, always looking to climb higher, and terribly troublesome. Someone like her wouldn't give up just because he rejected her once. So he smiled gently and held out the plain white handkerchief.

He thought Yun Sui would take it with her usual joy and shyness. But in the light of dawn, the girl, disheveled from head to toe, simply dodged his outstretched hand as if on instinct. Without even looking at him, she stumbled away.

1. One-on-one romance, happy ending.

Theme: Growing up is a long journey.