Ballad of Frost and Snow

In the depths of winter, with heavy snow falling, Shen Youshuang rescued a young man in the mountains, covered in blood and close to death. She hired him as a guard and had him treated and cared for at a secluded estate belonging to the Shen family. Less than six months later, once his injuries had healed, the guard left on the pretext of running errands and never returned. The Shen family estate had lost a guard, while the capital had gained a Prince Regent who had risen from the dead: Xie Shuchen. Xie Shuchen returned to the capital to purge his political enemies, and blood flowed through the streets and beyond the city walls. The Shen family, to which Shen Youshuang belonged, had once stood among those enemies. With a single decree, the Shen family was wiped out in an instant. Her parents and brothers all died. Shen Youshuang alone was lucky enough to escape with her life, but the once-respected young lady was reduced to the status of a lowly courtesan and sent to the capital to be placed in the Imperial Music Bureau. After many twists and turns, she sold her pride to make a living and became the Earl of Rong'an's mistress. - Soon, shocking news spread: Prince Regent Xie Shuchen had beaten the Earl of Rong'an bloody at a banquet and forcibly taken his mistress away, leaving in high spirits. That night, beneath the warm hibiscus curtains. The Prince Regent hooked a finger beneath the beautiful mistress's pale, delicate chin. "Come with me." Forced to raise her head and meet his gaze, the beauty's long black hair spilled down like a spring around her slender waist. She smiled sweetly, then suddenly spat in his face. "If I'd known this would happen, I would have been better off saving a dog that day." "But Miss Shen has no choice but to marry the dog and follow him, doesn't she?" Xie Shuchen wiped his face. Rather than getting angry, he laughed, almost maniacally. Theme: Even if someone breaks my bones, tears my sinews, and grinds me to dust, I can still grow a backbone and flesh anew amid the ruins