My Disguise as the Crown Prince Was Exposed, So I Faked My Death and Fled

[This story is awaiting a major revision!]

Please add my next book, The Mask Slips, and I'm Betrothed to My Nemesis, to your reading list!

Bright little sunshine x aloof beauty

To secure her elder brother's path to the throne, Zhao Xiying helped push her maternal uncle's political rival, Pei Yanli, into the position of Junior Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince.

From then on, Pei Yanli rose steadily through the ranks, eventually reaching the highest position in the court.

Every step he took was helped along by Zhao Xiying.

But when the truth came to light, Zhao Xiying was convicted of deceiving the emperor. The once-noble princess became a prisoner.

The emperor showed no mercy. And to keep the Crown Prince's household from being implicated, Pei Yanli showed no regard for their past affection and sent Zhao Xiying to marry into a neighboring enemy state.

On the eve of the marriage, the man was as impassive as ever, his manner strictly businesslike.

He said the princess had saved his life and recognized his talent, but the laws of propriety came first, and he had no choice but to obey. The northern frontier was bitterly cold and far away. He wished her well on her journey.

After placing her trust in the wrong man, Zhao Xiying's heart turned to ash. She faked her death during the journey to the neighboring state and disappeared for three years.

On the day news of the princess's death reached the capital, the usually composed and self-controlled Pei lost control in public. After several days of despair, he defied propriety and set up a memorial tablet for the princess in his manor.

-

Born a princess, Zhao Xiying was sent to marry into another country twice in her life.

The first time, the frontier was in danger of falling, and the officials petitioned against it.

The usually dispassionate Lord Pei gambled his career and life, defied the emperor's order alone, and stopped the bridal sedan just as it was about to leave the city.

The second time, she was falsely accused and unable to clear her name.

The man who had once rescued her from danger personally sent her down a road with no return.

As the carriage plunged off the cliff, Zhao Xiying swore to herself:

If she ever returned to court, she would never again be a princess who seemed noble but had no control over her own fate.

--Coming soon--

The Mask Slips, and I'm Betrothed to My Nemesis

The first time Shen Suining met He Hansheng was at a brothel. They both wanted that night's most popular courtesan and began bidding against each other with extravagant sums.

Both had their own missions and didn't want to make a scene, but after several rounds of deadlock, they decided to reveal their identities.

Shen Suining: "I'm Miao Cuihua."

He Hansheng: "I'm Wang Tiezhu."

"...Brother Tiezhu is quite an unusual name."

"Not at all. Miss Cuihua knows how to have fun."

Like two shellfish fighting while the fisherman profits, both of their missions failed. From then on, they became enemies, at odds with each other at every turn.

Later, they were both summoned back to the capital by imperial decree and ran into each other outside the Imperial Study.

He Hansheng sneered, "Well, if it isn't the Lady of Tangxi."

Shen Suining smiled with a knife hidden in her words. "It's Young Marquis He. What a coincidence."

A moment later, inside the Imperial Study:

The emperor pointed at He Hansheng and told Shen Suining, "Tangxi, this is the husband I carefully chose for you."

Shen Suining: ???

He Hansheng: ...

Theme: Ideals and convictions.