Doting on the Beauty

After the State of Zhao was defeated, it had to send a hostage to the State of Jin. The Empress couldn't bear to give up her own son, so the unlucky Ninth Princess, Zhao Yunli, became the one sent away. Not only did she have to serve as a hostage, she had to disguise herself as a man.

Every day, Zhao Yunli lived in fear, terrified of being killed and even more afraid of being exposed.

So she watched her words and actions carefully and desperately flattered Jin's Seventh Prince. "Xiao Jiu admires Your Highness, reveres Your Highness, and only wants to stay by your side."

She fed him lies to deceive him into protecting her.

When her identity was finally exposed, Zhao Yunli panicked and begged him through tear-filled eyes. "Could you keep it a secret? I don't want to die."

She'd always been full of lies, but now she'd told the truth.

Han Yunchao gave her a half-smile. He reached up and removed her jade hairpin, letting her black hair spill across his palm. His hand gripped her soft waist as he gazed at her greedily. "Then Xiao Jiu had better be obedient."

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The bewitching hostage became Han Yunchao's bedchamber pet. Every day, she wept and endured his attentions, too afraid to utter a word of complaint in case it cost her life.

Later, Han Yunchao was granted a marriage. Thinking she was fairly well-behaved, he planned to settle her in the outer courtyard so he could continue doting on her. Little did he know that she would happily agree to his face, then run away to the State of Zhao and accept a marriage proposal from a prince of a neighboring kingdom.

On her wedding day, dressed in scarlet and riding in a sedan chair amid a grand wedding procession, she suddenly saw Han Yunchao charging over with a large force of soldiers. Before she could react, he grabbed her by the collar, his killing intent bearing down on her. "Zhao Yunli, long time no see."

Theme: Learn to treat others with sincerity.