Fang Wenqing always thought his life would be smooth sailing.
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He passed the provincial examination at fourteen and placed among the top three at seventeen, becoming the pride of the whole city. He also married a beautiful, wealthy official's daughter. He had both fame and fortune, and won the hand of a beautiful woman. Everyone envied him!
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But he failed to thrive in the world of power and money, and his beautiful wife was unfaithful. The once-beloved prodigy fell into ruin, becoming a scholar who sold calligraphy and paintings on the street, with a green hat over his head.
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One dark, windy night, he flew into a rage, killed the adulterous pair, and fled his home. From then on, he set out to find a path to an official career.
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Later, he entered the palace and became a favorite of the commandery princess, with power to do as he pleased. But to his shock, he... became a eunuch! Even if he eventually became the chief eunuch, he was still a eunuch, ahhh!
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The heroine, Xiao Yu, is an unfavored commandery princess. She loves military strategy and weapons from childhood, so her father sends her to guard the frontier.
It's a place where not even men are willing to go, yet this young woman manages to thrive there.
Later, she meets Fang Wenqing. With his help, she wins her father's favor again and is allowed to return to the palace to stay by his side.
Fang Wenqing: "If the princess wants to establish herself in the palace, you can't do without me."
Xiao Yu: "You have blood on your hands. I can't make you my attendant."
After that, a chief eunuch appears by Xiao Yu's side. He's ruthless, like a cruel official, but uniquely gentle and attentive toward her.
Xiao Yu: "This princess will not become your sworn companion."
Fang Wenqing smiles. "The princess may marry whomever she wishes. But if you give him your heart, this servant will kill him."
Xiao Yu hooks a finger under his chin, threatening and teasing him. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Fang Wenqing answers confidently. "You couldn't bear to."
This is a story of forbidden love between the male and female leads.
The male lead is a true eunuch (he isn't one at first, but castrates himself later to save his life). The female lead is an illegitimate princess of the Great Liang dynasty who later makes a comeback and becomes a female general.
Content warning: The male lead was married earlier in the story and is not sexually inexperienced. The female lead is later married off by imperial decree, but she remains chaste for the male lead.
One-on-one romance + happy ending
Alternate history
Theme: There is always a way forward
