Starting from Scratch as a Max-Level Noblewoman

[Updates are irregular. Enter at your own risk.] A prince who seems gentle but is actually gloomy and dangerously unhinged x a general's daughter who is skilled in both martial arts and intrigue The youngest daughter of the Eastern Kingdom's General's Manor was pampered from childhood and grew up spoiled and domineering. But when disaster struck one day and her father and brothers were all killed, she fled to the border with the help of her formidable martial arts skills, known to few. After collapsing from exhaustion, she was rescued by a young gentleman. Knowing what had happened to her, he offered her a deal: he would investigate the reason behind her father and brothers' deaths, and she would work for him. With him holding all the cards and her at his mercy, she had no choice but to make a deal with the devil. The gentleman arranged for her to enter the Northern Kingdom's Chancellor's Manor and take the place of the chancellor's third daughter. She had to pretend to be an unsophisticated country girl, while keeping her guard up every day as she fought with her legitimate elder sister and their mother. At a gathering of talented women, her half-sister schemed to force her onto the stage. Proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she had no choice but to take first place and steal the title of the capital's most talented woman from her elder sister. Even the First Prince, her elder sister's crush, was utterly captivated by her. As it happened, this prince was the gentleman's mortal enemy. Jiao Deng had no choice but to string him along to obtain information for the gentleman. But for some reason, the gentleman was so suspicious that every time she met with the First Prince, he demanded a detailed report. What a nuisance! Scene One: The First Prince assumed that this sheltered young lady from the chancellor's household could be won over with a few empty promises, securing the chancellor's support. One day, he went to his second younger brother's residence. Why did the masked dancer look so familiar? "Elder brother, you've come to bring your second younger brother good news? I'm getting married." The First Prince's usually composed face broke into a smile. Bai Lin put an arm around the dancer and set down the teacup in his hand. His voice was as gentle as ever. "Congratulations, elder brother. Which young lady is the lucky one?" The First Prince sounded rather pleased with himself. "The chancellor's illegitimate daughter, the third young lady, famed as the most beautiful woman in the capital." Bai Lin tightened his grip on the dancer's waist. His gentle tone carried a faint chill. Though he looked at the triumphant First Prince before him, it seemed he was asking the dancer beside him, "Oh? Is that so?" Scene Two: Bai Lin's past accomplishments had made him stand out too much. Even now that he was lame, some of the princes still resented him. But when he returned this time, a woman with superb martial arts skills and a graceful figure was at his side. Everyone sent to kill him never came back. The fight for the throne grew ever fiercer. The First Prince took the opportunity when Bai Lin was traveling to surround him with assassins. He approached with a sneer. "Bai Lin, you're all alone now. You're dead this time, aren't you?" Bai Lin raised the carriage curtain, utterly unconcerned by the dozens of assassins surrounding him. "Don't joke, elder brother. Your younger brother still has his princess consort with him." The First Prince noticed Jiao Deng, now a married woman in the carriage, and pain flashed in his eyes. He gazed at the even more beautiful woman with infatuation and said, "Jiao Deng, come here. I won't kill you." Bai Lin's hand tightened on the carriage curtain, the veins showing. Even his laugh sounded a little feral as he turned Jiao Deng by the shoulder and kissed the crown of her head. "Don't dream, elder brother. Jiao Deng is madly in love with me." When Jiao Deng neither spoke nor moved, the First Prince grew angry too. He immediately gave the order, and the assassins swarmed forward. At last, the beautiful woman with a face like a painting showed a flicker of emotion. She had put on the newest lipstick from Drunken Blossom House that day. Her full lips parted and closed. "Husband, should we leave anyone alive?" Theme: The time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves