When the city walls fell amid the flames, the empress dowager handed Ying Ling a strip of white silk. "If you don't want to become someone's plaything, hang yourself."
Ying Ling chose another way to survive. Even if her spineless elder brother surrendered, she would kill him with her own hands.
The new emperor announced to the realm that Princess Ying Ling was dead. Everyone mourned her.
No one knew that a palace maid, with a slender, seductive figure and a pure, quiet demeanor, served the new emperor in his bedchamber day and night.
The Son of Heaven, Cao Yanzhu, scrupulously observed the rites and was held in the highest esteem, like untouchable, snow-white light. He was renowned for his virtue.
For years, the people had erected golden statues of him and built shrines in his honor while he was still alive.
Ying Ling was likely the last person in the world to curse him sincerely.
Only she knew how vile he was, and the cruel ways he used to humiliate people.
The new emperor wiped the blood from his palm and casually smeared it across her face, then suddenly yanked her hair.
"I'll give you three chances to assassinate me. If you fail, you'll give me a child."
*
On nights filled with humiliation, Ying Ling sometimes thought of him.
Cao Yanzhu, the wandering hero who became famous across the realm the moment he emerged from seclusion, befriended people everywhere and swore to save the Great Yu dynasty.
The young man she'd held in her heart for so many years.
1. One-on-one romance, happy ending
Theme: Undecided
