The first time Princess Zhuang Weiyue of Jianing met Wei Min, he was a melancholy young boy.
He was the heir of the Wei family, born to a family of generals, yet his greatest talent was music. Zhuang Weiyue was ordered to get close to him, and by their second meeting, she was already pestering Wei Min to play her the amorous melodies from the southern lands.
The fragrant white pear blossoms in Yong'an Palace, the long corridors of Changchun Palace, and the hidden corners of the imperial garden all witnessed two children growing up together, childhood sweethearts who made everyone around them envious.
But the political landscape shifted. The capital was beset by turmoil, and the dynasty teetered on the brink of collapse.
Zhuang Weiyue and Wei Min's wedding was suddenly moved up.
On the eve of their wedding, the Wei clan launched a rebellion without warning. The rebel army swept through everything in its path. That night, Wei Min personally led his troops through the palace gates. His jade-like face was spattered with blood, and the hands that had once played the zither now held a sword as he took the throne.
The capital was ablaze that night, but Yong'an Palace alone was guarded as tightly as ever.
Princess Jianing drank the calming broth her dear elder brother Wei had brought her and slept soundly, never seeing the blood-red shadow that covered the entire palace.
The next day, the dynasty fell. The Zhuang clan were all reduced to prisoners, and Zhuang Weiyue became a princess of a fallen kingdom.
Her wedding to Wei Min went ahead as planned.
Wei Min had stayed up all night. Behind his ear was a fleck of blood from a member of the Zhuang clan, the same color as his wedding robe.
The palace was choked with smoke, and the blood of the former imperial clan had not yet dried.
Zhuang Weiyue sat in Kunning Palace, a dagger hidden on her. The instant Wei Min lifted her red veil, she plunged it toward his heart.
Wei Min's smile never changed. He took the blow and pulled her into his arms with even greater force.
Later...
After much effort, Zhuang Weiyue went from empress to emperor.
When the ministers recommended Du Mingzhen, a talented scholar from Jiangzhou, for court service, Zhuang Weiyue felt at first sight that he strongly resembled someone from her past.
She asked him why he had come.
Du Mingzhen glanced at the memorial on her desk, in which an official petitioned to appoint an imperial consort, then leaned toward her.
Can the male protagonist appear in the next chapter 😂