Eight Treasures Medicinal Cuisine

Qinjiao, born into a family of imperial physicians, is determined to open a clinic and practice medicine for the good of the people. Then she suddenly learns that she is a fake heiress, born to a family of cooks. Through a twist of fate, she becomes the concubine of the Prince of Lu's heir.

Everyone says the heir to the Prince of Lu is refined and tenderhearted, a perfect gentleman straight out of a romance. But he is not Qinjiao's Mr. Right. He is the real heiress Qin Yun's.

When she opens her eyes again, she is back at the moment she fell into the water. This time, she refuses to be a counterfeit. She slashes her face, cutting deep into her brow, just to get away from the couple and return to where she belongs: inheriting the restaurant and becoming a humble cook.

Ugly, clumsy, and exposed as a fake heiress, she insists on pretending to belong in the kitchen. While everyone else mocks and sneers at her, the aloof man who never speaks of women stands up for her: "I admire her courage to wield a knife in her jade-white hand and sharpen its edge. I pity her, alone and helpless, bearing humiliation and hardship. I love her, for all the worldly trials she has endured, her original heart remains unchanged."

He says, "Miss Qin, I've been dreaming of you lately. What medicine can cure this illness?"

Qinjiao grips her cleaver and looks at her own greasy, rough hands. Deliberately cool, she says, "I'm a cook, not a physician."

He smiles and offers her a handkerchief. The fingers that once held a paintbrush pick up a piece of cold, raw meat. "Then I'll make a dish, and Chef Qin can tell me if I have any talent."

The aloof man everyone admires washes his hands to cook for her, then grins and asks her to judge his cooking.

The bright moon already hangs high in the sky. Why should it fall down to the mortal world?

At last, Qinjiao gives in. "I'm not worthy of you."

But he says, "Who says that? We're clearly made for each other."

*

Lu Shangzhou has had the same dream since childhood. In it, he marries a wife, and they live in perfect harmony, envied by all. He can never make out her face.

Then, while relaxing at his maternal grandfather's home, he meets the disfigured owner of Eight Treasures Restaurant. The eyes and brows peeking out from beneath her veil seem strangely familiar.

"Miss Qin, I've been dreaming of you lately."

He dreams that you marry him in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, your face unmarred beneath the wedding candles, your eyes lifting to meet his before you shyly lower your head.

But now Miss Qin has a scar at the corner of her eye. She glances at him coolly, not a trace of affection in her eyes. "If you're sick, take medicine."

Lu Shangzhou doesn't know how many times he has jolted awake from his dreams. Ever since he met Qinjiao, they have changed. He dreams that Qinjiao becomes someone else's woman, and he can only watch as he is beaten to death, his eyes still fixed on her.

He no longer wants to just watch her. She's right in front of him, so why not make the first move?

If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain.

Theme: Get back up after you fall.