Blurb 3
On the treacherous minister Xiao Baiying's twenty-third birthday, he received a special birthday gift: the long-missing Grand Princess.
Nan Tao was the emperor's only daughter. From childhood, she got everything she wanted.
That year, the princess lost interest in gold and jewels. She wanted only one person: the Secretariat Drafter Xiao Chan.
For three years after their wedding, Nan Tao lived in blissful happiness with him.
Until Xiao Chan took his own life.
Nan Tao woke as if from a long dream.
She couldn't understand what Xiao Chan could possibly have found unsatisfactory when she, a princess of noble blood, had married him.
Only when she led eight hundred armed men to a residence Xiao Chan had secretly established outside the city did she find out.
All the adults in the residence had fled. Only one boy remained, looking exactly like Xiao Chan.
Nan Tao had already been thinking of killing him, but after gazing at Xiao Baiying for a long time, she softened at the sight of his resemblance to her late husband.
She would regret that moment of weakness, with all her heart, countless times later.
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Xiao Baiying was born not knowing his parents. He was unrestrained and had no understanding of human feelings.
At fourteen, he entered the princess's residence as a convict's slave.
It was only because of Nan Tao's exceptional favor that he earned the respect of others.
Nan Tao kept a strict leash on him, so Xiao Baiying carefully hid all his shameful thoughts. He pretended to be pure and desireless, upright and taciturn. For a time, he even became famous throughout the land, and was recruited into official service.
As Secretariat Drafter, Xiao Baiying kept his distance, not too close and not too far, thinking he could go on playing that man's part until the end of time.
Until one unfamiliar man after another appeared in the princess's residence.
They said some had eyebrows resembling the consort's, while others had eyes like his.
Xiao Baiying could no longer keep up the act.
He repeatedly made slanderous accusations, defied the will of the people, and ignored the condemnations. For a time, he held unrivaled power.
The young chancellor, now wielding immense authority, revealed his sharp edge and fought the Grand Princess to a standstill, making the entire court tremble. At last, Xiao Baiying won.
Nan Tao was confined at home in chains, but when she saw him, she still sneered. "What a treacherous, ambitious dog. Now that you've had your revenge, go on, bring me every cup of poisoned wine you have!"
Xiao Xiang, who was pure and desireless in front of others, lowered his eyes and slowly curled a strand of hair at her cheek around his finger. "Your slave has only one question, Your Highness. If you wanted nothing but a lookalike to replace him, why couldn't it be me?"
The proud, radiant Grand Princess Nan Tao X the mad, treacherous minister Xiao Baiying, who stops at nothing for love
Age gap, younger man, substitute romance, master and servant romance
Theme: Transferring one's feelings to another is not acceptable
