The Pei clan, an illustrious family, was being stripped of its title and property for a crime. On the very day of their downfall, the emperor personally oversaw the troops.
Princess Zhaoyuan, Zhao Yuan, the emperor's most beloved youngest daughter, accompanied him.
The entire Pei clan was shackled and bound. Their eldest legitimate son, Pei Yanzhi, was the dream lover of countless noblewomen in the capital, a man as elegant as jade and as graceful as an orchid.
He stood straight as a pine, his face cold, refusing to be taken into custody.
The emperor flew into a rage and wanted him executed.
Princess Zhaoyuan was gentle by nature. Fear shone in her almond-shaped eyes as she timidly pleaded for his life, tears streaming down her lovely face.
But just the night before...
This young lord, usually so untouchable, had knelt beneath the princess's resplendent skirts, shackles on his wrists and ankles.
He raised his striking face, his eyes reddening at the corners as he gazed at her in silent restraint.
Zhao Yuan looked innocent, but the corners of her lips slowly curled with interest. She brushed her jade-white fingers over Pei Yanzhi's handsome brows and eyes, then laughed sweetly.
"I have never been one to meddle, Lord Pei. Since you've come to me, you know what you have to do, don't you?"
Zhao Yuan was very good at pretending.
In public, she was meek and harmless. In private, she was selfish, cruel, and ruthless.
At first, she saved Pei Yanzhi only because he was handsome, and because he was the dream lover of the person she hated most.
To get revenge on that person, she dragged this immaculate, aloof flower down from his lofty pedestal.
They appeared everywhere together, entwined and making love with abandon.
But when she grew tired of him, she kicked him aside without a second thought.
She was a princess, supreme above all.
Of course she could do as she pleased.
Who cared if Pei Yanzhi sank into the mire?
Pei Yanzhi died a terrible death in his previous life.
Because of a woman.
From the first day after being reborn, Pei Yanzhi wanted nothing more than to kill her.
But when they met again, he still handed Zhao Yuan that beautiful flower, just as he had in his previous life, a flower as radiant as she was.
He calmly watched himself repeat his past mistakes, flatly denying that it was because he loved her or could not bear to let her go.
How could he love her?
But later...
When Pei Yanzhi learned that Zhao Yuan had saved him in both his lives only because of that lowly man she loved,
the usually cool and self-possessed jade-like gentleman was suddenly consumed by a towering fury.
He wanted nothing more than... nothing more than...
To crush that man's flesh and bones, then put his face on Pei Yanzhi's own.
So Zhao Yuan would look only at him, and love only him.
·, ·
"Your Highness, when you call for me, who are you thinking of?
Your Highness, I can let you mistake me for someone else.
Just don't cast me aside... Your Highness."
"I wish to remain by Your Highness's side, to become the sharpest blade in the world and keep you safe."
Zhao Yuan gave a coy laugh. "But blades are too vicious. I don't like them, and I have no need of one."
Pei Yanzhi slowly raised his eyes and kissed her fingertips.
"Then I shall become Your Highness's most beloved mandrake flower."
A flower of exquisite beauty, steeped in deadly poison.
Life and death at her command, a single drop of blood enough to kill. He would bloom only for her and offer her everything she desired.
"Your Highness, have you ever liked me, even a little?"
"Of course I have, Yanzhi. I like you."
"But what Your Highness calls liking is the sort of feeling one has for beautiful things. Anything that catches your fancy or pleases your eye can be called something you like. I don't want that kind of affection.
The love I mean is more possessive. It isn't the sort of fondness one has for an object. It is the love of husband and wife, united in heart, growing old together, and belonging to each other alone."
"Pei Yanzhi, you mustn't fall for me. If you do, I won't like you anymore."
[Reading Guide]
1. This is really a love story, with the romance at its heart. The plot-to-romance ratio is two to eight.
2. One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, happy ending.
3. The female lead is a black-sesame-filled rice ball: sweet and harmless on the outside, cruel and willful within. She's a skilled actress, a little obsessive, and once had a dream lover. She is not a perfect character.
The male lead is reborn and sweet on the outside, dark within. He thinks he's a substitute, and he's a lovesick fool who acts cold while doing the laundry. He is not a perfect character either.
Neither lead is a saint.
4. A self-indulgent passion project and writing practice. I'm letting myself go!!!
5. An imaginary dynasty where women hold considerable status.
Theme: Love and freedom.
