The day the Western Regions princess was presented to the new emperor of the Central Plains, a heavy snow was falling.
The delicate beauty bid farewell to her people in the snow, then threw herself into the emperor's arms, tears glistening in her eyes. "I beg Your Majesty to show me mercy."
But the young emperor seemed unmoved by her charms. He gently pushed her away. "Zhaoyi, return to the palace and rest early."
As the Western Regions' precious pearl, Hani Kezi knew she was a peerless beauty. She refused to believe she couldn't win over Yun Zhi.
After several attempts to get close to him, she watched helplessly as one batch of beauties after another entered Yun Zhi's harem. Every one of them received his favor. She was the only exception.
It was not until the Mid-Autumn Festival, when she used a few tricks to get Yun Zhi drunk and spend the night with her, that he seemed to finally come around. He lingered in her Zhaoyun Hall day after day, neglecting state affairs.
Hani Kezi got what she wanted and became the most favored consort in the harem.
She thought she had entered Yun Zhi's heart, but the contraceptive soup after every night together never stopped. When she unexpectedly became pregnant, she begged and pleaded, but he still would not let her keep the child.
When she learned that Yun Zhi had secretly attacked the Western Regions and displayed the heads of her father and brothers before the city gates, her heart died completely.
That night, she gave Yun Zhi a cup of poisoned wine, then left the palace with gold, silver, and valuables. She vanished without a trace.
Yun Zhi had known since childhood that an emperor must not be swayed by love, but he still fell, step by step, into the web woven by that woman from the Western Regions.
The entire court warned that she was a bewitching concubine who would bring ruin to the country. He protected her single-handedly, at the cost of never being able to have a child with her.
When the Xiongnu invaded the Western Regions, he ordered troops to their aid, but it was already too late. He had never imagined that after protecting her so much, the reward waiting for him would be a cup of poison.
"See? I told you long ago she was a spy!"
A spy?
Yun Zhi was lucky enough to survive. He forced himself to forget that woman and devoted himself to governing day and night.
Then, during another heavy snowfall the following year, he went incognito on an inspection tour and saw her again.
She was holding a little girl by the hand, with a man beside her, smiling like a flower.
The wise and benevolent emperor's eyes reddened where no one could see. For the first time, he did something tyrannical: he abducted a common woman and imprisoned her in the imperial harem.
SC, happy ending, groveling redemption
Theme: Love never ends
