Jiang Yao rescued a refined, handsome man and brought him home.
Later, the man returned to the palace, became emperor, and brought her in as a consort.
She thought he favored her because of their romance outside the palace, but she never imagined it was because she looked so much like the woman he cherished most.
That beloved woman was gravely ill, and none of the physicians could cure her. One day, a shaman said, "Find someone who resembles the princess and offer them to the gods, so she may die in the princess's place."
Ji Guannan believed such absurd words and wanted Jiang Yao to die for the woman he cherished.
So she tried to take her own life and escape the palace, but he rescued her and dragged her back.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Western Qin, but I have one condition."
"What condition? Tell me."
Jiang Yao suddenly smiled, though her eyes were utterly calm. "Before that, I want to be the only one you favor."
"Fine. I promise."
Later, Ji Guannan suffered a sword wound and called Jiang Yao over. "Come bandage me. I remember you're good at it."
With a charming smile, she casually opened his robe and scoffed. "Your chest really has had one misfortune after another."
"How come I never realized how sharp your tongue was?"
He held her head and gave her a brief, restrained kiss.
She pressed harder, imitating the tone he used to take with her.
"Can't help it. I learned from you."
In the second month of the third year of Yuanhe, Noble Consort Jiang fell ill for a long time and died. She was posthumously titled Rou'an.
The emperor was inconsolable.
Warnings: melodramatic tropes, simplistic writing
Reading guide:
1. A tragic romance
2. Set in a fictional world
3. The heroine is still alive, and her ending is entirely her own
Theme: Love yourself. If you can, fly free.
