#Career-focused heroine who flirts under duress, then runs VS hero who knows it's bait but can't resist taking it#
Su Heng entered the Shang Palace Bureau as a female official, intent on joining the Imperial Secretariat to make a life for herself as an Imperial Secretary. But because of her beauty, the young women waiting to be chosen as imperial consorts were wary of her and often tried to trip her up.
To show she had no designs on anyone and avoid trouble, Su Heng claimed that she already had someone in mind. The future crown princess didn't believe her and insisted on finding out who it was, so Su Heng casually pointed to the cold-faced powerful minister standing beside the crown prince, with his refined, noble air.
~
Xiao Zhiyan is the youngest head of a marquis's household in the capital. He serves as Commander of the Imperial Guard, is one of His Majesty's most trusted men, and has always been ruthless and decisive. No one dares provoke him.
Then he met a bold female official who not only confessed to him in public, but often made him pastries and snacks, flirted with him every time they met, and even dared to take liberties with him whenever she had the chance.
Xiao Zhiyan responded with cold warnings and kept her at a distance, intent only on finding a reason to throw her out of the palace.
Until one day, she risked her life to save him. He thought, This woman loves me so deeply that she couldn't possibly live without me. I might as well give her a title.
But when he was ready to ask for her hand, he overheard the young woman, now promoted to Imperial Secretary, laughing coldly as she said to someone:
"Who would actually like that humorless walking King of Hell? I just didn't want the crown princess to get the wrong idea. It made things easier for me in the palace!"
On the other side of the wall, Xiao "useful pawn" Zhiyan's face turned livid.
So there had been signs all along. She only confessed and spoke sweetly in front of the crown princess and the other young women. When she made him food, she never considered what he liked. Even when she risked her life to save him, it was only a ploy to win his trust...
The next time they met, the abstinent minister pinned the beauty against a wall. His gaze was cold, his voice husky.
"Crossing the river and burning the bridge, taking my feelings and then abandoning me. Do you know what happens when you treat me this way?"
One-on-one, both leads are virgins, happy ending
Theme: Take your fate into your own hands
