His Shadow Guard

(The novel underwent a major revision in April 2025. Comments after chapter 100 may no longer match the story. Please understand.) Blurb: She was an assassin, code-named Thirty-Seven, until Prince Ning gave her the name Qing Ge. One day, she was nearly killed and sent to a country estate to recover. On the way, someone approached her, saying she looked like his wife. His wife suffered from a chronic illness, so he wanted Qing Ge to marry in her place and keep her husband in the dark for five months. He offered her a very generous sum in silver notes. Qing Ge loved money, so she agreed. But she never imagined that the wealthy woman's betrothed would be her own master, His Highness Prince Ning… Fortunately, only Heaven, Earth, and the leader of the intelligence network knew what the assassins looked like. Prince Ning did not. She managed to fool him and carefully played the part of his princess consort. . Prince Ning was strikingly beautiful, but his temper was violent. One day, while investigating a traitor, Prince Ning harshly interrogated the palace's death warriors and assassins. One assassin was punished over a trivial matter, lashed a hundred times until blood covered the ground. Prince Ning paid no attention. The emperor arranged a marriage for Prince Ning, and he wed the legitimate daughter of the Xiahou family of Ganliang. His princess consort was graceful and charming, with an innocent nature. Prince Ning went from indifference and wariness to falling in love. After carrying their child for ten months and giving birth to a son, the princess consort returned to her family home for a visit. When she came back, Prince Ning grabbed her by the throat and demanded, “Where is my princess consort?” Though they had the same face, this woman wasn't her. Only then did he discover that the princess consort who had shared such tender intimacy with him was a fake found by the Xiahou family, motivated solely by money! Prince Ning flew into a rage, and rivers of blood flowed. Afterward, he searched everywhere for the woman, turning over every stone, but the world was vast, and he could not find her. . Over the next three years, Prince Ning went from fury and resentment to brooding silence, and finally to a cold, withdrawn solitude. At last, one day beneath the waning moon, he lowered his eyes and watched a withered parasol tree leaf fall at his feet, covering the lengthened shadow of the assassin behind him. He said softly, “It was you, wasn't it?” . #She must have hated him deeply. She stayed by his side for three years, silently watching him search for her in vain. Theme: Respect and cherish yourself