A Contract with the Eastern Palace

Xie Youmian was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Xie family's main branch. She was sent back to the Xie family's old residence as a child.

It wasn't until an imperial decree naming someone the destined phoenix landed on the Xie family that the second branch, unwilling to let their beloved daughter leap into a fire pit, remembered Xie Youmian and brought her back to the capital.

The Crown Prince was gravely ill. Being named the destined phoenix was essentially being sent to bring him good luck.

When Xie Youmian learned the truth, she packed her bags and prepared to run away.

That night, inside a luxurious carriage on a hill ten miles outside the city, the Crown Prince earnestly asked for her help and made a contract: no matter what happened, he would let her leave after three years.

Only then did Xie Youmian learn that Crown Prince Xiao Mingxuan wanted her medical skills and was asking for her help.

Xie Youmian agreed.

But a few days later, she stumbled upon the return of the Crown Prince's beloved, and the two were clearly in love.

Only then did Xie Youmian realize that she had been chosen because the Crown Prince couldn't bear to see his beloved confined within the palace walls. She meant nothing to him.

Anger simmered in her heart, and all she wanted was to leave as soon as possible!

-

After moving into the Eastern Palace, Xie Youmian was the Crown Princess in name, but secretly treated Xiao Mingxuan. They treated each other with respect, and life was fairly carefree.

As Xiao Mingxuan gradually recovered, plenty of women began flocking around him.

Xie Youmian watched Xiao Mingxuan's otherworldly figure, pursed her lips, and looked displeased. Why should someone else get the man she'd painstakingly saved? She was still his wife in name, so she had to do something about it!

But when she thought of the contract, which said they would not interfere in each other's affairs, Xie Youmian realized for the first time how infuriating its terms were!

She decided the contract had to be changed!

Later, at a palace banquet, the Emperor urged the Crown Prince to produce an heir, implying that he should take a secondary consort.

The chosen candidate was Xiao Mingxuan's childhood sweetheart, his beloved. Xie Youmian suddenly felt threatened. Even if she had to give up her place, she thought, it could wait until the contract expired!

Maybe the contract didn't have to expire at all!

Xie Youmian: Right! The contract has to be destroyed!

So one sunset evening, she found the copy of the contract belonging to the Crown Prince in his study and prepared to destroy it somewhere out of sight.

But at a garden corner, she collided with Xiao Mingxuan, who was hurrying along. Both copies of the contract fell to the ground...

Xie Youmian: "..."

Xiao Mingxuan: "..."

Both looking embarrassed, they said in unison, "You stole my copy of the contract?!"

-

Xiao Mingxuan had been frail since childhood. He survived only thanks to the Empress Dowager's protection. By chance, he witnessed the extraordinary medical skills of the Xie family's eldest daughter and devised the prophecy of the destined phoenix to keep her in the Eastern Palace.

He treated her with respect and made a contract with her.

Though Xiao Mingxuan was the Crown Prince, he had to live on a knife's edge in the imperial palace. He had planned to let her help him while he focused on protecting her.

And he was certain he would honor their contract.

Until one day, the carefree young man every girl in the city adored asked him in all seriousness, "Cousin, since she's not the one you want, I'll marry her in three years!"

At that moment, Xiao Mingxuan felt a painful tightness in his chest, but he said nothing, which was as good as agreeing.

But then came that palace banquet.

Beneath the silent moon, he saw the young man, eyes bloodshot, blocking Xie Youmian's way. With barely contained caution, he choked out, "It's only three years! I can wait!"

Xiao Mingxuan admitted that panic had seized him...

He thought, the contract period was too short!

-

Reader's guide: 1. There are quite a few fictional details, so please don't scrutinize them too closely.

2. Both the male and female leads have emotional scars, and they heal each other.

3. This is a sweet romance focused on the relationship, with little political intrigue.

Theme: With you, the years are a song...