Powerful pursuit | The hero's long road to winning her back; drafting furiously, publication coming soon!
Blurb:
Her childhood sweetheart and fiance, Cao Xian, is framed by a villain. He not only loses his scholar's title, but is also implicated in a murder case. As the Cao family spends its entire fortune without being able to turn things around, Ming Yan cries herself hoarse with worry.
The villain has coveted her for a long time. He even openly tells the Cao family that if she agrees to give herself to him, he'll show mercy and spare Cao Xian.
Madam Cao, who loves her son more than life itself, immediately kneels before Ming Yan and begs her to make a personal sacrifice for the greater good, for the sake of their many years of affection.
When Ming Yan is at the end of her rope and ready to accept her fate, she encounters Pei Ji, a censor traveling south on an inspection tour, at the villain's residence.
She stakes everything on knocking at Pei Ji's door, tearfully accusing the villain of his misdeeds. Naively, she thinks he will surely stand up for justice and help her.
But Pei Ji merely raises his eyes lazily and asks, his meaning unclear, "Why should I help you?"
Later, she offers herself to the tiger and finally manages to rescue Cao Xian. She thinks that she and her beloved can finally be together, but Cao Xian considers her defiled and coldly breaks off their engagement.
After Cao Xian finds a new love, she becomes the laughingstock of the entire city. Everyone mocks her as shameless, and even the aunt who raised her believes the rumors and throws her out.
When she is destitute on the streets and has lost all hope, it is Pei Ji's words that give her the courage to go on living.
"Dying may be easy, but only the living have hope."
She takes Pei Ji's advice, bravely gets back on her feet, and leaves her homeland with him, setting out for the capital.
Through all the trials that follow, Pei Ji supports her, stands by her in her most difficult moments, and resolutely protects her.
As they spend day after day together, Ming Yan's heart gradually belongs to him. But on the eve of their wedding, Cao Xian suddenly arrives in the capital and exposes a deception no one knew about.
Reader's Guide:
A thoroughly scheming male lead, with a dark side even the powerful can't escape. He is a terrible person in the beginning, but turns into a humble puppy dog later.
Theme: Loving someone is like tending a flower; sincerity is what matters most
