Shen Wenzhu, princess of the Southern Liang, was brilliant from childhood, her ethereal beauty unrivaled in Jinling.
Then her father and brothers fell in battle, the city was conquered, and the border defenses collapsed. As the only daughter of the Prince of Zhenbei's household, Shen Wenzhu resolutely took on the burden of protecting the Southern Liang. She risked everything, changing her name and infiltrating the enemy's palace.
Facing Emperor Pei Huai of Zhou, a man of almost supernatural cunning, Shen Wenzhu presented herself as alluring and carefree, tempting him with her brazen ambition.
She wagered that he was too proud and arrogant to believe a chess piece in his hand could ever escape his control. Little did he know that a beauty could be a blade, one that spilled blood with a single strike.
The Emperor of Great Zhou, who had never known defeat in his life, eventually fell step by step to a woman's feigned tenderness.
When she said she wanted a lifetime of wealth and splendor, Pei Huai granted her his exclusive favor and promoted her at every turn. He let her eliminate her rivals and wield power over the entire imperial harem.
Even after suspecting her identity was not what it seemed, Pei Huai still deceived himself and gave her the phoenix seal. He would rather drink poison to quench his thirst than let her leave his side.
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Only when the truth of that year came to light did Shen Wenzhu suddenly realize that she had hated the wrong person all along.
Beneath the dim, waning lamplight, the beauty knelt in the Chonghua Palace in plain robes, her hairpin removed and her eyes lowered, awaiting the wrath of the emperor.
"Now that things have come to this, Princess Shen, don't you owe me an explanation?"
Pei Huai looked down at the woman. His dark, deep-set phoenix eyes were full of surging, hidden tides.
Knowing how ruthless the emperor could be, Shen Wenzhu closed her eyes in utter despair. She did not try to defend herself, only murmured in a trembling voice:
"I am willing to atone with my life."
A clear tear slipped from the corner of her eye, gleaming like a precious jade and stirring a wanton tenderness in him.
"You want to end it all with death?"
Pei Huai suddenly chuckled and lifted a finger to wipe away the tear on her cheek. His slightly hoarse voice was tender and lingering, yet beneath it lurked a ferocious, unrestrained menace.
"After all these years of tenderness and cherished affection, of extraordinary favor and generous rewards, do you not intend to repay me, Zhuzhu?"
"The next life is too far away. I want you to repay me in this one."
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#Who is the hunter, and who is the prey?#
#Those who manipulate others will be manipulated in turn#
[Reader's Guide]
1. Includes palace intrigue. The emperor is not a virgin, but after falling for the heroine, he devotes himself exclusively to her. One-on-one romance, happy ending.
2. Fictional dynasty, a mix of settings. No historical nitpicking, please.
3. The romance is sweet, not angsty!
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P.S. Please don't send writing advice. If the story isn't what you expected, stop reading as soon as you like.
Theme: Love should be an equal match between worthy opponents.
Ah ah ah ah, teacher, you must fight and compete in this track of seducing the scheming female protagonist and wiping the bottom of the male protagonist who has no bottom line! I beg you to write more books with this kind of setting in the future. Where can I get this kind of food without Teacher Li?
Okay, pass it on, Xiao Pei can't do it [Applause]
Looks like I'm about to meet Sister Fang
Treasure author, I really like this kind of sweet article
The beginning of the if line was chosen in June of the 35th year of Xiantong because I wanted to give all the characters a better ending 😳
Due to the early encounter with Zhuzhu, Xiao Pei in this world did not go to war in August, but returned to Yandu to buy a betrothal gift, thus coincidentally preventing the unjust case of King Yong on August 9, thirty-five years ago. (Chapter 45 - 28%) (p. S. In the end, Xiao Pei said in the letter that something was delayed, which was referring to this matter)
Yongwang will stay with Wanyan for a lifetime, and Zhaoning will grow up happily under the care of his parents~
The Lin family has not been implicated. One day in the future, Sister Fang will happily marry Mr. Lin.
As Mrs. Gaoming and the niece of the Queen Mother, she met Queen Zhuzhu during a certain court appearance.
In a parallel world, lovers finally achieve perfection.
This is part of the reason why I wrote this story
——To make up for the regret of not being able to finish it successfully on Chinese Valentine's Day (haha, just joking 🐶
There is also a little easter egg:
At the beginning of the extra chapter, Xiao Pei has just returned from presiding over the imperial examination. In fact, he selected Zhao Youguang from this imperial examination. (Chapter 20 - 87.5%)
Xiao Pei knows Lord Zhao very well, because this is the subordinate he personally selected in the name of his father, haha
Xiao Pei: I'm watching you all the time.[Sunglasses]
Xiao Pei has turned over in this chapter, but he may turn back again in the next chapter 🐶
I stayed up late to finish reading it! Are you looking forward to the if line extra?
It's finally over! I like all bright and lively heroines, and I like male protagonists who trust the heroine [Spread Flowers]
Happy Chinese Valentine's Day, Lili~Xiao Xiao Pei Tongtang 🐶
Hahahahahahahahaha, Xiao Pei is hiding something from you!
Ah ah ah ah, teacher, you must fight and compete in this track of seducing the scheming female protagonist and wiping the bottom of the male protagonist who has no bottom line! I beg you to write more books with this kind of setting in the future. Where can I get this kind of food without Teacher Li?
Okay, pass it on, Xiao Pei can't do it [Applause]
Looks like I'm about to meet Sister Fang
Treasure author, I really like this kind of sweet article
The beginning of the if line was chosen in June of the 35th year of Xiantong because I wanted to give all the characters a better ending 😳 Due to the early encounter with Zhuzhu, Xiao Pei in this world did not go to war in August, but returned to Yandu to buy a betrothal gift, thus coincidentally preventing the unjust case of King Yong on August 9, thirty-five years ago. (Chapter 45 - 28%) (p. S. In the end, Xiao Pei said in the letter that something was delayed, which was referring to this matter) Yongwang will stay with Wanyan for a lifetime, and Zhaoning will grow up happily under the care of his parents~ The Lin family has not been implicated. One day in the future, Sister Fang will happily marry Mr. Lin. As Mrs. Gaoming and the niece of the Queen Mother, she met Queen Zhuzhu during a certain court appearance. In a parallel world, lovers finally achieve perfection. This is part of the reason why I wrote this story ——To make up for the regret of not being able to finish it successfully on Chinese Valentine's Day (haha, just joking 🐶 There is also a little easter egg: At the beginning of the extra chapter, Xiao Pei has just returned from presiding over the imperial examination. In fact, he selected Zhao Youguang from this imperial examination. (Chapter 20 - 87.5%) Xiao Pei knows Lord Zhao very well, because this is the subordinate he personally selected in the name of his father, haha Xiao Pei: I'm watching you all the time.[Sunglasses]
Xiao Pei has turned over in this chapter, but he may turn back again in the next chapter 🐶
I stayed up late to finish reading it! Are you looking forward to the if line extra?
It's finally over! I like all bright and lively heroines, and I like male protagonists who trust the heroine [Spread Flowers]
Happy Chinese Valentine's Day, Lili~Xiao Xiao Pei Tongtang 🐶
Hahahahahahahahaha, Xiao Pei is hiding something from you!