Tang Zhao was born into this world, and to keep her family’s title from passing to someone else, her mother claimed she was a boy.
From the day she was born, she was the heir to the Marquis of Xuanping.
When she was four, the palace selected companions for the Third Prince. The Crown Prince, already domineering at the age of nine, took a liking to her and insisted she become his companion.
Of all the Crown Prince’s companions, Tang Zhao was the youngest and the one he trusted most.
*
At fourteen, she sat the metropolitan examination. The Crown Prince, Xiao Jue, presided over the spring examinations.
During the examination hall’s security check, Xiao Jue deigned to search her himself.
But when his hand brushed past her chest, it jerked back as if scorched. His sharp, cold black eyes could not hide his shock.
Tang Zhao remained calm and composed, smiling faintly at Xiao Jue.
*
The night after the metropolitan examination.
Xiao Jue stole into the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence under cover of darkness, slipping silently into Tang Zhao’s bedroom.
Tang Zhao sat on the bed in her nightclothes. As if she had known he would come, she showed no surprise at his nighttime visit.
The two faced each other in silence.
After a long while, the stern and domineering Xiao Jue spoke first.
“Go on.”
“Go on about what?”
“Tell me how you became a woman.”
“I was born a woman. I never became one.”
“...” Xiao Jue’s extraordinarily handsome face remained expressionless.
“Your Highness, are you going to expose me?” Tang Zhao asked calmly.
Her long hair hung loose, and her exquisite, fair face was unmistakably feminine.
Looking at her peerlessly beautiful face, Xiao Jue realized he should have guessed long ago from her delicate features and slender frame that she was no man.
“If I meant to expose you, would I have let you finish the examination?” Xiao Jue asked with a cold snort.
“I thank Your Highness for your kindness. I will repay you someday.”
“And how do you plan to repay me?”
Tang Zhao stood and bowed respectfully. “I will devote myself to assisting Your Highness, help you unite the realm, and usher in an age of peace and prosperity.”
“...” Xiao Jue’s handsome face was cold.
“Are you not satisfied, Your Highness?” Tang Zhao asked, puzzled.
She was even ready to work herself to death for him. How could the Crown Prince still be dissatisfied?
“...” Of course Xiao Jue was dissatisfied.
Wasn’t the expected next line from someone so grateful they could never repay him, “I can only offer myself to you”?
[Composed and unruffled companion versus aloof Crown Prince secretly grooming his companion to become his Crown Princess]
[Reading Guide]
1. Coming-of-age romance, sweet and doting, one-on-one
2. Set in an alternate world, no historical fact-checking
Theme: The sun and moon shine bright, their light brilliant and clear
