Pseudo-incest + female disguises herself as a man, clingy, sunny sweetheart x cool, aloof moon in the distant sky
After her father passes away, Xie Xi, who has lived disguised as a man for over a decade, faces a huge challenge.
Should she go to her maternal grandfather's family, which has few members but is extremely wealthy, or choose her paternal grandfather's family in Yong'an, which is still undivided after four generations and on the verge of collapse?
Xie Xi: Obviously, I should go to my maternal grandfather's family.
But her mother doesn't agree. "Xi'er, we must return to Yong'an! For your sake, to secure you a future!"
Xie Xi, a total mama's girl: Fine, I'll do what you say, Mother.
But behind the scenes, she's as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. What does she need a future for? She wants to stay alive!
Who knew her identity would be exposed on the way back to Yong'an, and that she'd end up with a beautiful concubine as well?
As soon as she arrives in Yong'an, one incident follows another, and her carriage keeps getting stopped. The first time, it was a young lady. The second time, another young lady. Is her carriage really that easy to stop?
The third time, a crowd of burly men in armor, carrying long sabers and looking utterly menacing, shows up!
This time, she refuses to stop. Don't think she doesn't know that if she doesn't run now, her reputation will be ruined before she even makes it through the doors of the Duke's residence.
She hasn't run half a street before a handsome gentleman claiming to be her cousin blocks the road.
"It's getting late, Xi'er. Go with the constables to the county yamen and apologize, explain yourself, and then we can hurry home."
"?"
Caught between them, Xie Xi has no choice but to make a trip to the Wanzai County yamen.
The next day, her exploits are being gossiped about all over the city:
The seventh young master of the Xie family is spoiled and extravagant, engaging in public debauchery in broad daylight and abducting a woman. Seduced by beauty, he fell for a honey trap and was even taken to the county yamen. He's a complete fool.
Hearing this, she goes to confront Xie Zhao. "You stopped my carriage on purpose. Did you think I hadn't been insulted enough? Don't think I don't know! You're the one who had someone report me to the authorities!"
From then on, Xie Xi and Xie Zhao are at odds.
*
A few months later.
Xie Xi turns her terrified face away. "I... I'm not into men. Don't fall for me. Hey... take your hand away! We're brothers!"
Xie Zhao, close enough to share her breath, raises his eyelids slightly, as if he knew all along. His cool eyes are tinged with the dark red of a cinnabar mole. He doesn't stop what he's doing, and tosses out a careless reply. "So what?"
"I don't care."
Theme: Love is redemption
