By day, Jiang Yan had to disguise herself as a man and attend court in her twin brother's place. By night, she had to hurry back to the Duke of Lu's residence to be a wife to the heir.
Her husband, Cui Wu, had risen to the position of chancellor at a young age. The reigning emperor even honored him as a "pillar of the state." When the emperor later died, he entrusted the crown prince to Cui Wu, who ensured the prince ascended the throne safely.
But the Empress Dowager had ruled from behind the throne for years and intended to take power for herself. Jiang Yan was one of the trusted ministers she had charged with important duties.
Officially, they were bound to disagree in court.
Whenever Cui Wu returned home from court, he would grit his teeth and warn her, "Your brother is helping a tyrant. When his power crumbles, don't expect me to protect him."
In private, Jiang Yan couldn't help whispering in his ear, "Husband, if his power really does crumble one day, spare his life for my sake."
Theme: Enjoy life while you can
