To repay a debt of gratitude, He Lianlian assumed another woman's identity and entered the palace as a concubine to the old emperor, entrusted with caring for the princess.
What did caring for her mean?
When assassins attacked at night, He Lianlian burst through the door, hoisted the princess onto her back, and ran for her life. When a horse bolted during the autumn hunt, the princess fell into her arms, and He Lianlian carried the beauty through the mountain forest, fighting to survive. When they went out to burn incense, He Lianlian snatched a bandit's broadsword after a fight. Seeing the princess's calm expression, she gave an embarrassed smile. “Your concubine was born with great strength...”
Later, the palace fell into turmoil and the emperor died. He Lianlian was forced to be buried with him.
At the brink of life and death, the princess carried a treasured sword and walked along the dark, endless palace corridor. She held out her hand to He Lianlian. “Auntie, will you come with me?”
*
Li Zizhu had long known that He Lianlian was an impostor, a cat swapped for a prince.
But this clumsy fool was both stupid and slow-witted. Apart from her brute strength, all she had was a heart devoted to Li Zizhu, so pitifully earnest that Li Zizhu couldn't help looking after her.
Who knew that, as time passed, feelings would quietly take root?
Li Zizhu thought He Lianlian liked her. But when He Lianlian said she was only repaying a debt of gratitude, Li Zizhu felt like a fool for imagining things.
Still, since He Lianlian wanted to repay her, offering herself in return wasn't out of the question, was it?
He Lianlian tried to escape but failed. She drank the medicinal wine and, barely able to stand it, dodged the princess's touch. “Your Highness, I'm your aunt!”
The princess's snowy face flushed faintly. Her red lips parted, her eyes hazy as she caught He Lianlian's hand and pressed it to her cheek. Her voice was slightly hoarse. “Auntie, please be kind to me.”
Theme: Keep moving forward and growing
