In the fifth year of the Qiansheng era, the wife of the Marquis Who Guards the Nation gave birth to boy-and-girl twins. Because the birth was considered inauspicious, the younger sister, Shen Rou, was sent to the countryside in Changzhou.
Sixteen years later, Shen Rou took the place of her frail, sickly brother, Shen Li, and went to war. The Shen family, the Marquis Who Guards the Nation's household, was loyal to the death, but had wronged this youngest daughter. No one believed she could survive the brutal battlefield. They only wanted to trade Shen Rou's life for Shen Li's. But to everyone's surprise, Shen Rou survived and even won great military honors for her brother.
In the twenty-fourth year of the Qiansheng era, the Shen family brought home their youngest daughter, who had been raised in the countryside. All of Shengjing knew that this country girl was crude, ignorant, and sickly. What a pity for the third prince, who was as ethereal as an immortal.
The third prince, Shi Yan, first met Shen Rou at the marquis's country estate. The young lady had only just risen at the hour of the Snake. With sleepy eyes, she ate two plates of cheese pastries, then mumbled, “I can't look at the account books. The more I read, the more my heart aches. I might as well take a nap later.”
Shi Yan: “...” Fine. She does seem rather sweet and innocent. I'll just keep her as a good-for-nothing.
Later, the land was shattered, and the Xiongnu cavalry stormed through the mountain pass. Shi Yan, covered in blood, held out to defend the besieged city.
Amid the vast yellow sands, a woman rode toward him. She raised her crossbow and took aim at the enemy commander. Shi Yan cried out in disbelief, “Shen Rou?!”
During the years Shen Rou served in the army in her brother's place, she was left with a body full of old injuries. Back in the capital, all she wanted was to eat and drink well and become a model fish who could lie flat.
But then war broke out again. In her room, Shen Rou took out her lightweight crossbow and polished it again and again. She thought, Fine. I'll come back and lie flat once this battle is over.
Theme: Someone will always come along to light up your dim road ahead
