The Fake Death and Escape of the Concubine of the Eldest Princess

Unofficial histories say that Princess Xie Long was showered with excessive favor from the moment she was born. She was immensely powerful and commanded the armies.

Later, her ambition grew until she began to plot a usurpation. She was imprisoned, her legs crippled, her meridians severed, and her military power stripped away. In the end, her beloved concubine poisoned her inside the princess's residence.

Zuo You opened her eyes and discovered she had become the beloved concubine who poisoned the princess.

She remembered how the unofficial histories ended...

Five years later, Princess Xie Long would rise from the dead.

She would lead an army into the capital, kill the emperor and his father, burn the capital, and hang the heads of the crown prince and her beloved concubine beneath the city walls. Their bodies would be ground to dust, trampled by thousands, their flesh left for stray dogs and birds to devour.

Afterward, the realm would be unified, and the world would enjoy peace and prosperity.

Zuo You was afraid, Zuo You was stunned, and Zuo You had to save herself: how could she keep the head on her shoulders?

After refusing her superior's repeated demands to poison, assassinate, and so on, Zuo You received the spring wine they gave her.

Zuo You quietly moved the "beauty" aside and said, "This I can do. Let me handle it."

She often remembered that glance Xie Long had cast at her beneath the drizzle in Wumeng: raven-black hair, snow-white skin, and a gaze that stole her soul.

The princess was justice. Switching sides was inevitable!

Though the concubine sent to the princess was a spy, she already had someone in her heart.

She was fiercely passionate and willing to give her life for the greater good, but she would rather die than offer herself. She spent her days tending the fields and watering flowers in the rear courtyard, sneaking off to the kitchen to cook herself a little something.

Xie Long found her amusing. Then one day, after being wounded, she was rescued by Zuo You. At the time, she had a black veil over her face, so Zuo You didn't recognize her.

So she impersonated Zuo You's superior and ordered her to come up with a way to kill her.

Poison, assassination, ambush... Zuo You rejected every suggestion.

Xie Long gazed at Zuo You's snow-white skin, soft lips, and the corners of her eyes, always flushed and glistening with tears. She handed her a bottle of spring wine and pressed it to her chest. "A beauty such as you might as well sacrifice yourself and try the beauty trap."

Zuo You took the wine but didn't come to her for a long time.

Then a spy reported that Zuo You had gone to meet the person she loved.

Xie Long sat bolt upright and grabbed her sword, ready to kill her rival.

Before she could open the door, she heard furtive, rustling footsteps outside.

Xie Long lay back down. Good. The person she loved was me. It really was me. It had to be me.

The wind and frost of the northern frontier, the snow before the horses, plum blossoms in bloom against pale skin.

At last, Zuo You, who had been captured after faking her death, had slept enough. She crawled out from under the felt blanket, rested her cheek against Xie Long's chest, and nuzzled her coaxingly.

"Your Highness." She reached out, her pale wrist encircling Xie Long's battle armor, worn and battered by war. Without a care for the dirt, she kissed Xie Long's dry lips.

Xie Long gazed at her. "Would you like some water?"

Zuo You kissed her again and said obediently, "No water. I want you to hold me."

Once they were back in the carriage, Zuo You realized she'd forgotten to put her chain on.

She put it back on, pretending she'd never taken it off, then climbed out again and kissed Xie Long once more.

Xie Long lowered her eyes and said gently, "I'll pretend I didn't see it this time. Don't do it again."

Zuo You nodded obediently.

Later, when soldiers went on night patrol, they often saw a stunning beauty leaning against the window, her wrist bound in chains, her face sorrowful as she gazed into the distance.

Someone took pity on her. "Who is being held there?"

"Zuo You, the princess's lawful wife and the emperor's tutor."

Unable to resist, a soldier went over and asked, "Does Your Grace have something troubling you?"

Zuo You said sadly, "The princess and I made a bet. Whoever lost had to wear the chain."

Zuo You lamented, "She caught me cheating and got angry. Now she won't talk to me."

Zuo You sighed, "The nights are so bitterly cold. How am I supposed to sleep without her holding me?"

The soldier: "..."

Theme: Turn the tables against all odds.