Nian Wanyang was born into an official family, but her parents died young, and she was never cherished.
After coming of age, she followed her learned maternal grandfather to an academy, where she disguised herself as a boy and studied literature and etiquette.
She spent several miserable years among the boys.
Fortunately, a new student arrived, so beautiful that even wearing a boy's hairstyle couldn't disguise her looks. At first glance, Nian Wanyang was sure "she" was just like her.
Overjoyed, they became sworn confidantes, sharing everything and growing close and inseparable.
When they graduated, Nian Wanyang put on women's clothes again, invited her friend for a boat ride, and revealed her identity.
Her confidante appeared in a princely robe, dressed as a dignified man, and said, "I, the Ninth Prince, knew you were a girl all along. I wanted to take you as my consort."
Nian Wanyang replied, "I knew you were a girl all along too. I wanted us to become sworn sisters."
Nian Wanyang: "..."
Her confidante: "..."
What a huge misunderstanding!
Her grandfather's painstaking efforts finally paid off, and he secured an official post. Unable to face her "confidante," Nian Wanyang immediately followed him south.
But an academic can't outplay a political schemer. After one year in office, her grandfather was falsely accused of corruption. The Nian family fell into decline, and Nian Wanyang's circumstances took a sharp turn for the worse.
She had to deal with those who kicked her while she was down and endure lecherous stares from men.
With no other choice, she did something foolish that could come back to haunt her at any moment: she spread rumors everywhere that she had a close relationship with the Ninth Prince.
She claimed that the Ninth Prince had once been madly in love with her and promised to marry her in a grand sedan chair, but she wasn't tempted by power and wealth, and had cruelly rejected him.
The Ninth Prince was favored by the emperor and seemed poised to eclipse the Crown Prince. On top of that, he was capricious and violent. Afraid there might really be something between them, people dared not trample the Nian family.
The rumor reached the Ninth Prince himself.
Furious, he had her brought to the palace.
Many people wanted to watch her make a fool of herself. They all craned their necks in anticipation.
The Ninth Prince whipped an uninvolved bystander and smashed a tribute of red coral from the South Sea, frightening everyone into kneeling and terrifying the whole room.
As for Second Miss Nian...
The Ninth Prince gave her almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks a cold, vicious once-over, then barked, "Don't they feed you? How did you get so thin!"
Second Miss Nian: "..."
*
One cocky, the other a coward.
A pure first-love story between two childish young people: he's head over heels, while she's only mildly interested.
Theme: I see you
