1. Ning Li accidentally fell into the water. When she opened her eyes again, she had become a suspicious woman by the pond in the Great Xia imperial palace.
The good news was that the pond was shallow, so she hadn't drowned.
The bad news was that as soon as she climbed ashore, a knife was held to her throat.
Poor Ning Li hugged herself, trembling like a drenched quail. She had no idea that a sharp, eagle-like gaze filled with amusement was fixed on her. It belonged to Xiao Chongyan, the ruler of Great Xia.
A swath of dark brocade appeared before her. Ning Li stared in confusion, but before she could react, someone bent down and swept her into his arms. A teasing voice sounded beside her ear: "Should I call you Little Quail, or Little Carp?"
2. Entering the imperial palace under the label of "witch," Ning Li spent every day on edge, afraid that one careless misstep might offend the tyrant and cost her her head.
To stay alive, she was careful at every turn, determined to be a gentle, understanding flower before the tyrant, a dancing beauty for his pleasure.
Watching the tyrant grow ever more tender and attentive toward her, Ning Li knew she'd succeeded.
Whether or not what he felt was love didn't matter. The tyrant had fallen for her.
And she was about to run away.
3. Less than a month after escaping, Ning Li was caught and dragged back by the tyrant.
Back within the palace walls, Ning Li felt increasingly uneasy. She thought that for toying with the emperor's heart, she would be imprisoned and tortured at best, or torn apart by five horses and reduced to ashes at worst.
But who could tell her why the man by the dragon bed, his eyes brimming with desire and his gauzy robe half-slipped off, was acting like this as he tried to seduce her?
The man took her hand and rubbed it over his abdomen, saying dejectedly, "Little Carp, you do love to play. I'm happy to play along, but a whole month is too long. You've been neglecting me. Didn't you like my abs best? Hurry and feel them. Once you're done, it'll be my turn..."
Ning Li blushed and wanted to call the police. Did being emperor mean he could do whatever he wanted?
The answer was: yes.
Theme: Stay true to yourself, no matter what life brings.
