Synopsis
(A clever, clear-eyed, ambitious heroine × a tragic but powerful male lead seeking revenge for his mother)
Jiang Yuanrong grew up surrounded by love, but her mother suddenly died, leaving her without protection and turning her into a commodity her family could sell to the highest bidder.
With no other choice, she set her sights on the most notorious playboy in Haijing, Mu Qian'an, heir to the Prince of Mu's household.
Using every means at her disposal, the legitimate daughter of a seventh-rank official finally managed to attach herself to the heir of a princely household.
But the good times didn't last. The emperor died in an assassination attempt while on a royal progress, and the Prince of Mu's household became embroiled in the scandal of masterminding the assassination. They broke off the engagement with the Jiang family of their own accord.
Her own father wanted to sell his daughter for status, and the sisters she had grown up with betrayed her for the sake of their family.
Though trapped in a desperate situation, Jiang Yuanrong took one step at a time, forging a path with her wisdom and navigating every twist with her schemes. In the end, she escaped the mire and became someone others had to look up to.
[Little scenes]
At first:
The young man appeared unruffled, but inwardly he was delighted. Hmph, this woman is so silver-tongued. She must be lusting after my looks and deliberately plotting to ensnare me!
At last, they reached an agreement. The girl walked away without looking back, thinking of only one thing: confront Grandmother and reclaim Mother's dowry!
Later:
The young man's eyes were red as he clutched the sleeve of the person before him, pleading, "Yangyang, please don't go. Can we pretend our previous agreement never happened?"
The woman was held back, her face full of helplessness. "Your Highness, forgive my frankness, but a person must keep their word."
The young man's eyes lit up. He said happily, "If you'll stay, I can stop being a person."
All he got in return was a sharp rebuke: "Get lost!"
Later still:
At court, officials submitted a joint petition, hoping to force the empress to choose a consort soon. Everyone talked over one another, putting forward many candidates, but they all tacitly excluded one particular man.
The man seemed indifferent on the outside, but inside he was burning with anxiety, afraid that the woman he loved might believe slander and agree to marry someone else.
Late at night, the man went to great lengths to sneak into her bedchamber, hoping to offer himself as her consort. But there she was beneath the lamplight, bent over her desk, intently handling government affairs.
Her shadow guards had long been lying in wait. They joined forces to toss the man out, then threw out a decree of appointment bearing the emperor's seal.
[The heroine's perspective]
At first, Jiang Yuanrong only wanted to be a good daughter, become a good wife, help her family prosper, and live a peaceful life. But her grandmother was cruel and her father unkind, forcing Jiang Yuanrong to leave the women's quarters and carve out a path to success with her own body. The keepsakes left behind by her late mother became the key to the path of revenge for her mother's family. At last, guided by fate, Jiang Yuanrong fought her way through every obstacle and became an empress in her own right.
[The male lead's perspective]
At first, Mu Qian'an only wanted to clear his father's name. But as he gathered evidence and investigated more deeply, he discovered that the emperor's death was closely connected to his father. He also gradually uncovered the conspiracy behind his mother's death. Fortunately, Jiang Yuanrong was there, leaving a ray of light on his difficult road to revenge.
Theme: Love can overcome all things, and justice will prevail