The Scheming Prince’s Cast-Off Consort

He, Helian Yi, was a prince of the current dynasty, renowned as the “Smiling King of Hell.” He was wealthy but not affectionate, cold and even more heartless. She was just an unknown young woman, shut away in her chambers, an ordinary soul among the countless people of the Great Qi dynasty. Then he held her captive in his arms and murmured tenderly, “You’re my woman. I’ll give you everything you want.” Her anxious heart struggled with fear, but she still believed him. She never imagined that everything he did was part of a plot. “Why?” The truth, written in blood across the letter in her hand, filled her eyes with pain. “Don’t bring this up now.” Unable to wrest the letter from her, he grew frantic, his eyes bloodshot. “Give me the letter!” She watched blankly as he snatched it away. Her heart felt hollowed out. She had thought he couldn’t love, but it turned out he simply didn’t love her. At last, she put her heartbreak behind her, turned away without hesitation, and left for a distant land. She thought they would never cross paths again, but he came rushing from a thousand miles away, forcing her to show herself. [Scene One] At the frontier, outside the city gates at sunset, surrounded by the Gobi Desert. She wore white as pure as snow; he stood clad in battle armor. “You slaughtered the people of Lincheng for my sister, didn’t you?” They faced each other, and she smiled bitterly. He swung onto her horse, bit her ear, and chuckled softly. “I came to take my woman home.” He turned to face his generals. “By my order, the moment you find the princess consort, return to the capital.” He had gone to great lengths to lure her into the trap he’d laid, never realizing he had become lost in the beautiful dream she had woven for him. He thought she was only putting on an act, never realizing she had already carved his name into her heart. “Now it’s my turn to ask you.” He coolly and arrogantly pinched her chin. “If you had to choose between me and Prince Jing back then, who would you pick?” She raised an eyebrow and smiled, utterly bewitching. “Guess.” [Scene Two] Years later, she was by his side. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your seal?” she asked. “If you do, I’ll keep watch for you,” he replied. She countered, “What if I conspire with others to poison someone, or commit murder and arson?” He raised his brows, certain of himself. “I’ll take the blame for you!” She pressed a hand to his chest, smiling as she raised her brows. “What if I want your life?!” He thrust out his chest. “Just stab me with a knife.”