The Duchess’s Guide to Power

With an older sister who was a crown princess and an older brother who was the wealthiest man in Jiangnan, Shangguan Ning thought she had a whole lifetime to take in the loveliest scenery and savor the strongest wine, free to roam the mountains and rivers in carefree bliss. But then a great fire consumed the Eastern Palace, and the Shangguan girl vanished from the world. Concealing her face, she entered the bustling imperial capital and stepped into a world of human hearts as treacherous as a ghostly realm. As she watched another tower rise, she sat atop a high terrace, playing music of sublime beauty. With a radiant smile, she introduced herself: “This humble girl is Ji Wuyan.” Mr. Wang of the Imperial Music Bureau came to call three times, hoping to take Ji Wuyan as his pupil. Ji Wuyan said, “This humble girl already has a first teacher. He's just an old man from my village who knows a little singing and dancing, but once a teacher, always a father. I dare not turn my back on him.” “The old man from her village who knows a little singing and dancing”: ...??? Everyone: !! Mr. Wang: “Our founding master.” Everyone: “I hear Ji Wuyan comes from Yingzhou, that poor backwater in Jiangnan. She's never seen the world. How could she possibly marry into the Duke of Ning's household? What a joke!” The old madam of the Ji family snorted, leaning on her cane. “Our century-old Ji clan has merely kept to itself. We're not extinct yet! If the next head of the Ji family marries into the Duke of Ning's household, that's the Duke's family marrying up!” The Third Master of the Duke of Ning's household, kind-faced but ruthless, was a man who could do as he pleased throughout Yanjing. No one had ever caught his eye, yet he always called her softly, “Ningning.” Ningning, Ningning. Only years later did she understand the true meaning behind that name: I give you my surname, and take yours as my own.