Spring Branches, Hard to Send

[A fallen official's daughter fighting to save herself + the stand-in for his first love + a powerful man lowering his head + age gap]

A disgraced official's daughter who looks like his first love x a cool, powerful man who commands the realm

Zhao Zhiyu, daughter of the Vice Minister of Works, fell from grace overnight and was sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau. Chosen by Madam Shen, she became Shen Jiangci's personal maid.

Zhao Zhiyu knew her job was to serve Shen Jiangci. Only by doing it well could she save her family.

At first, she saw Shen Jiangci as nothing more than the target of her assignment, but gradually she realized something was wrong.

Why was the cold and aloof minister, rumored to have no interest in women, growing more and more attached to her? He even insisted on bringing her to gatherings with his colleagues.

When Shen Jiangci first saw Zhao Zhiyu, he thought she was a spy his political rival had deliberately planted by his side.

He watched coldly as she used her face, so like his first love's, to flatter him. Yet he gradually fell for her quiet patience and gentleness, without realizing how deeply he had come to love her.

Zhao Zhiyu went from swallowing her grievances to giving him her heart, only to suddenly discover she was a stand-in for his first love. All the affection he had once shown her became a cruel joke.

"I am my own person, not someone else's shadow."

Zhao Zhiyu left, and the minister, always so cool and composed, lost control.