At first, Ning Zhaorou only wanted to escape her stepmother’s scheme to marry her off to a distant place. Left with no choice, she joined the royal hunting expedition, hoping to find a better future for herself.

The young General of the Chu family was brave, handsome, and favored by the emperor—naturally, she saw him as a good prospect.

But fate had other plans. A sudden accident led her to the wrong tent, where she ended up under the emperor himself. She escaped into the night under the cover of darkness.

But within a few days, she was found and dragged back.

Kneeling before the emperor in fear, she resolved to lie her way out. Yet lie after lie only led her deeper into the trap, until she had no choice but to offer herself up willingly.

From then on, the palace gained a new favored concubine.

—

The emperor had been on the throne for years, growing more dignified and fearsome with time—no one in the court or harem dared cross him.

And yet, he stumbled over a young girl.

When he asked whether she was willing to enter the palace, the girl timidly admitted she already had someone in her heart.

He appeared calm, but a shadow of thought crossed his face.

Taking pity on her innocence, he had originally intended to let her go… until he discovered she had dared deceive the emperor.

In that case, he decided not to let her go at all.

With a mix of gentleness and force, he gradually pulled Ning Zhaorou into his grasp. At first, he meant for her to be just a powerless concubine. But his heart began to sway, and he could no longer bear to let her suffer even the slightest bit.

[Set in a fictional dynasty. The female lead is not clever or powerful. Not a “strong female lead” story. Slight angst in the early chapters.]