Chu Qiao, an 6 yr-old slave girl in the Great Young Empire. Her life begins in extreme peril when she and other slaves are placed in a hunting ground to be hunted for sport for amusement of noble young masters. Through her sheer will, she is the sole survivor, catching the attention of Yan Xun (the Prince of Yanbei) and Zhuge Yue (a cold, powerful noble) and is taken to Zhuge manor.
​Life in the Zhuge Manor:
​Chu Qiao is taken into the Zhuge household, where she after a series of events serves as a servant to Zhuge Yue (renamed Yuwen Yue in the TV adaptation). Zhuge Yue recognizes her potential and trains her as a spy and assassin, though he begins to develop complicated feelings for her. During this time, Chu Qiao witnesses the brutal deaths of her foster siblings and vows to take revenge against the cruel nobility and heirachcy system in the kingdom.

Friendship with Yan Xun:

Yan Xun is the antithesis of the cold noble of the capital. He is sunny, optimistic, and prone to teasing. He is the only noble who treats slaves with dignity and is well-liked for his easygoing nature and genuine kindness.

Relationship with Chu Qiao: He falls in love with her spirit and everyday grit. He views her as an equal and a partner in his dream of returning to the vast grasslands of Yanbei to live a life of freedom, away from court politics.

Relationship with Zhuge/Yuwen Yue: They are best friends. Despite their differing temperaments, Yan Xun trusts zhuge yue implicitly.

While Zhuge Yue is her master, Chu Qiao forms a deep bond with the bright and optimistic Yan Xun.

When Yan Xun’s entire family is massacred by the Emperor due to false suspicions of treason, Chu Qiao stays by his side.

Following the massacre, Yan Xun is kept under house arrest in the capital for 8years. Chu Qiao remains his most loyal ally, enduring poverty, assassination attempts, and humiliation to help him survive. During these years, their bond cements into a pact: they will return to Yanbei (the North) together to seek justice and build a better land

During his house arrest in the capital, Yan Xun’s personality undergoes a slow, poisonous change.

From Trust to Paranoia: Having been betrayed by the Emperor and (in his eyes) his friends, he stops trusting anyone but Chu Qiao.

He maintains a facade of submission to the Emperor while secretly building a network of spies and a path to bloody rebellion. The "cheerful prince" dies. He becomes a master of manipulation, willing to sacrifice anything—including innocent lives—to achieve his goal of wiping out the Great Empire.

By the time he returns to Yanbei and moves toward the Ice Lake event, he is unrecognizable:
He massacres entire cities and abandons "Xiu Li Army" to certain death to serve his tactical goals. He views people as chess pieces rather than humans.
He murders his own mentors and loyal generals (like Master Wu and Zhong Yu) if they question his methods or suggest peace.
​Betrayal of Chu Qiao: The most significant change is his treatment of Chu Qiao. While he still "loves" her, it becomes an obsessive, possessive love. He begins to distrust her because of her moral compass and her lingering connection to Zhuge Yue.

The "Ice Lake" event is the final proof of his transformation. Yan Xun uses Chu Qiao’s feelings as a weapon. He intentionally lures Zhuge Yue to the frozen lake, knowing he will come only to save Chu Qiao and it results in Chu Qiao and zhuge yue to fall into the ice lake.

Thank you! I needed the refresher….🤌🏼

Thank you. I didn't watch princess agent so when I started to watch Rebirth, I was so lost . This answers my questions.