Main Lead :

FL : Shen Xihe (SXH), 14 years old. Northwest Princess - Princess Zhaoning, born prematurely weak. On her way to capital, her maid betrayed her and push her to river. She died but reborn with Gu Qingzhi experiences (what writer's means is both SXH and GQZ memory remain, making her someone entirely new)

ML : Xiao Huayong (XHY), 19 years old. Crown Prince. Being poisoned at age 8 and almost dead. Since then, he lives outside Palace to recuperate and everyone knew Crown Prince’s life gonna be short. Now, as his coming-of-age ceremony is approaching, he come back to Eastern Palace

Note :

I divided part by myself only to make it easier to track the milestone and real chapter in novel

Part 1. Early stage, their first meeting. He falls first while she only thinks of mutual benefit

Chapter 1.

Unhappy marriage life of Gu Qingzhi (GQZ) and Xiao Changqing (5th Prince Xin). Then, Gu family fall. Not long, GQZ commit suicide

Chapter 3.

GQZ reborn as Shen Xihe or -based on writer notes- Shen Xihe gaining GQZ experiences.

Chapter 18.

First meeting of Shen Xihe (SXH) with Xiao Huayong (SHY)’s alias, an Embroidery Guard with agarwood scent who could take three heads with a single sword stroke. And later SXH meet with some of his alias before she meet him in person. She knew they are the same person because of the same agarwood scent. Agarwood is the most expensive material, even for noble.

Chapter 30.

SXH arrive in capital. She come to capital for her arranged marriage. As Northwest Princess, she bound to marry one of The Princes, which Prince has not been determined

Chapter 31.

Shen Xihe first meeting with 7th Crown Prince Xiao Huayong (XHY), a sickly Prince who seem even frailer than her. Though later we know that frail appearance just a cover. XHY indeed poisoned by deadly strange poison but not prevent him to learn martial arts

Chapter 59.

XHY said to SXH, he is 'the one who will never hurt you'. XHY tell to SXH to remember his word and prove it over time. As time goes by, XHY becomes more and more interested in SXH. 

Chapter 76.

SXH explain to her brother that she only thinks Crown Prince temporarily more appealing to the eye. She not love him and won't fall in love in this life. She choose him for he won't live long. Later SXH also said she doesn’t care whether her husband takes concubines. She doesn’t want wholehearted devotion, only want mutual benefit

Chapter 135.

XHY went out of capital to find Snow Lotus for SXH without her knowing. The snow lotus is important ingredient for SXH medicine. When he found Snow Lotus at cliff, it is at a very difficult position in difficult weather. Yet he refused to give up, for it was then he realized he loved her – loved her enough to stake his life.

Chapter 137.

XHY manage to get Snow Lotus at the cost of his poison manifesting. To suppress it, his eyes no longer can see colors. If cannot find an antidote, not just sight but smell, hearing, feeling… all six senses will gradually decline, followed by organ failure. And he only has 3 to 5 years

Chapter 142.

XHY : “If her heart was cold, he would use every method to warm it; if she had no heart, he would split his own in half and let it seep into her body like spring rain!”

Chapter 144.

Without SXH knowing, XHY give the snow lotus to SXH doctor's friend. Since then, SXH who very weak since birth gradually become healthy, could do many outdoor activities.

Chapter 147.

SXH ability to scheme in line with XHY quite surprise him and XHY realize his feelings for SXH had progressed from surprise and amazement to curiosity and interest, then to admiration and praise, and finally to fascination and infatuation.

Chapter 174.

Conversation between XHY and SXH. They talk it heart to heart, knowing both principal

SXH : “Nothing in this world is more changeable than human heart.”

XHY : “Since childhood, my nature has been resolute. When I desire something, I won’t rest until I achieve it. Once I’ve set my mind on someone, even dynasty change, time passes and stars shift, my heart won’t change.”

SXH : “Wouldn’t mutual respect be good? When we marry, I’ll respect you as my husband, you’ll respect me as your wife. We can be like close family – you won’t betray me; I won’t leave you. We’ll treat each other well and grow old together.”

XHY : “If I hadn’t met you, I too would think what you described was the most loving marriage in the world. But having met you, I want more than that. I don’t want to be someone you respect, nor do I want to be your family – I want to be unique in your heart, just as you are irreplaceable in mine.”

SXH : “Zhaoning doesn’t know what passion is, doesn’t know what love is, and doesn’t know how to feel or love.”

XHY : “Before meeting you, I didn’t know either. I hope I can become the one who makes you understand.”

SXH : “Don’t be too passionate towards Zhaoning – Zhaoning is passionless. I don’t want us to end up resenting each other.”

XHY : “I understand. Whatever I do for you in the future will be from my feelings – you won’t owe me anything.”

Chapter 220.

SXH need to go outside capital to attend to her cousin wedding, also she want to find winter jasmine for XHY. Winter jasmine could detoxify & nourish lungs which XHY's lungs being one of the areas most severely damaged by poison. XHY didn't know at first that SXH want to find winter jasmine for him, he tried persuade SXH not go for her safety but SXH insist that she had promise her cousin. Then XHY give SXH bone whistle, a whistle could call XHY's gyrfalcon and provide her a thousand miles protection - sweeping clean every place she would pass

 Part 2. At least to her, he was no longer someone unimportant… But, no romantic feelings

Chapter 233 & 234

XHY : “If I haven’t outmaneuvered His Majesty in 3 to 5 years, I might as well die early from poison.” Previously SXH had chosen XHY because she believed his life would be short. Now she not only didn’t wish for his early death but also dislike hearing him speak such inauspicious words. This meant that to her, he was no longer someone unimportant

Chapter 249.

SXH talk with her maids about XHY. At the end SXH picture XHY as capable but not arrogant, strong but not overbearing, elevated but not conceited and noble but not prideful. Now discuss about him already could brought a slight smile to SXH's lips

Chapter 279.

These day, SXH's father came to capital for SXH's coming of age ceremony. After finish, he went back to Northwest. On the wayback, there was ambush from Turc Prince. XHY come to help and work together with SXH's father to defeat enemy. XHY show his great ability, gain praise from all SXH's father subordinate.

Chapter 281.

SXH's father Shen Yueshan (SYS) and XHY's heart talk. At first SYS is not too happy for XHY as his daughter choice.

(Youyou is SXH's childhood name)

SYS : “If Youyou shared mutual feelings with you, I might have fewer concerns, but given Youyou’s personality…”

XHY : “Youyou has been determined since childhood to abandon emotions and love. Her mind is strong, and not easily swayed. I know what Your Highness worry about – that in the future, my one-sided love might turn to resentment if unrequited, and I might hurt her because of it.”

XHY : “I promise Your Highness, if one day I no longer have the strength to pursue Youyou’s heart, I will withdraw in time and let her return to the northwest, never causing her the slightest harm.”

SYS : “Why?”

XHY : “I can’t give a single reason. I don’t know when I began caring for her, don’t know when I placed her in my heart, don’t know when I began wanting to hold her hand and never let go for the rest of my life…”

SYS : “Hahahaha... Your Highness, persistence can carve through metal and stone.”

XHY : “Yong deeply believes that true sincerity can split open metal and stone.”

Chapter 308 & 309.

At Lantern Festival, XHY give SXH golden hairpin shaped like a peony assembled from hollow Pingzhong leaves (SXH always love Pingzhong tree). Besides the traditional six marriage gifts, earnest young men would gift a golden hairpin to their intended before marriage. A golden hairpin – the token for a proper wife.

XHY : “To have you by my side, I wish to grow old together; I seek not grand vows of love, only to spend the seasons with you.”

This make SXH heart stirred slightly, though she still reply

SXH : “Your Highness, I will be a good wife to you, a good Crown Princess, but I still harbor no romantic feelings for you.”

XHY : “Youyou, thank you for being so honest. In the future, you must also tell me clearly, including the day when you develop feelings for me – I hope you can tell me frankly then.”

SXH : “I will.”

Perhaps in this lifetime, SXH would never forget XHY’s joy at that moment – like a spring breeze causing flowers to bloom across the city, like fireworks bursting with brilliant light, like falling stars filling the sky with their radiance.

Part 3. Revelation. Break up & make up. “I would share both fortune and misfortune with you”

Chapter 314.

Revelation. That agarwood scents. In this while, SXH meet many different persons with that agarwood scents, all hold important position (Emperor’s special Embroidery guard, very rich merchant, deputy minister of Court Judicature, Princess Royal’s son, etc). She knew all was same person in disguise and she impressed with this person ability & power. She once suspects this person was XHY but fail to confirm it. The real XHY always had medicine scent in his body. Until now… Actually, SXH hadn’t wanted this formidable person to be XHY, because her logic is like this: If they became adversaries in the future, they could still compete as equals but if this person is XHY then from the moment of their marriage, she could never let her guard down again. One small mistake, and while she didn’t fear her destruction, it would drag the entire Shen family into eternal ruin. Such a living, how tired she will be. She also concluded about the snow lotus and how XHY lost ability to see colors. All because of her. Such a debt. If contentions happened in future, how she could choose between her family and her husband who she owes a lot. Finally, she decides to break off their engagement.

Chapter 317.

SXH : “Your Highness, please think thrice. Before the Imperial Astronomer sets the wedding date, I hope Your Highness will consider carefully.”

XHY : “I will not change my mind. My desire to marry you, my heart for you – though sun and moon may diminish, this heart will not. Youyou, no matter how many choices you think you have, in the end, it can only be me.”

Chapter 332.

In short, they didn’t meet for quite a long time. Until there was gathering in palace and it happened XHY got poisoned and faint (part of his plan to trap enemy). SXH come, XHY want to sleep in SXH’s embrace. Of course, SXH not agree, they banter but at the end XHY sleep on her lap. XHY had thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep and he will only close his eyes, but resting on her lap made him feel so secure that he let down all his defenses. All these years, no matter how strong he became, his initial habits of vigilance followed him like a shadow. No one had ever allowed him to relax so completely, to fall into sweet dreams so quickly. SXH want to push him, but unexpectedly, within a few blinks, he had fallen sound asleep. They were both people born into such complex environments, treading on thin ice ingrained in their bones. People as cautious as them couldn’t trust anyone so completely, not even their closest confidants. Yet XHY trusted her with his life. She knew that if she triggered the mechanism on her wrist now, she could easily end his life. “In the end, you’re different from others.” Since then, their relationship somewhat improved

Chapter 356

XHY ability to read people in his scheming make SXH admire him more. At the age of 8, after being poisoned, the Imperial Tutor saw the fear and resentment in XHY’s eyes, so he had him observe things, to understand common people, understand merchants, understand the relationship between people and officials, understand poverty and wealth. Seeing more naturally opened XHY mind, and knowing more naturally made XHY someone who didn’t blame heaven or resent others. This is why XHY said to SXH “In this world, there is no one I cannot understand.”

Chapter 371

In this while, XHY often take SXH outside to see mountains and rivers, teach her archery, hunting, flying kites. These activities indeed make SXH happy. SXH rarely smiled in Northwest, especially after the incident of one maid push her to river. Now, seeing SXH’s bright smile, her maids say “The Princess has changed again… Because of the Crown Prince’s appearance, he has pampered her into a true young lady.” Having followed SXH for over ten years, only now did they truly see in her, the demeanor a young lady should have.

Chapter 375

Because these day XHY & SXH frequently went outside, their enemy (Turc Prince) start to make a move. Despite XHY’s careful preparation, there was 3 tigers almost kill XHY & SXH. They work together very well until their guards come to help them, but still, both get some small injury. This make XHY feels guilty.

SXH : “I told you, when I chose you, I would share both fortune and misfortune with you.”

XHY : “I only want you to enjoy good fortune with me, without misfortune. Today I failed to ensure that. I’m still not fearsome enough.”

SXH : “Even His Majesty, the supreme ruler, faces assassination attempts. You needn’t be so troubled. Let’s find the mastermind and properly repay them.”

XHY : “Rest assured, I will catch this person.”

Chapter 389

“Gone was the melancholy and furrowed brow from SXH time in the Northwest; gone too was the cold dignity and unapproachability following her maid’s betrayal. At this moment, SXH was like the hibiscus flowers beside her stretching from their vase toward the light, gentle to her very core. Her maids never expected to see her like this made their eyes reddened.”

Part 4. His Origin and Her Secret

Chapter 399

BIG SPOILERS WARNING!!

XHY doesn’t want to keep secret from SXH, so when she asks some question, he answer truthfully about his origin: “I am not His Majesty’s true son.” The truth: XHY is Emperor’s brother son. At that time, Empress Dowager and her two sons (Emperor & Emperor’s brother Prince Qian) move to Northwest because of palace intrigue. It’s SXH’s father who help them survive. After years passed and they had strong enough, they back to capital to claim the throne. For power, Emperor kill his brother Prince Qian. Prince Qian wife just died give birth to XHY. Empress Dowager compromise to hide the fact Emperor kill Prince Qian and let Emperor ascend the throne. Emperor promise to Empress Dowager to take XHY as His own son and as Crown Prince from His Empress (who killed too). Since then, Emperor make XHY Crown Prince publicly and take no Empress anymore. He takes many noble consorts who gave him dozen Prince and Princess but no legitimate descendant from Empress to compete Crown Prince position.

Chapter 424

Prince Xin start suspect who SXH really is because SXH know couple things that only Gu Qingzhi know

Chapter 426

XHY also find something wrong with Prince Xin attitude towards SXH. They talk it. XHY always thought that though he hadn’t yet won SXH’s heart, their efforts aligned. With SXH’s nature, as long as he remained faithful, they would share life and death.

SXH : “Between men and women, mutual affection alone isn’t enough for a lifelong partnership, sentiment and love aren’t important.”

XHY : “They are important. For me, meeting you is fortunate; staying with you is grace; growing old with you is a blessing; being loved by you would be perfection.”

Then XHY start to ask how SXH know some Prince Xin secret

SXH : “I don’t want to say.” I don’t want to deceive you, but I also don’t want to tell you the truth, so I choose not to speak.

XHY : “May there never be deceit between Youyou and me in the future.”

SXH : “This promise, I can agree to.”

Everyone should have their secrets. She could choose not to speak, but should not lie. Never deceiving each other—this was their pre-marriage sincerity to each other.

Chapter 429

Prince Xin keep pressing about SXH background. SXH said that she and Gu Qingzhi was old acquaintance used to exchange letter. The letter with GQZ & SXH hand writing present so Prince Xin, though still in doubt but he couldn’t argue anymore. XHY happened to hear SXH and Prince Xin conversation in hiding. SXH come to XHY

XHY : “I was somewhat shocked. I even foolishly went to read some books of strange tales. But, If I were to doubt you over his baseless talk, how could we speak of a future together?”

SXH : “Your Highness, what if Prince Xin’s words were true?”

XHY : “I’ve traveled far and wide, seen countless strange occurrences. Some things in this world truly can’t be explained by ordinary logic. But it’s you I love; you I wish to spend my life with. As long as it’s you, nothing else matters.”

SXH : “Your Highness, I will always be just myself.”

Chapter 431

XHY jealous over Xie Yunhuai (SXH’s close doctor friend – her kindred spirit). After some banter XHY ask SXH to embrace him. Normally SXH wouldn’t agree. But this moment, without realizing it, SXH was already beside XHY and wrapped her arms around his shoulder, “Your Highness, I cannot speak for other women, but I will only have one husband in this life.” Though she had initially planned for XHY’s early death, she had never considered remarrying

Chapter 442

Emperor start suspect XHY. He test XHY using His secretly trainned guards, but at the end it is vice versa, that secretly trainned guards - Emperor's genuine elites - all found dead. It is XHY who tears Emperor facade without any evidence of XHY's true colors revealed. While this happened, SXH could follow XHY's scheme very in line though she didn't know about his plan at first. But it not finish. In short, it was Emperor's brother from different mother who kill Emperor’s elites guards. He hates Emperor for what happened years ago when Emperor ascend the throne. Now, he also kidnapped XHY (though this was part of XHY's plan). XHY tied in the bridge, below is fast flowing river. Then XHY was shot by an arrow. SXH get angry and shot back, kill the archer.

SXH : “Don’t hurt him. That arrow just now was payback. If he suffers even the slightest injury from you or your men again, I will desecrate your corpse inch by inch; if he falls from here, I will have your bones ground to dust, denying you peace even in death.” Her unwavering determination in the most level tone from her words stunned everyone.

Then in chaos, XHY indeed fall to river. After being found, Imperial physician confirm the arrow is poisoned make it two poisons stay in XHY’s body. This make SXH stay at his bed side. Later at night XHY wake up and explain it is poison to counter poison, this make SXH angry.

XHY : “Youyou, you can be angry and upset with me, but please don’t ignore me, alright? I wasn’t trying to hide things from you, nor did I want you to play along with my act to deceive others. It’s just that… I never thought you would worry about me, personally watch over me. If I had known I held such importance in your heart, I would have told you earlier – I was indeed poisoned, but this poison doesn’t harm me. Rather, it’s a poison that controls the strange poison in my body…”

Chapter 458

XHY & SXH talk about XHY origin, about Prince Qian, about Emperor’s brother. SXH ask whether XHY want to reclaiming his true identity in future or for revenge. But this is what XHY thinks. He didn’t know if he was cold-hearted, but he had never seen his birth parents and felt no attachment or longing for them. In his childhood, he had experienced too much despair and helplessness, countless times hovering at death’s door. No one had reached out to help him then, no one had taken him into their arms. So, even towards his birth parents, he felt no blood ties. It didn’t matter whose child he was. To him, he was simply himself, and everything about him belonged only to him. Of course, things were different now. He had her, and he could belong to her.

XHY : “In this world, only you can truly know me, see my genuine nature. And only you can make me lower my defenses and shed my facade.”

Chapter 460

XHY pov

“There had been complaints, there had been hatred for fate’s unfairness, but all that past resentment and anger suddenly dissolved the moment I met you. My eyes no longer held hatred or grievances, only longing and desire for you. You are the one who makes me forget all unhappiness and pain, filling my heart with tenderness and gratitude.”

Chapter 461

SXH knew how XHY full scheme in this incident, such a clean, organize, brilliant and fatal

SXH : “Your Highness once said, fortunately, I am not your enemy. Today, I return these words to Your Highness.” SXH was grateful they weren’t enemies. Otherwise, having such an enemy would truly be impossible to guard against, causing constant terror and sleepless nights.

XHY : “I am frank with you not because I want you to fear or dread me, but because I hope you can know and understand me.”

SXH : “I admire Your Highness’s wisdom, respect Your Highness’s methods, and I am convinced by Your Highness’s superiority, I do not fear Your Highness.”

XHY : “You are heaven’s mercy upon me.”

Chapter 464

XHY said he will arrange for SXH attend her brother wedding in Northwest. XHY&SXH wedding planned on March and her brother on May. SXH know this is not proper. Once she be Crown Princess of Eastern Palace, it’s impossible for her to step out palace easily

XHY : “Proper? I only set rules for others, I never follow others’ rules. I want you to marry me and find joy and peace because of me. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that from the day you marry me, you’ll have fewer regrets in life. When we’re both old and gray, looking back on the past, if you can feel that marrying me was life’s blessing, that will be my life’s fulfillment.”

Chapter 465

XHY could see colors again, thanks to SXH's doctor subordinate name Sui Axi. And with SXH had collected many winters jasmine this year, XHY lungs no longer itching and burning, just slight coughing. Only now did he experience how pleasant winter could be without illness and pain.

Chapter 468

Princess from Tibet – Princess Yaoxi come to seek marriage alliance. She eyes XHY. SXH show no interest. In her point of view, she trusts XHY more, why debate. XHY quite disappointed by her indifferent attitude.

SXH : “Your Highness, I am a woman who doesn’t understand romance. I don’t know how to be passionate about someone, I only know how to be sincere. Some of the jealousy you want to see – I might never show you in this lifetime. If I care for you, I’ll trust you even if the whole world doubts you; if I don’t care for you, I wouldn’t mind even if you had three thousand concubines.”

XHY : “Therefore?”

SXH : “Therefore, not showing jealousy doesn’t mean I don’t care about Your Highness.”

Chapter 475

SXH pov

“She wasn’t lying. She now clearly realized that XHY was gradually becoming important in her heart, but this importance had nothing to do with the lingering, passionate love between men and women, where one day apart feels like three autumns. She cared about XHY’s emotions, was willing to tolerate his temperament, and was happy to accommodate his habits. Yet she didn’t feel the need to see him every moment, didn’t need to rely on him for everything, and if he traveled far away, she wouldn’t lose her appetite or worry herself sick over him.”