Shen Xihe: "Each prince has his own merits, vying for your hand in marriage. In what way does the Crown Prince excel?"
Xiao Huayong: "I possess no particular talents, but am fortunate to have a frail constitution. When I become emperor, should you find me burdensome, I may die early."
——Prologue.
Breezes drifted through the green gauze windows, while waves of fragrance wafted in the beaded curtain warm pavilion.
"Do you harbor hatred?"
A clear voice, tinged with suppressed emotion, broke the tranquility of the silent room.
The tall, straight figure stood by the window, his profile outlined against the light.
The candlelight from the elegant octagonal candlestick filtered through the jasper cover, blending with moonlight stealing through the slightly opened window to fall upon him, making him appear like a banished immortal—ethereal and uniquely radiant.
He was the Great Xing Dynasty's fifth prince, Prince Xin—Xiao Changqing, beloved by the emperor.
Only the fragrant, curling smoke answered him, as if he were speaking to himself in the empty room.
His hands, clasped behind his back, tightened and loosened repeatedly until he could no longer contain himself and turned around.
His complex gaze pierced through layers of sheer gauze, jasper beaded curtains, and incense mist swirling from the burner, finally settling on the figure seated calmly behind the desk.
Her slender, tender white hands held a gold-inlaid jade incense spoon, stirring gently in the Five Blessings Mutton Fat White Jade Incense Burner.
Round and round, unhurried and steady.
Just like this—always like this. No matter how earth-shattering the events, she remained unmoved, steadfast as a mountain!
This was his wife, the woman he deeply loved, his Consort of the Prince Xin!
A woman he could never fully understand or see through.
In a burst of anger, he swept aside the beaded curtains, creating a chaotic clatter of jade beads colliding. Striding quickly to stand before her, he looked down across the desk: "Gu Qingzhi, do you hate me?"
Her lightly lowered eyelids fluttered slowly as she finally lifted her head. Those captivating eyes, shimmering with the luster of pearls and jade, gazed calmly at him. Her clear, icy voice, like the chime of jade, rang out without a ripple of emotion: "Why should I hate?"
Slap!
His hands slammed onto the desk before her, causing it to shake visibly from the force.
This action finally drew her attention. Her gaze, which had been about to withdraw, returned to him. In that turn of her eyes, a myriad of charms unfolded, and the movement of her hands stilled.
His fingers digging into the pearwood carved desk, crumpling the exquisitely patterned silk cloth spread over it, Xiao Changqing's voice trembled with restrained emotion: "Just this noon, I personally oversaw the execution of sixty-nine members of your Gu family—including your nephew who was not yet three years old!"
Speaking these words, his heart grew inexplicably uneasy. He stared intently into her eyes, hoping to detect some hatred, disgust, or even a trace of pain.
But he was disappointed. She remained as unperturbed as ever, so calm it bordered on cold-bloodedness, as if he were speaking of matters that held no relevance to her.
Three years—they had been married for three years.
Whether he doted on her excessively, flirted with other women in her presence, or even allowed concubines to disrespect her, she always maintained this detached composure. It was as if she did not truly exist in this world, observing all people and events with complete indifference.
"Gu Qingzhi, you have no heart. Your blood runs cold." Suppressing the fury clogging his chest, his words seeped out through clenched teeth.
She did not love him—not in the slightest. Even though thousands praised him and multitudes adored him, in her eyes, he amounted to nothing.He thought, since she did not love, then let her hate instead—at least he could see ripples stir in those breathtakingly beautiful eyes. Yet in the end, he was met only with disappointment.
He doted on other women—she showed no jealousy!
He took her cousin as a concubine—she shed no tears!
Today, when he was ordered by the Emperor to personally oversee the execution of her entire family—she felt no hatred!
"Your Highness, why go to such lengths?" Her rosy lips parted gently as the incense spoon in her hand began to stir slowly again. Her movements were elegant, every gesture worthy of a painting. "When the sovereign is strong, the ministers are weak; when the ministers are strong, the sovereign is weak—it is merely a game of power. The Gu family has met this fate today because my father was outmatched. Having lost, he accepts the outcome willingly and wholeheartedly. Why should there be resentment?" After a brief pause, she continued softly, "As for the Gu family members being implicated, they are not innocent."
Meeting Xiao Changqing’s widened pupils, she clearly saw her own dignified reflection in his limpid eyes: "They were born into the Gu family. When the Gu family held overwhelming power, they enjoyed the wealth and prestige it brought. Now that the Gu family has fallen, they must naturally bear the consequences of defeat. In this world, who can reap only benefits without giving anything in return?"
"I, as a daughter of the Gu family—why should I hate?" she retorted, her tender, cherry-blossom-pink lips curling slightly. "Why should I hate you, Your Highness? You and I were merely a marriage of political convenience, a high-stakes gamble where we wagered our lives and fortunes. If not for my surname—Gu—and my status as the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, what right would I have had to become your principal wife? You see, Your Highness, this is the glory the Gu family brought. Wealth and honor have always been sought through peril. Now that only I remain of the Gu family, I ask Your Highness to make it clear—how should this lone survivor be dealt with?"
Having already lost power, wealth, and life itself, she must not also lose the dignity of an aristocratic family or the pride of a noble lady!
The tide had turned, and the situation was beyond redemption. What use was there in hysterics, hatred, or empty threats—other than wasting energy and shattering her last vestiges of dignity and refinement?
Xiao Changqing was so provoked by her words that he involuntarily took two steps back. He could not believe that even at such a moment, she could remain so calm and rational.
She was so beautiful, ethereal as if untouched by mortal cares; yet so cold, as if devoid of human emotions and desires.
How could such a woman exist in this world!
And he—he was hopelessly, deeply infatuated with precisely such a woman!
Closing his eyes in anguish, Xiao Changqing turned away weakly. "You are the Consort of Prince Xin, and will remain so for life. Nothing can change that."
"What an unwise decision..." Gu Qingzhi chuckled softly. "Your Highness is one who aspires to the Dragon Throne in the Hall of Bright Governance. To defy the Emperor and oppose the censors at such a time, all to protect a powerless, empty-shelled Gu Qingzhi—this hardly reflects Your Highness’s usual astute judgment. If you persist, surely many of your loyal followers will turn away from you..."
"Gu Qingzhi!" Xiao Changqing roared, unable to contain his fury.
Gu Qingzhi fluttered her long, gleaming eyelashes. "Your Highness should offer me a cup of poisoned wine and personally send me on my way. The Emperor would surely be greatly pleased."Xiao Changqing suddenly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes resembling those of a wounded beast. The fine crimson threads intertwined into a tapestry of profound sorrow, while a bitter, self-mocking smile froze at the corner of his lips: "I know—from beginning to end, you never wished to marry me. For three years, you feigned compliance with me for the sake of the Gu family. Now, you seek death with single-minded determination, longing for release."
"Gu Qingzhi, don't you dare!"
————Reader's Guide————
① Set in an alternate historical timeline inspired by the Tang and Song dynasties. Purists seeking historical accuracy should proceed with caution.
② The female lead is reborn. This can be interpreted as Gu Qingzhi reincarnating as Shen Xihe, or as Shen Xihe gaining Gu Qingzhi's memories as a cheat-like advantage, leading to her growth. The reborn female lead is neither Gu Qingzhi nor Shen Xihe—she is an entirely new individual!
③ No misunderstandings, no love rivals, and no melodramatic tropes between the male and female leads—a "three-no" product. The story maintains a strict 1vs1 dynamic throughout. Both leads are purely ancient characters; please refrain from judging them by modern ideologies.
④ The female lead's character is aloof and reserved. The male lead spends the first third of the story scheming to marry her, the middle third winning her heart, and only in the final third do they develop mutual affection.
⑤ Both leads are highly intelligent and formidable, embodying a "power couple" setup. The novel features numerous supporting characters. The author has a penchant for aesthetics—all characters are exceptionally handsome or beautiful, with even the least attractive possessing extraordinary grace. Every character maintains logical intelligence, not all are infatuated with the leads, and they exhibit moral complexity with independent motivations and loves.
⑥ The female lead's skill is perfume blending, with a heightened sense of smell as her golden finger. Hence, an alternative title is The Crown Princess Unmasks Everyone Through Scent. Most fragrances in the story are historically grounded, with a few fictionalized for plot purposes.
⑦ Tastes vary—I've grown weary of repeating this, but let me reiterate: malicious comments or any critique I find displeasing will be deleted without exception!
⑧ I welcome corrections regarding logical inconsistencies or factual errors. All other unsolicited advice or criticisms are neither needed nor accepted.
⑨⑩...To be continued.
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