Description :
The Bai family had a daughter of unparalleled beauty—Bai Wan. Her skin was as pure as freshly fallen snow, her face exquisite, her bones delicate and jade-like, almost too fragile to behold. Yet, being an illegitimate daughter of the Bai household, her extraordinary charm was both a blessing and a curse. While many a frivolous playboy [纨绔子弟, wan ku zi di—young aristocratic scions, indulgent in pleasure and fashion] vied for her favor, none could elevate her to the status of principal wife. In the rigid hierarchy of high-ranking families, she could only ever be desired as a concubine, a glittering adornment without true power.
With the tides of imperial fortune shifting violently, Bai Wan soon became a pawn in the treacherous games of court politics. The upheaval left her vulnerable, at the mercy of forces beyond her control.
Yet fate granted her a second chance. Reborn, she returned to a time when her life was still hers to shape, a time when her destiny could yet be rewritten.
Far from the capital, Prince Ning, the guardian of the empire’s borders, had achieved legendary military feats. A man of towering presence, his body had once been battered in battle. Severely wounded, he was brought back to the capital, whispered about in the imperial palace as a man “beyond saving.”
In a move both strategic and fateful, the emperor bestowed upon the Bai family the honor—and responsibility—of marrying Bai Wan to Prince Ning, a union intended to bring fortune to the recovering war hero. Yet, in a cruel twist of family politics, Bai Wan’s elder sister, disgusted at her own impending downfall and embittered by her loss of influence, forced Bai Wan into the wedding procession, taking her sister’s place as if casting her into fate’s cruel hands.
On the night of their wedding, within a tent draped in imperial red [symbolizing joy, prosperity, and marital bliss], the bride was a vision of delicate elegance: slender at the waist, soft, arching eyebrows framing eyes like dark pools, lips painted the deep crimson of winter roses. Her beauty was rare, arresting, fragile yet luminous.
And the groom…
The groom lay on the couch like a fallen mountain, chest heaving faintly. Prince Ning’s burly frame seemed almost immovable, his powerful body still weighed down by injury.
Bai Wan, holding a damp cloth for ritual cleansing [customarily, a bride was to assist the groom with ablutions, a symbolic act of care and devotion], froze in uncertainty. How could she possibly manage a man of such enormous size?
She pushed once—no response. Twice—still motionless. Heart pounding, she drew in a trembling breath, planted her feet firmly, braced her hands against his broad shoulders, and with every ounce of strength she possessed, she finally managed to turn him over.
A dull thud echoed as Prince Ning’s head grazed the wall. He seemed to sink deeper into an almost impenetrable sleep.
Bai Wan stared, wide-eyed. “∠(°口°）/ Wow…” she whispered, disbelief mixing with awe.
To save her own life and secure her position, she clung, day and night, to the “golden thigh” of this formidable man. She cared for him tirelessly, attending to his needs, tending his wounds, offering comfort and warmth.
Eventually, Prince Ning stirred. His dark eyes, deep and piercing, fixed on her with a clarity that belied his previous stupor. It was she—day after day, whispering, teasing, even pinching him—that had roused him.
“See how well I’ve taken care of you?” she would murmur at night, words soft and coaxing, yet carrying a gentle insistence.
Well? The evidence of her care was perhaps less graceful than intended: two small bumps on his chest bore testament to her fumbling ministrations.
Xie Qingchuan, standing nearby, could not suppress a sharp inward sneer. With a swift motion, he seized the hand still wandering over the prince’s body, gripping her wrists tightly, pulling her back with a force that left Bai Wan stumbling. She toppled forward, pressed against the hard plane of his chest, her head forced back.
And then, her gaze met his—those unfathomable, sharp black eyes that seemed to pierce into her very soul. In that instant, she trembled, caught between awe and helplessness, heart racing against the steady, commanding presence of the man before her.
[Reading Guide / Notes]
- Bai Wan is reborn, armed with the foresight and a script to change her fate; Prince Ning is a formidable, multifaceted man of imposing physique and war-hardened prowess.
- This is a 1v1 romance spanning two lifetimes: no ex-lovers, no misunderstandings; the male lead is educated in “men’s virtue” [a noble code emphasizing loyalty, honor, and physical prowess].
- Marriage of convenience evolves into deep love; Prince Ning is initially indifferent but gradually becomes passionately devoted, while Bai Wan develops feelings for him in turn.
- Bai Wan is adorably clumsy, naive but pure-hearted; she may appear dim-witted at times, but her charm and diligence endear her to others.
- She must be well-nourished [cultural note: proper diet and tonics are often prescribed for young women recovering from trauma or stress], or she risks illness—a recurring motif of care and affection in the story.