CompletedA refined, sober, yet playful and resilient county princess x a wild, ruthless, yet proactive and deeply affectionate deputy envoy.
Shen Zhuangmu, who was once the highly respected daughter of the first general, suddenly plunged to the status of a criminal's remnant, reviled by all. Yet, she boldly returned to Huijing, and His Majesty even restored her former noble status and honors.
Everyone in Huijing spread this rumor, but Shen Zhuangmu knew clearly that her mother, after guarding the border for many years, was framed and left without a trace on her first journey back to the capital. Now, she has returned to make the perpetrators pay for their blood debt!
Ignoring all obstacles, she secretly slipped out to buy clues, only to nearly be shot in the head by a man named Zhao Yi. Later, while stepping out for air during a banquet, this man tried to probe her. She poured an entire can of tranquilizer into the wine Zhao Yi had meticulously prepared for her.
This should have completely solidified their enmity, yet they met again in a study. In the silence, she sent him a message, asking, "Want to cooperate? I'll give you information." He narrowed his eyes and agreed.
Thus began a path of cooperation filled with gunpowder and devoid of trust—a path of absolutely exploiting each other. To her surprise, their negotiations broke down, and Shen Zhuangmu even doused him with water due to her principles. Yet, this man asked, "Cooperate?"
Shen Zhuangmu wondered if this meant he was essentially offering her free clues. But she refused. She never expected Zhao Yi to be so persistent about her identity.
Shen Zhuangmu never imagined that the truth would be revealed when she felt utterly abandoned. Yet, Zhao Yi uncharacteristically took her hand.
Zhao Yi also never expected that on the day he became a target for all, Shen Zhuangmu would tear apart the false pretenses of the ministers in court and resolutely defend him.
It turned out that their bond had quietly intertwined long ago. When did it happen? Perhaps one morning, or perhaps one afternoon.
She caught sight of him, deeply lonely yet incredibly optimistic. He saw her, broad-minded, unwilling to yield, and exceptionally resilient. It seemed neither of them was so bad after all.
This is a fictional historical novel with a growth arc, featuring two strong protagonists, a two-way journey, and a happy ending (SC HE). The book includes family affection, sisterhood, and brotherhood.
Tags: strong protagonists, enemies to lovers, revenge against scumbags, growth, dramatic, HE. Other: met through conflict, anti-trope, intricately linked, HE.