At six years old, Xue Yaoyao’s father brought back a mistress from Jiangnan — and along with her, an illegitimate wild child whose father’s identity was unknown. From that day forward, Xue Yaoyao had a new “younger brother” with no blood ties to her: Jiang Lanzhou.

Her parents’ marriage crumbled, and Xue Yaoyao grew to hate the mother and son pair. Whenever she got the chance, she ordered the servants to ab*se them in every way possible. She tormented them nearly to death and finally had them thrown out of the Xue family.

What she didn’t expect was that one day, Jiang Lanzhou would return — as the heir to the Great Zhou Empire.

At twenty-one, the Xue family fell from grace. All adult men in the household were beheaded.

Once a soon-to-be crown princess, Xue Yaoyao became a lowly prisoner.

On the day she was exiled, Jiang Lanzhou returned triumphant from war.

In the pouring rain, the man lifted her chin with his halberd and said coldly,

“Beg me. I might consider buying you as a concubine.”

Xue Yaoyao laughed. Covered in dirt, she still carried herself with the arrogance of her childhood.

“You? Not worthy.”

—

A month later, at the victory banquet in the northern territories…

Desperate and with nowhere to turn, the fallen noblewoman knelt before him.

“Please… save the remaining members of the Xue family.”

In public, she was the mysterious beauty who offered herself willingly.

In private:

“Didn’t you used to look down on this bastard? This filthy stray?”

Her wrists pinned above her head, her forehead slammed against the bed frame.

“Like that?” he asked.

“I do.”

To protect her remaining kin, Xue Yaoyao cast aside hatred and pride. All she wanted was to conquer Jiang Lanzhou — Even if he, seeking revenge for years of humiliation, made it clear she was nothing but a plaything.

Still, after every encounter, she’d wrap her arms around his neck and whisper:

“Try loving me. Just once. Please?”

Jiang Lanzhou: “Be good. This is just a transaction. Don’t catch feelings.”

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