Imperial Guard Meets Runaway Prince

It was a cold bleak morning on the island of Shang-Yi when the king of the island, Du Hui, summoned Yuxi to his presence.

Shang-Yi, unlike the other islands on the map, was off a wayfarer’s charts – it was even said that if a person’s heart was sincere enough, his prayers alone would take him to the island. However, half a century ago, a curse befell the island. It was said to be the result of a controversy between the late king, Du Hui’s grandfather, and his concubine Xima, who turned out to be a witch.

With her dark powers, Xima cursed Shang-Yi, vowing that as long as she lived, the island and its citizens would suffer. Her minions were a pestilence, aggravating and instilling fear to travellers if they passed the darkest spots of Shang-Yi, Xima's territories.

Eighteen-year-old Du Hui rose to the throne after his father abdicated. He swore to his citizens to restore peace to the island and eradicate evil. Two years have passed since Du Hui has been assembling his forces, waiting for the right time to strike.

Qian Yuxi was the youngest daughter of the Imperial Advisor, Qian Muyi. The position of advisor was passed down from generation to generation, until it reached her father who had no male successor. Qian Yuxi one day, like her father and grandfather, would inherit the position and serve King Du Hui.

Word also had it that a strange phenomenon had happened when Yuxi was only ten years old. She had fallen into the river and almost drowned. But following her near-death experience, she had transformed into a completely different person. The shy and introverted Yuxi had turned into the bold and optimistic Yuxi overnight, insisting she went by another name, Qian Xin.

Since young, Yuxi accompanied the young Du Hui in becoming his study companion. She lacked an interest in martial arts and preferred isolating herself from others as she took an interest in embroidery. But after her transformation, she suddenly insisted on taking on martial arts. She even impressed the young Du Hui, who was initially dismayed about her loss of memory of the past.

Now at nineteen, she stood with her shoulders arched up as she took large, confident strides while entering the king's court. Her long dark hair, with a tinge of red marked her uniqueness. As she passed the other officials in the court, a few junior officials let out a gasp upon noticing her unsurpassed beauty.

Yuxi possessed large round eyes, resembling that of her late mother. While they added to her attractive features, they lacked emotion. Yuxi never knew what love was, not that she needed it.

A smile spread across her face as Du Hui allowed her to take the seat next to him, shocking all those present as Du Hui had yet to trust anyone else in that way. Yuxi allegedly left for the mountains to practice martial arts under a master with profound insight. Two years had passed since, and the instant she returned, Du Hui had summoned her.

She knelt on one knee, her long eyelashes coming into sight as she blinked.