Su Tuan’er was in the imperial palace, at this moment being forced to her knees by someone.
The night was like a curtain stained with thick ink, enveloping the entire earth in its heavy folds.
Though the courtyard of Yangxin Hall was lit with lanterns, the flames were faint and dim, and a cool wind swept past her ears, carrying with it a thick killing intent surging toward her…
Just a month ago, she—an utterly unremarkable office worker—had tragically died from overwork. When she opened her eyes again, she had transmigrated into the Qingbei Dynasty, becoming the young legitimate daughter of the General’s Residence of the Defender of the State.
Unfortunately, her original body was a sickly one—the kind that could exhaust herself to death just by walking a few extra steps.
Fortunately, she had a father who cherished her like a pearl in his palm, and three elder brothers who protected her as if their lives depended on it. Aside from her mother’s early death and her own frail health, one could say her life was perfect.
Not only did her original body share the exact same name as hers, even her appearance was identical—what a coincidence!
Su Tuan’er had originally thought she could just coast through life eating and lazing about. Who would have known that a quarter of an hour ago, she’d accidentally ended up on the dog emperor’s dragon bed, completely shattering her dreams.
…
Today was the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, and the emperor had hosted a feast in Liuli Hall to celebrate.
Su Tuan’er had never been one for crowds, especially not for boring-to-death palace banquets. She had been dragged to the palace by her three elder brothers, who said that staying cooped up at home too long would turn her into an idiot and that she ought to get out and about.
Liuli Hall was filled with song and dance, goblets clinking back and forth. After eating and drinking her fill, Su Tuan’er found it all utterly dull.
So, taking advantage of no one watching, she slipped out of the hall. Since it was her first time in the imperial palace, of course she had to look around.
The air outside the hall was steeped in the fragrance of flowers, smelling sweet and pleasant. Su Tuan’er felt her body lighten considerably.
She wandered aimlessly, enjoying this moment of tranquility, but somehow, the further she walked, the heavier her head grew. Then the world spun around her, and her vision went black.
When she woke up, she found herself lying on an extravagantly luxurious bed. The moment she turned her head, she saw a strikingly handsome man lying beside her.
Su Tuan’er sucked in a sharp breath and nearly died on the spot.
Wasn’t this the emperor, Gu Yanbei?!
She didn’t have time to think. Instinctively, she prepared to make a run for it.
But as luck would have it, the man who had been sound asleep suddenly opened his eyes, meeting hers directly.
Clearly, the man was just as shocked to see her. His pupils contracted violently, and he stared at her as if he’d seen a ghost for a long moment before letting out a low shout: “Guards! Arrest—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Su Tuan’er, quick as lightning, clamped her hand over his mouth.
Gu Yanbei hadn’t expected this frail-looking girl to have such strength. Her little claws pressed tightly over his mouth and nose, and a powerful sense of suffocation surged through him—at this rate, he might just croak on the spot.
His large hand seized her slender wrist, intending to toss her off the bed, but she seized the momentum and flipped over on top of him, wrapping her legs around his waist like an octopus clinging to him, impossible to shake off.
“Your Majesty, this humble daughter was merely passing by! I’m not an assassin! I’ll leave right now.”
Su Tuan’er only wanted to extricate herself quickly. She had never imagined she’d end up entangled with this man, and in such a bizarre way at that…
Gu Yanbei’s deep, piercing gaze fell upon Su Tuan’er’s face without a trace of warmth. His sword-like brows furrowed tightly as he flipped over, pinning her beneath him.
“You really are quite the coincidence, to the point of coincidentally ending up on my bed,” the man’s voice was crisp and cold, laced with a hint of murderous intent. “Do you think I would believe your story?”