After Proposing to the Cold-Faced General (Rebirth)

Qiao Shilian, the second daughter of the Prime Minister, lived a life of privilege and careful adherence to social propriety. She was betrothed to the Crown Prince, Qin Shuo, a match celebrated across the capital as a union of equals and deep affection. However, her existence was shattered during a banquet at the Princess’s residence. Drugged by an unknown incense and misled by a fabricated message, she stumbled into the arms of a man disguised as the Crown Prince. Witnesses misinterpreted the encounter as an illicit affair, destroying her reputation. Despite her protests of innocence, her father, Qiao Qingsong, and her mother chose to protect the family’s political standing rather than their daughter. Forced to drink poisoned wine to preserve the Qiao family’s honor, Qiao Shilian died in agony, abandoned by the man she loved and the family she served.

Her spirit wandered as a ghost until she witnessed the Crown Prince’s affair with her former confidante, Fang Yaoyao, and realized the depth of their betrayal. In her final moments of consciousness, she saw Su Zhuoguang, a cold and aloof young general, find her mutilated corpse in the wilderness. He alone showed her dignity, burying her and vowing to investigate the truth. When Qiao Shilian opened her eyes, she found herself reborn sixteen years old, back at the very banquet that had sealed her fate. Armed with memories of her tragic death, she resolved to change her destiny, avoid the traps set for her, and uncover the conspiracy that destroyed her life.

At the Luoxia Mountain Villa banquet, Qiao Shilian immediately distanced herself from Fang Yaoyao, recognizing her true malicious nature. She confronted the Crown Prince when he attempted to comfort her, exposing Fang Yaoyao’s eavesdropping and securing her removal from the court’s inner circle. She also formed an alliance with Zhou Shu, a spirited marquis’s daughter whom Fang Yaoyao had previously sabotaged. By providing Zhou Shu with the correct perfume for her dance performance, Qiao Shilian prevented the incident that had previously turned the Crown Prince against her rival, thereby gaining a powerful friend and altering the social dynamics of the capital.

As the night progressed, Qiao Shilian’s carriage was sabotaged in a storm, a clear attempt to force her back into the Crown Prince’s villa to repeat the events of her past life. Suspecting a trap, she sought the aid of Su Zhuoguang, who had returned to the capital from the border. Though initially cold and dismissive, Su Zhuoguang agreed to help her after she demonstrated her knowledge of the impending danger. He coordinated with his guard, Fenglai, to monitor her movements while she pretended to seek help from the Crown Prince inside the villa.

Inside the darkened villa, Qiao Shilian was attacked by an assassin using the same drugging incense from her previous life. She fought back, creating enough noise to alert Su Zhuoguang, who breached the villa’s security to rescue her. The Crown Prince arrived shortly after, feigning concern, but Qiao Shilian remained guarded, aware that he was complicit in the cover-up of his affair with Fang Yaoyao. Su Zhuoguang’s intervention not only saved her life but also established a critical partnership. He revealed that he had been investigating the scandal that led to her death in her past life, indicating that his actions were driven by a desire for justice rather than mere pity. Together, they began to peel back the layers of conspiracy surrounding the Crown Prince, Fang Yaoyao, and the political machinations that had cost Qiao Shilian her life.

The story shifts from a tale of victimization to one of strategic revenge and political intrigue. Qiao Shilian must navigate the treacherous waters of the imperial court while maintaining her reputation. She relies on Su Zhuoguang’s military prowess and investigative skills to expose the truth. The Crown Prince, unaware that his past actions have been seen and judged, continues to manipulate those around him, underestimating the resolve of the woman he discarded. As Qiao Shilian reclaims her agency, she transforms from a pawn in the Crown Prince’s game into a player determined to dismantle the corrupt system that destroyed her.