After the Grand Secretary Abandoned Our Engagement for His Childhood Sweetheart, I Married for Peace

Shen Zhaoli, the Grand Princess of Dajing, has spent three years devotedly pursuing Xie Yuheng, the youngest Prime Minister in the nation's history. Despite her royal status and deep affection, Xie Yuheng consistently prioritizes Su Qingxi, his frail childhood friend whom he rescued and raised. The central conflict ignites on Shen Zhaoli’s birthday, which coincides with their engagement banquet. As the court and nobility gather to witness the imperial marriage decree, a servant reports that Su Qingxi is heartbroken over the death of her pet dog. Xie Yuheng abandons Shen Zhaoli without hesitation, rushing back to comfort Su Qingxi and leaving the Princess humiliated before the entire court. This public betrayal serves as the final straw for Shen Zhaoli, who realizes that her devotion has been met with indifference and that she is treated as an afterthought compared to Su Qingxi.

Following the banquet, Shen Zhaoli enters the imperial palace and makes a decisive choice that alters the course of her life. The Emperor Shen Zhijin is facing a diplomatic crisis with the Kingdom of Beiliang, whose King, Chu Yunzheng, demands a political marriage alliance. Although the Emperor is furious and initially refuses to sacrifice his beloved sister, Shen Zhaoli volunteers to go. She declares that as the Grand Princess, her duty to the nation supersedes her personal romantic disappointments. Her brother is stunned but ultimately grants her the imperial edict, warning her that she can return if she regrets the decision. Shen Zhaoli accepts the edict with a calm resolve, signaling the end of her emotional attachment to Xie Yuheng. She understands that the man she loved has never truly seen her value, recalling how he once dismissed her grief when her own pet dog was killed by Su Qingxi’s new pet, treating her pain as trivial while coddling Su Qingxi’s slightest discomfort.

Upon returning to the Princess’s Mansion, Shen Zhaoli begins to dismantle the life she built around Xie Yuheng. She discovers that she has been secretly subsidizing the Prime Minister’s Mansion for years, covering his mother’s medical expenses, paying the staff’s wages, and funding daily operations to maintain his dignified appearance. Now that she is leaving for Beiliang, she cuts off all financial support. The Prime Minister’s Mansion, which appeared prosperous, is revealed to be in severe debt. When Xie Yuheng attempts to apologize by sending pastries, he unknowingly sends chestnut cakes, an ingredient Shen Zhaoli is allergic to, highlighting his complete ignorance of her preferences. He remains oblivious, planning to exchange them for Su Qingxi. Shen Zhaoli orders the removal of all items related to him, including burning the numerous portraits she painted of him, and sells the rest to charity, symbolizing her clean break from the past.

The narrative shifts to the Spring Radiance Banquet, hosted by Shen Zhaoli’s aunt, Grand Princess Shen Shuangyu. Shen Zhaoli attends in regal splendor, her beauty and dignity commanding the attention of all present. Xie Yuheng arrives with Su Qingxi, intending for Shen Zhaoli to welcome and care for her childhood friend. However, Shen Zhaoli treats Su Qingxi with polite detachment, refusing to indulge the dynamic of the past. The situation escalates when Kuang Lianyue, the Regent’s adopted daughter and a longtime rival, publicly mocks Shen Zhaoli for being abandoned. Instead of shrinking away as she would have three years prior, Shen Zhaoli slaps Kuang Lianyue three times, asserting her authority and dignity. She warns that any further disrespect will be met with severe consequences, shocking the attendees who are unaccustomed to seeing the submissive princess stand up for herself. This act marks a significant turning point, demonstrating that Shen Zhaoli has reclaimed her self-worth and is no longer willing to tolerate abuse for the sake of a man who does not cherish her.

Meanwhile, the collapse of the Princess’s financial support causes chaos in the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Old Madam Xie, Xie Yuheng’s mother, blames Shen Zhaoli for the sudden decline in service quality and accuses the servants of theft. The servants, who were loyal to Shen Zhaoli’s fair treatment, resign en masse, leaving the mansion in disarray. Xie Yuheng is forced to sell off family assets to pay debts, a stark contrast to the luxurious life he maintained. Su Qingxi, sensing the tension, offers her own jewelry to help, but Xie Yuheng dismisses her gesture, focused on his own distress. As Shen Zhaoli prepares for her departure to Beiliang, she reconnects with her sworn sister Zhou Qingyun, reaffirming her commitment to her duties and her charitable works. The story concludes with Shen Zhaoli poised to leave Yujing, leaving behind a regretful but oblivious Xie Yuheng and stepping into an uncertain future with the ruthless King of Beiliang, while Xie Yuheng begins to realize the magnitude of what he has lost.