Coax me to be a concubine? The Profligate Marquis Goes Mad After Faking His Death

Su Tan is a courtesan at the Fragrant Pavilion, a renowned pleasure house in the capital of Great Wei. Having been sold into the brothel at age seven after surviving a famine, she endured eight years of brutal training, physical abuse, and psychological torment to become the establishment's top courtesan, known as Mei Wu. Her ultimate goal is to escape her life of servitude and regain her freedom. On the night of her debut, she orchestrates a plan to escape with the help of her friend, the qin player Qin Huai, and another courtesan, Cai Wei. The plan involves drugging her first patron so she can flee, but her scheme is interrupted when Shen Xiuwang, the newly returned Military Governor and Grand Commandant, intervenes. Shen Xiuwang, a powerful and ruthless noble with a reputation for being both frivolous and deadly, bids ten thousand gold to purchase Su Tan's first night, effectively thwarting her escape attempt.

Shen Xiuwang's acquisition of Su Tan is not driven by lust but by a calculated need to investigate a cold case from seven years ago involving the Fragrant Pavilion. He suspects that the brothel is connected to the deaths of several girls who served barbarian merchants, a mystery that may link to political conspiracies within the capital. Recognizing Su Tan's desperation and her knowledge of the pavilion's secrets, Shen Xiuwang offers her a deal: he will grant her freedom and commoner status if she helps him uncover the truth within seven days. Su Tan, facing the prospect of a lifetime of abuse if she fails, accepts the terms. Throughout their interactions, Shen Xiuwang tests her loyalty and cunning, while Su Tan navigates the dangerous waters of serving a man who is as unpredictable as he is powerful. Their relationship is marked by tension, mutual suspicion, and moments of unexpected intimacy, such as when Shen Xiuwang forces Su Tan to kiss him in front of the Crown Princess Xu Yunshu to create a scandal that would deflect political scrutiny.

As Su Tan delves deeper into the pavilion's history, she uncovers fragments of the past, including rumors about barbarian merchants and the mysterious deaths of other courtesans. She must balance her investigation with the need to maintain her cover as Shen Xiuwang's favored courtesan, all while avoiding the suspicion of Mama Yue, the brothel's madam, who watches her every move. Meanwhile, Shen Xiuwang faces his own challenges, including assassination attempts by rivals who view his rising power as a threat and his complicated history with Crown Princess Xu Yunshu, who harbors unrequited feelings for him. The political landscape of the capital is fraught with danger, as the Crown Prince and other factions vie for influence, and Shen Xiuwang's return has disrupted the delicate balance of power.

The story progresses as Su Tan and Shen Xiuwang grow closer, their initial transactional relationship evolving into a complex dynamic of trust and dependency. Su Tan's resilience and intelligence earn Shen Xiuwang's respect, while his protection offers her a glimmer of hope for a future beyond the brothel. However, the clock is ticking, and the secrets of the Fragrant Pavilion are more deeply entrenched than either anticipated. As the seven-day deadline approaches, Su Tan must make a critical discovery that could either secure her freedom or seal her fate, while Shen Xiuwang must decide how far he is willing to go to protect her and expose the truth. The narrative builds toward a climax where personal desires and political obligations collide, forcing both characters to confront the consequences of their choices in a world where survival is never guaranteed.