Golden Partridge

Sui Sui is a former stage actress who serves as the favored concubine of Li Chongjun, the Prince of Wei, who resides in the remote frontier city of Liangzhou. Their relationship is transactional and performative; Sui Sui entertains the prince with her beauty and wit, while he provides her with material wealth that she secretly sends to her ailing elder sister, Cui Qiao. Li Chongjun is known for his debauchery and lack of restraint, yet he harbors a deep, unspoken sorrow. His life is upended when the Crown Prince dies by suicide, leaving the throne vacant and triggering a fierce power struggle among the imperial nobility. The Emperor, seeking to consolidate power against the influential great clans, summons Li Chongjun back to the capital, Chang’an, to marry a daughter of the prestigious Yang clan.

As Li Chongjun prepares to depart, Sui Sui plans her own exit, intending to open a tavern and live independently. However, her plans are interrupted when she attends a performance at a local theater, where she encounters an assassination attempt on Li Chongjun. The attackers, hired by rival factions opposed to the Prince’s rise, strike during a public event. Sui Sui, despite her fear and her desire to leave, rushes to Li Chongjun’s aid, taking a wound meant for him. This act of bravery surprises both of them, breaking the cold facade that has defined their relationship. Li Chongjun survives but is critically injured, forcing him to remain in Liangzhou for months to recuperate. During this time, Sui Sui is trapped in the residence, caring for him and navigating the hostile watch of Madam Xia, a senior maid who despises her.

The prolonged confinement and shared vulnerability alter the dynamic between them. Li Chongjun, who has long guarded his heart for a childhood sweetheart named Yiyi, finds himself increasingly drawn to Sui Sui’s lively and unpretentious nature. Their interactions shift from transactional to intimate, culminating in a night where Li Chongjun, suffering from a fever induced by medicinal tonics, demands her physical comfort. Although he initially claims she is merely a substitute for Yiyi, his actions reveal a growing attachment. Sui Sui, however, remains guarded, convinced that she is disposable and that Li Chongjun’s true affection belongs to another. She continues to prepare for her departure, unaware that Li Chongjun has secretly arranged for her and her sister to be cared for by his maternal family in the capital.

When Li Chongjun finally recovers, the political stakes in Chang’an have escalated. The Emperor’s maneuver to marry his son to a noble clan daughter is a calculated move to balance power, but it has made Li Chongjun a target. The assassination attempt was a warning, and the Prince realizes that returning to the capital means entering a dangerous game of court intrigue. Despite the risks, he insists on taking Sui Sui with him, defying her wishes to stay behind. At a farewell banquet, Sui Sui attempts to assert her independence, declaring she will never speak of their past. This provokes Li Chongjun’s jealousy and anger, leading to a heated confrontation where he asserts his claim over her. The story concludes with their journey to Chang’an, where Sui Sui must navigate the treacherous imperial court alongside a Prince who is both her protector and his own political pawn, as their relationship faces the ultimate test of loyalty and survival.