I Heard I Abandoned His Majesty After Seducing Him?

Gu Jiao, the only daughter of the Grand Minister Zuo, leads a quiet life in the imperial capital until she discovers a book titled "Secret Chronicles of Tianyu." The text reveals that she is portrayed as a treacherous consort who disrupts the romance between the emperor and a young lord, ultimately meeting a tragic end. To her surprise, the characters mirror real people: the young lord is her former fiancé, Xie Chongyu, and the emperor is her current husband, Jun Heng. Xie Chongyu had faked his death and disappeared on the eve of their wedding, leaving Gu Jiao alone. Shortly after, she receives an imperial decree naming her a consort, a move she accepts voluntarily despite having no romantic feelings for the cold and reclusive emperor.

Jun Heng, the Chengxi Emperor, suffers from a chronic illness and rarely attends court, leaving governance to Gu Jiao’s father, the Left Chancellor Gu Qingxing. Their relationship is strained by past grievances; three years prior, Jun Heng had abruptly ended their friendship after a birthday incident involving Xie Chongyu. Gu Jiao enters the palace not for love, but to serve as a political anchor, ensuring her family’s loyalty to the throne amid rising rumors of rebellion by the Nanning King, Xie Changling, Xie Chongyu’s brother. The court is fragile, with officials whispering that the Left Chancellor holds too much power, while neighboring regions like Nanning watch for signs of weakness.

Gu Jiao’s life in the palace is marked by tense, awkward interactions with Jun Heng. He is suspicious and sharp-tongued, often testing her loyalty or expressing self-pity about their arranged union. Despite his hostility, Gu Jiao maintains a calm and caring demeanor, tending to his health and bringing him food he enjoys, such as chestnut shortcakes from a famous local shop. Their dynamic shifts slightly when Ning Feizhi, a playful and talented nobleman who is secretly the author of the "Secret Chronicles," visits Gu Jiao in the palace. Jun Heng catches them together and becomes visibly jealous, though he masks it with sarcasm. Ning Feizhi reveals that he based the fictional characters on real people, including Gu Jiao and Jun Heng, adding a layer of meta-commentary to their struggles.

The political landscape grows more complex with the return of Mu Wan, the young general of the Mu family army. Mu Wan had been stationed in Linyang but returns to the capital, reporting to Jun Heng on the movements of the Nanning forces. He reveals that Xie Chongyu was captured by his own brother, Xie Changling, during a failed escape. Mu Wan also encounters Gu Jiao in a plum garden, where they share a friendly and flirtatious conversation. Gu Jiao mentions her engagement to Mu Wan jokingly, which infuriates Jun Heng when he later hears of it. This incident highlights the growing tension between Jun Heng’s possessiveness and Gu Jiao’s attempts to maintain neutrality.

As the story progresses, Gu Jiao navigates the delicate balance between her duty to the emperor and her lingering feelings for Xie Chongyu. She learns that Xie Chongyu’s disappearance was part of a larger plot involving the Nanning rebellion. The emperor’s health continues to deteriorate, and he relies heavily on Gu Jiao’s presence for comfort. Meanwhile, Gu Qingxing works behind the scenes to protect his daughter and maintain the stability of the realm. The narrative sets the stage for a confrontation between the imperial court and the rebel forces, with Gu Jiao at the center of the political and emotional storm.

The climax approaches as the Nanning forces prepare to march on the capital. Gu Jiao must decide whether to trust Jun Heng’s intentions or seek a way out of the palace. Her interactions with Mu Wan and Ning Feizhi provide moments of levity and support, but the weight of her position remains heavy. The emperor’s jealousy and vulnerability become more apparent, suggesting that his feelings for Gu Jiao may be deeper than he admits. The story ends with Gu Jiao standing at a crossroads, her fate intertwined with the future of the Tianyu dynasty.