I Won't Fail You in This Life

Tang Jinyan, the Princess Zhaoyuan of the Great Jing Dynasty, lived a life of supreme privilege as the Emperor's only daughter by the Empress. From childhood, she was doted upon and arrogant, her heart captured the moment she glimpsed Chu Moqing, a humble scholar who had just achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. Driven by an obsessive, one-sided love, she disregarded ancestral laws and forced the Emperor to issue a marriage decree, making Chu Moqing her Fuma. This act trapped him in the luxurious but confining Princess Residence for decades. Though she gave him everything, his spirit withered under the weight of his imprisoned ambitions. She died at forty-eight, sick and regretful, watching from her tomb as he stood before her grave, expressing only bitterness and a wish that they never meet again. In her final moments, she realized her love had been a cage that destroyed them both.

Upon her death, Tang Jinyan’s soul did not fade into nothingness. Instead, she woke up in her childhood chambers, reborn to the day of the palace banquet celebrating Chu Moqing’s success. She retained all memories of her previous life, including the decades of sorrow, the death of her parents, the palace coups that nearly toppled the throne, and the slow erosion of Chu Moqing’s vitality. Realizing she had been given a second chance, she resolved to change her fate. Her primary goal was to sever her entanglement with Chu Moqing, allowing him to pursue his political ambitions freely without the burden of being a royal son-in-law. Simultaneously, she intended to stay by the side of her Imperial Father and Empress Mother, protecting her family from the tragedies that had befallen them in her past life.

At the banquet, Tang Jinyan maintained her composure, rejecting the romantic fixation of her previous self. She expressed to her mother that she wished only for a peaceful life close to her parents, rather than seeking a husband. However, fate intervened when she walked alone in the Imperial Garden. She was pushed into the icy lake by an unseen assailant. Chu Moqing, who had been following her due to suspicions about another scholar, Xu Tingyi, leaped into the water to save her. His bravery and the physical contact required by the rescue led senior ministers to petition the Emperor to appoint Chu Moqing as the Fuma to preserve the Princess’s reputation. Tang Jinyan was horrified, fearing a repeat of her past life, and successfully persuaded her mother to delay any decision.

Meanwhile, political intrigues unfolded around the new scholars. Xu Tingyi, the Bangyan, was revealed to be a pawn in his father’s scheme. His father, Grand Tutor Xu, had orchestrated the incident in the garden to force Xu Tingyi into a position of favor with the Princess, intending to use the marriage to benefit the Xu family’s political standing. Xu Tingyi refused to comply, asserting his desire to stand on his own merits, which led to his punishment by his father. This conflict highlighted the dangerous court politics Tang Jinyan now had to navigate.

As Tang Jinyan recovered, she actively sought to repair the damage of her past life. She visited the Imperial Study to bring ginseng soup to her father, noticing Chu Moqing assisting the Emperor with state affairs. She realized his talent was being utilized properly, which brought her relief. She also took steps to protect ancient texts in the library, a passion Chu Moqing held dear. During a storm, she and Chu Moqing worked together to save the books. In this intimate setting, Chu Moqing revealed the hardships of his humble upbringing, including the villagers who funded his education and his estranged father. Tang Jinyan felt deep remorse for her past ignorance of his suffering. She gave him precious calligraphy and paintings as a token of gratitude for saving her, hoping to establish a relationship of mutual respect rather than obsessive possession. The story concludes with Tang Jinyan determined to rewrite her destiny, protecting her family and allowing Chu Moqing to soar, while navigating the treacherous waters of court politics that threaten to upend the peace she has regained.