The Cousin Has No Interest in Climbing High

Ming Shu is the only daughter of Deputy General Ming, who died in battle. On his deathbed, he entrusted her to General Yan, her nominal cousin, and she has since lived in the Yan household as a respected cousin despite her orphaned status. The Yan household is currently led by General Yan Wei, a formidable military commander who recently returned from the border after sustaining a severe injury that was kept secret from the public. Ming Shu, aware of her precarious position and dependence on Yan Wei’s goodwill for her future marriage prospects, maintains a careful and dignified distance, suppressing her own desires to avoid becoming a burden or a target of gossip.

Yan Wei’s return to the capital is not merely a recovery visit but a strategic maneuver. He learns from his advisor, Elder Feng, that the aging Emperor intends to marry imperial princesses to regional generals to curb their military power and consolidate central control. To prevent the Emperor from using a forced marriage to bind him, Yan Wei fabricates a betrothal. He uses a surviving letter from his deceased mother to claim that he and Ming Shu were engaged by their parents, forging a reply in his mother’s handwriting to solidify the pretense. He orders Ming Shu to accompany him to the capital, presenting her as his fiancée to the court and the public, thereby neutralizing the Emperor’s political leverage.

During the journey, Yan Wei orchestrates several situations to strengthen their cover. He assigns a skilled female guard, Yuan Rong, to protect Ming Shu, and ensures she is housed in the prestigious Jinlan Courtyard, formerly occupied by his late wife, signaling her status as the future mistress of the estate. Ming Shu, initially confused and wary, gradually realizes the depth of Yan Wei’s protection. She is also courted by Cui Zhen, a scholar from her former academy, who expresses romantic interest through poetry. However, Ming Shu remains focused on her survival and the complex political landscape, while Yan Wei secretly investigates Cui Zhen’s background, viewing him as a potential threat to his carefully constructed plan.

Upon arriving in Yunjing, the capital, Ming Shu navigates high society with the guidance of Gu Yingzhen, the lively daughter of a noble family who becomes her close friend. Gu Yingzhen introduces Ming Shu to Princess Yiyue and Guan Wan, another prominent young lady, integrating her into the capital’s elite social circle. Through these interactions, Ming Shu gains confidence and support, while Yan Wei continues to manage the political fallout of his return. The Emperor’s eunuchs monitor the General closely, but Yan Wei’s fabricated engagement provides a plausible shield against immediate imperial interference.

The core conflict revolves around the tension between Yan Wei’s political survival and Ming Shu’s personal autonomy. While Yan Wei treats Ming Shu with a mix of cold duty and hidden care, she begins to question the nature of their relationship. She discovers that Yan Wei’s injury was not as life-threatening as claimed, revealing that his return was a calculated decision rather than a desperate flight. Meanwhile, Ming Shu’s growing feelings for Cui Zhen are complicated by her duty to Yan Wei and the dangerous court intrigues surrounding them. The story moves toward a climax where the Emperor’s true intentions become clearer, forcing Ming Shu and Yan Wei to decide whether their partnership is merely a political convenience or the foundation of a genuine alliance, if not love, in a world where women are often pawns in the game of power.