The Princess Consort’s Struggles

Shao Qing transmigrates into the body of an exiled convict woman, specifically the wife of Wei Jing, the late emperor's fifth prince and the renowned "War God." The original host had died of despair after her husband was framed for treason and sentenced to exile in the remote southwest. Shao Qing, possessing the memories of her past life and a pragmatic survival instinct, resolves to endure this harsh fate rather than perish. She observes that Wei Jing is severely restrained with iron chains through his collarbones and heavy shackles on his limbs, rendering his martial prowess useless. Despite his cold and hostile demeanor, Shao Qing recognizes him as her only hope for escape. She begins to care for him, feeding him and tending to his wounds, slowly building a fragile rapport while secretly planning to steal the keys held by the escort commander, Chief Chen.

During a stop at a mountain pavilion amidst a torrential rainstorm, assassins attack the convoy. The assault is a coordinated effort by both black-clad mercenaries and blue-clad imperial guards led by Colonel Chou Zong, a confidant of the new emperor. In the chaos, Shao Qing seizes the opportunity to snatch the keys from Chief Chen, who is killed in the fray. She rushes to Wei Jing and unlocks his shackles. Wei Jing, though grievously wounded and poisoned by a meteor dart, fights with lethal efficiency, protecting Shao Qing and breaking through the encirclement. They flee into the dense forest, leaving the dead and dying behind. Wei Jing collapses from blood loss and poison, and Shao Qing drags his heavy body to a hidden cave, applying herbal remedies and saving his life.

As Wei Jing recovers, he reveals his intent to return to the capital to confirm the safety of his mother, Empress Fu, unaware that she has already died by suicide following the late emperor's death. Shao Qing hides this truth to prevent him from collapsing under grief. The two become fugitives, hunted by thousands of imperial troops. They navigate treacherous mountain paths, engaging in skirmishes with pursuing soldiers. Wei Jing's condition deteriorates due to the lingering poison, but he continues to fight, driven by a desire for vengeance against the emperor who betrayed him and the consort who usurped the throne. Shao Qing supports him physically and emotionally, acting as his anchor in a world that has turned hostile.

The pursuit intensifies as Chou Zong and the assassin leader coordinate their efforts. The couple is cornered at the edge of a sheer cliff overlooking the raging Qian River. With no escape route and enemies closing in from above, Shao Qing constructs a makeshift raft from a fallen tree trunk and vines. She binds Wei Jing to it, preparing for a desperate jump into the turbulent waters below. Facing certain death if captured and execution if they fall, they choose to leap together. The story ends with them plunging into the river, leaving their fate uncertain as the assassins reach the cliff edge too late.