Willing To Be A Servant Of The Princess (GL)

Princess Zhao Qin returns to her residence after a wedding banquet, only to discover Shen Fu hiding under her bed. Shen Fu, known as Shen Shuangdao, is furious upon learning that Zhao Qin has had four husbands and is marrying a fifth. Zhao Qin clarifies that none of those marriages were real and declares she will only marry Shen Fu. Their reunion is intimate and charged with unresolved emotion, as Shen Fu asserts her possessiveness over the princess.

Meanwhile, Chu Baige, a scholar and writer, is chased by the Embroidered Spring Blade Guards, the emperor's ruthless enforcers. He had been traveling with Shen Fu, who revealed she slept with the eldest princess, causing the guards to target her. Chu Baige and Shen Fu flee to Jinling, where they stay at an inn. Shen Fu plans to expose the corruption of the Jinling Prefect, Zhang Zhifu, who publicly appears incorruptible but is secretly selling land to aristocratic families, impoverishing the common people. Chu Baige assists her by gathering evidence of the families' illicit wealth.

Shen Fu visits her old friend, Miss Ruyi, a renowned courtesan at Ruyi Building. She gifts Ruyi the deed to her ancestral home, which Shen Fu recovered, offering to help her escape her current life. Ruyi refuses, preferring her current existence over a mundane domestic life. Shen Fu then investigates Prefect Zhang's residence, discovering ledgers that detail his corrupt land deals. She confronts Chu Baige with the evidence, revealing the harsh reality of the aristocratic class that Chu Baige, despite his privileged background, had previously ignored.

Flashbacks reveal the origin of Zhao Qin and Shen Fu's bond. Zhao Qin was sent to Shenxian Mountain as a child to pray for her father's health, where she lived in loneliness. She found Shen Fu, a four-year-old exile girl with scars from abuse, and took her in. Zhao Qin raised Shen Fu, and the two developed a deep, exclusive connection. Shen Fu eventually ran away from the mountain, evading the guards Zhao Qin had stationed to protect her, driven by a rebellious desire to see the world.

In Jinling, Shen Fu and Chu Baige encounter the Poison Widow, a wanted criminal who attempts to seduce and kill Chu Baige using a poisonous mist. Shen Fu intervenes, defeating the widow and handing her over to the local authorities for a reward. The incident highlights Shen Fu's martial prowess and her pragmatic approach to justice, which is often motivated by financial need as much as righteousness. Chu Baige, though physically weak, proves useful in gathering information and navigating the social intricacies of the city.

The story intertwines the political intrigue in Jinling with the personal dynamics between the three main characters. Zhao Qin, now the Princess of Zhao, remains a powerful figure in the capital, while Shen Fu operates in the martial world, challenging corrupt officials and aristocratic families. Chu Baige serves as a chronicler and companion, gradually opening his eyes to the systemic injustices that plague the kingdom. The narrative sets the stage for a larger conflict involving the imperial court, the Embroidered Spring Blade Guards, and the entrenched power of the noble families.

As Shen Fu continues her investigations, she faces increasing danger from both the guards and the aristocratic elites who benefit from the status quo. Her relationship with Zhao Qin is tested by the princess's duties and the political pressures she faces. Chu Baige's loyalty to Shen Fu is cemented through their shared adventures and his growing commitment to social reform. The story explores themes of power, corruption, and the complex bonds between individuals in a rigid societal structure.

The narrative concludes with Shen Fu and Chu Baige preparing for further confrontations with the corrupt elements in Jinling. The discovery of Prefect Zhang's crimes is just the beginning of a larger struggle against the aristocratic class. Zhao Qin's position as a princess places her in a delicate balance between her personal desires and her political responsibilities. The interplay between the martial world and the imperial court creates a tense atmosphere, with the Embroidered Spring Blade Guards looming as a constant threat to those who challenge the established order.