1 Prologue:

Prologue:

Their first encounter was a fleeting glimpse of beauty.

初見時，驚鴻一面。

At the time, she had disguised herself as a man to further her education and crossed paths with him, a refined gentleman with a jade-like countenance.

那時的她女扮男裝來求學，遇上了那個翩翩公子顏如玉的他。

A breathtaking sight. It was love at first sight.

一面驚鴻，一見傾城。

Brought up in a world of politics, she had a sharp mind. In an age of conflict, heroes arose from all corners. And he, exceptional as he was, seemed destined to become the future crown prince.

從小耳濡目染的她有着政治頭腦，亂世中，群雄四起;而這個精彩絕倫的他，很可能就是未來太子。

For the sake of her family and their future, she carefully approached him, assuming the role of his beloved.

所以為了自己的家族，為了給家族謀後路，為自己謀後路，她處心積慮地接近他，并且冠上了自己是他的心上人的頭銜。

Back then, he was entirely focused on his studies, indifferent to romantic affairs. He paid no attention to her antics, never questioning or intervening, even looking the other way.

那時候的他，一心專于學業，無心兒女情長。對于她的胡鬧他都置之不理，不問不管，甚至無視。

The cunning young woman knew her status as his beloved was merely a facade, just as her love for him was feigned. It was simply a way to secure a potential escape route for herself while marking her place in his life, ensuring he would never forget her.

天資聰穎的她清楚自己這個心上人是假的，可是自己愛上他也是假的。

不過是為自己謀取一條很可能會用到的後路而已，同時也是想在他面前刷存在感，讓他這輩子記住她，并且永遠也無法忘記她。

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If she couldn't leave a positive impression, a negative one would do as long as he remembered her. Only then could their story possibly develop into something more advantageous for her.

如果自己不能在他心目中留下好的印象，那麽壞的印象也可以呀，只有對方能記住她，只有記住了未來才有可能會發展成為其他的故事，才有可能為自己所用。

When they met again, he had already become the crown prince, but the kingdom his father established teetered on the brink of downfall. Corruption had infiltrated the court's core, and he volunteered to fight against the corrupt officials.

再次見到他時，他已經是名副其實的太子身份，但是他父親打下來的王國現在已經搖搖欲墜。因為貪官污吏，朝廷已經腐敗到了骨子裏。他自告奮勇，毛遂自薦地要辦貪污，反腐貪官。

Upon their reunion, his once gentle, jade-like scholarly demeanor had vanished. His eyes were sharp, and his expression determined and cold, embodying the resolute nature of a true ruler.

再見時他已經褪去了那層溫潤如玉的書生氣質，眼神淩厲，面色剛毅，神情冷然，宛如一個殺伐果決的王者。

Separated from her family, she wandered with her maidservant. Deprived of her powerful family's protection, the beautiful young lady became vulnerable to exploitation. A warlord, as ferocious as a bandit, took a liking to her and forced her to become his concubine.

而她和親人走散，一個人帶着婢女流落。

貌美如花的小姐，沒了龐大家族的庇護，就是人為刀俎，我為魚肉。

強盜般的軍閥世家暴發富看上了天香國色的她，強迫地拉着去做小妾。

Who was she What kind of family had she come from Stripped of her status, a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken.

To save her, even her maidservant had to risk her life to impersonate her, giving her a chance to escape. To survive, she sought him out.

她是什麽樣的身份？她是什麽樣的人家的女兒。

真是虎落平陽被犬欺，落架的鳳凰不如雞。婢女冒着生命危險。冒充成她，才讓她有機會逃脫。

為了活命她找到了他。

Upon their second encounter, she asked for his help, begging him to save her life.

第二次相見時她是有求于他，求他救命。

During this meeting, he truly perceived the young lady's character. She wasn't the infatuated girl he had envisioned, the crude and naive figure from his memory. Instead, she was an extraordinary woman with a gentle exterior but an unwavering spirit.

而正是第二次見面，讓他看清了這個富家小姐的真實性子。

她沒有了自己想象中的花癡，記憶中的粗俗不堪和愚昧，展現在他面前的是一個外柔內剛的奇女子。

She was remarkably intelligent, brave, and quick-witted, unafraid to love and loathe. Most importantly, she was willing to risk her own life for those she cared for. She was not afraid of death!

她絕頂聰明，勇敢機智，敢愛敢恨，最重要的是能為身邊人把生死置于度外。

她不怕死！

In this tumultuous era, she was a captivating, resolute, and otherworldly beauty. Her extraordinary spirit ignited a heroic spark within him.

亂世佳人，傾國傾城，身世飄浮，不屈不撓，超凡脫俗，讓他有了英雄情懷。

……