The Maid Ballad Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Maid Ballad Synopsis

The daughter of a convicted criminal, Xuan Qiancao, has exceptional talent. She is determined to clear her father's name and actively seeks a powerful supporter. Meanwhile, Chen Tongxue, an illegitimate child of the emperor, is manipulated by the crown prince and is in a precarious situation. The two people, each with their own motives, approach each other and use each other. After going through life and death situations together, they fall in love and join forces to fight against their enemies, striving for a peaceful and prosperous world for the people.

The Maid Ballad Recap

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In the early morning, Xuan Qiancao woke up from a nightmare about her father being sentenced as a traitor. Even after a long time, Xuan Qiancao still remembered the nightmare vividly. On that rainy night, the rain was pouring down heavily as she and her mother knelt in the rain. The only thing in her mind was her father's repeated cries of "I am not a traitor," which sounded weak and pale. Thinking of her father who had died as a falsely accused traitor, Xuan Qiancao felt extremely sad.

Lan Yao, who heard some noise, came to urge Xuan Qiancao to get up and go to class, lest she be late.

The school Xuan Qiancao attended was called Taixue, the highest educational institution of the current dynasty. It has been around for hundreds of years and is divided into four gardens: Songyuan, which cultivates military commanders; Zhuyuan, which cultivates literary talents; Mei Yuan, which is specially designed for noble women; and Caoyuan, where Xuan Qiancao is located, which is said to be the lowest-ranked garden, established for cultivating servants.

In a few days, the selection competition for attendants will be held. Xuan Qiancao stood in front of the mirror, cheering herself on. Only by passing the competition can she possibly clear her father's name.

In the Taicheng Wangfu, Lord Taicheng's son and heir, Prince Chen Tongxue, got up and dressed with the help of numerous servants before going to class. After class, the palace guard, Lu Qinghui, told the prince that the descendant of the Xuan family who was sold to Jiangzhou ten years ago was actually still in Yingzhou, and was now at Taixue.

On the other side, Xuan Qiancao was being bullied by several students and accidentally fell down the stairs. Just as she thought she was about to die, a figure flew over and caught her, and also blocked a flying stick for her. Xuan Qiancao looked up and saw that the person who saved her was actually Prince Chen Tongxue.

When Xuan Qiancao was deeply grateful to Chen Tongxue for saving her, she noticed that his hand was bleeding. Feeling guilty, she quickly took him to the medical clinic.

After treating his injury, Xuan Qiancao asked Chen Tongxue why he saved her. Chen Tongxue lied, saying that he had left something behind in the school and was passing by, just to win her heart and gain the power of Xuan Qian. Chen Tongxue then suggested that Xuan Qiancao show her appreciation by performing well in the upcoming selection for attendants in a few days, and become his attendant. However, when Xuan Qiancao heard from Lan Yao that Chen Tongxue was very fickle, she thought that being his attendant would likely result in being a maid and shouted "pervert" before storming away, leaving Chen Tongxue confused.

When Xuan Qiancao returned home, she found that Di Hua was lying on her bed, lifeless. Because someone died on her bed, Xuan Qiancao was accused of being the murderer. Just as she was about to be taken away, Chen Tongxue arrived and saved her once again.

As the mastermind behind the incident, the Crown Prince of Wei ordered his guards to watch Chen Tongxue since he was also at the grassy yard that night and had examined the body.

Xuan Qiancao saw her mother accused of stealing a silver bracelet at the door of their home. Xuan Qiancao's mother had no choice but to hand over her weapons to the accuser, and Xuan Qiancao cried tears of sorrow. It was the last weapon left by her father, and memories of her father's warnings and all the hardships they had faced flooded back. She decided to seek revenge for her father by aligning herself with the most powerful person, the Crown Prince, as Chen Tongxue was too fickle and might ruin everything. With a determined heart, Xuan Qiancao clenched her fists and vowed to succeed.

Soon, the imperial attendant selection competition began, which consisted of three rounds: balancing on a beam, literacy assessment, and talent show.

Xuan Qiancao passed each round and obtained first place. The Crown Prince also successfully chose himself as an imperial attendant. Just as Xuan Qiancao was happy, Chen Tongxue suddenly picked her up and informed the Crown Prince that Xuan Qiancao was already his chosen candidate. After saying this, Chen Tongxue carried Xuan Qiancao away. The Crown Prince then selected Lan Yao as his attendant.

As Chen Tongxue had chosen himself to be an attendant, Xuan Qiancao had no other choice but to agree to the three rules that they both established, and she made it clear that she would never become a concubine.

After getting drunk, Chen Tongxue remembered that Xuan Qiancao had called him a pervert. He was angry and went to confront her to find out why she called him that. At the same time, the Crown Prince discovered that Chen Tongxue might be a lost prince in the common people and ordered someone to assassinate him.

However, at this moment, Chen Tongxue, who was drunk, was unaware that he was about to face a fatal danger.

Early in the morning, Xuan Qiancao hurriedly pulled Chen Tongxue out of her room. If they were seen together like this, it would be even harder to explain. So she urged Chen Tongxue to hurry up. But when they looked up, they found that everyone was already together. Everyone knew what was going on between them and smiled as they walked by. Xuan Qiancao was caught first, and now it was even harder to explain. He felt like crying but no tears came out.

During class, Lu Qinghui was caught passing a note and the teacher read out loud that it was about him and Chen Tongxue sharing a room last night. Xuan Qiancao couldn't help but want to crawl under the ground and not face these rumors.

Chen Tongxue was scolded by his father, Lord Taicheng, for being too close to Xuan Qiancao, and was reminded not to forget the pain of losing his mother. The imperial archery assessment, which Prince and the emperor will attend, is in two days. Lord Taicheng told Chen Tongxue to prepare well for it.

During class, the bailiffs from the Dali Temple stormed into the school, claiming that another grass slave named Luhua had died and Xuan Qiancao was the culprit. They were about to arrest her when Xuan Qiancao rushed out the door. In a moment of emergency, Chen Tongxue arrived and kissed Xuan Qiancao. He told the bailiffs that if they wanted to arrest his woman, they would have to arrest him too. He also told them that he and Xuan Qiancao were together last night, so she couldn't have committed the crime.

Chen Tongxue saved himself again, and Xuan Qiancao was grateful in his heart. Meanwhile, the hidden hand behind the scenes, Prince Taicheng's plan failed again. He was very angry and warned his subordinates that if they didn't handle it well, they would be punished.

Xuan Qiancao lay on the bed and couldn't sleep, tossing and turning. His mind was filled with the kiss that Chen Tongxue gave him when he saved him. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, but immediately reminded himself that his purpose was to seek revenge and he couldn't indulge in love. However, the scene of Chen Tongxue saving him kept replaying in his mind, and he couldn't sleep all night.

The next morning, Xuan Qiancao went to the armory to get the arrows that Chen Tongxue needed, but the steward intentionally gave him damaged arrows. The steward told Xuan Qiancao that if he wanted good arrows, he would have to pay a price. Chen Tongxue happened to pass by the window and heard Xuancao being bullied, and he fantasized about going in and saving her like a hero. Xuan Qiancao was grateful to him, but when he went in, he found that it was completely opposite to what he had imagined. He saw Xuan Qiancao grabbing the steward and interrogating him about whether he had good arrows, which made Chen Tongxue laugh and cry.

On the day of the imperial archery assessment, Chen Tongxue stood out among the crowd and caught the emperor's attention. However, in the archery competition, Chen Tongxue lost to Prince Taicheng because his bow was tampered with. The teacher thought that Xuan Qiancao had not done a good job and wanted to teach him a lesson, but Chen Tongxue stopped him and said that someone had done it intentionally.

The next day, the emperor summoned Chen Tongxue for an audience, and Crown Prince found out about it. It's unknown what he will do to achieve his goals.

After announcing Chen Tongxue's audience to the emperor, the emperor praised the article written by Chen Tongxue and asked about his parents. Chen Tongxue only said that he didn't know his birth father, but his birth mother was from the Xue family. He thought that the emperor would recognize him after knowing his true identity, but unexpectedly, the emperor pondered for a moment and let him leave.

Standing outside the Xuanzheng Palace, Chen Tongxue couldn't help but feel bitter. He finally understood his mother's words. It was true that the most heartless people were those from the royal family.

After leaving a farewell letter for Chen Tongxue, Xuan Qiancao went to work with Lan Yao at the Crown Prince's place. Just as the Crown Prince promised to make Xuan Qiancao his maid, Chen Tongxue arrived and apologized to the Crown Prince for pulling Xuan Qiancao away. He told her that she belonged to him and it was impossible for her to leave. He then tore up the resignation letter Xuan Qiancao left for Chen Tongxue. Xuan Qiancao was angry and stepped on Chen Tongxue's foot before leaving, wondering how she could clear her father's name.

At the academy, everyone was discussing that the culprit who killed Dihua and Luhua was found to be Liao Hua. They all thought it was strange because the three sisters from the Cao Garden were known to bully others together, so how did they end up killing each other? It was truly shocking.

The annual dance festival arrived, and this year, the dancer was the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, He Lingying. Her graceful dance and light figure were truly beautiful to behold. Xuan Qiancao was mesmerized, and then Chen Tongxue took out a beautiful flower lantern from behind and gave it to her. This made Xuan Qiancao feel very happy. Just as she was about to give the lantern to Miss He, Chen Tongxue stopped her.

Chen Tongxue held Xuan Qiancao, saying how could he casually give away the things he gave her, and then he pulled Xuan Qiancao and left. Xuan Qiancao felt bitter and worried that Miss He would misunderstand her.

But when she returned, she thought that maybe Chen Tongxue had some other meaning in giving her the lantern. Looking at the beautiful lantern, she couldn't help but think of Chen Tongxue, the prince. So she spent another sleepless night.

Because of the continuous heavy rain in Jiangzhou, floods broke out, and the people were displaced. If not treated in time, it could jeopardize the foundation of Da Wei. The emperor issued a decree to let Chen Tongxue and the Dali Temple work together to deal with the flood. Just as Chen Tongxue was puzzled and about to take the order, Xuan Qiancao directly apologized to the prince and said it was all her fault. She wrote a letter of recommendation to the emperor recommending Chen Tongxue to deal with the flood.

Chen Tongxue couldn't help but ask if Xuan Qiancao was retaliating against him because he stopped her from serving the Crown Prince before. Xuan Qiancao denied it and just gave Chen Tongxue a kiss and ran away.

It turned out that Xuan Qiancao wanted to get close to the Dali Temple through flood control, and then she would have a chance to get her father's case files. Only by investigating the case could she clear her father's name. So Xuan Qiancao begged Chen Tongxue to take her with him to deal with the flood. Unable to resist Xuan Qiancao's repeated pleas, the prince agreed to take her with him, but he insisted that she could not leave him after agreeing to go with him, otherwise he would not take her. Xuan Qiancao happily accepted.

At Xuan Qiancao's earnest request, Chen Tongxue finally agreed to take her with him to help with flood control. Xuan Qiancao was overjoyed like a child. The water disaster in Jiangzhou was severe, and the people were displaced, flooding to their doors, repeatedly saying, "I want to eat" non-stop.

Inside the house, Lin Yi frowned as he listened to the discussions of everyone wanting to protect themselves. With frequent floods and the people in distress, officials like them should take on the responsibility without hesitation. Just then, the prince and Xuan Qiancao walked into the house. Chen Tongxue exchanged a few words with Lin Yi, and everyone began to discuss how to solve the current problem. Chen Tongxue proposed to use work in place of relief aid, starting with downstream management. This plan was unanimously accepted, and they set out to work, busy with flood control for several days.

When He Lingying learned that Chen Tongxue was helping with flood control in Jiangzhou, she had her maid deliver her family's disaster relief files to him. It turned out that He Lingying had long been pleased with Chen Tongxue. Thinking back to the scene when they first met at the dance ceremony, she had fallen in love at first sight.

Facing the serious disaster, many people's patience had run out, and they gathered together to resist. Fortunately, Xuan Qiancao came forward in time to reason with them and appeal to their emotions, giving the people comfort and promising to pay them their wages.

Lin Yi greatly admired Xuan Qiancao's broad-mindedness. Xuan Qiancao asked Lin Yi if there were any documents in the Dalisi for flood control. Lin Yi thought there should be, so he took Xuan Qiancao with him to find them. When Qiancao saw that they were about to reach their goal, she felt happy. Unexpectedly, they were discovered just as they found her father's documents.

Who was the person who tried to stop themselves at this critical moment? Xuan Qiancao looked up and saw that it was Chen Tongxue. How coincidental and unfortunate that he appeared to ruin her plans. It turned out that Chen Tongxue happened to pass by this place and after explaining to Lin Yi, he took Xuan Qiancao back to the mansion. As soon as they came out, Chen Tongxue sternly questioned Xuan Qiancao about her true intentions. Xuan Qiancao was startled. Could it be that he has already discovered my intentions? Unexpectedly, Chen Tongxue continued by saying, "Is it because Lin Yi is more handsome than me that you came here?" Xuan Qiancao let out a sigh of relief, and her anxious heart calmed down. It turned out that Chen Tongxue was jealous and deliberately said, "Yes, Lord Lin is much more handsome than you..." Before he could finish speaking, Xuan Qiancao's lips were blocked by the lips that came towards her. She forcefully pushed Chen Tongxue away and ran off.

After everyone's efforts, the flood finally subsided. Looking at everyone's reluctant expressions, Xuan Qiancao felt moved. The foundation of the court lies in talented individuals, and the people are also the hope of the country.

Bidding farewell to everyone in Jiangzhou, Chen Tongxue and Xuan Qiancao returned to the capital. Chen Tongxue said he wanted to give Qiancao a surprise and took her hand as they walked. It turned out he wanted to buy rouge for himself. Seeing how attentive the Crown Prince was to her, a warm feeling surged in Qiancao's heart. The two of them laughed and joked all the way to the riverside. Just as Chen Tongxue was about to express his feelings to Qiancao, something happened in the disaster-stricken area, and Chen Tongxue had to hurriedly leave after making sure Qiancao was settled.

On her way back to the mansion, Xuan Qiancao was stopped by He Lingying. He Lingying demanded that Xuan Qiancao leave Chen Tongxue because she herself had feelings for him. Xuan Qiancao made it clear that she only wanted to seek justice for her father and had no interest in romantic relationships. However, He Lingying believed that Xuan Qiancao was using Chen Tongxue as her backing and wanted to trade for frozen rouge. Xuan Qiancao wondered how He Lingying could know about her possession of frozen rouge. Just as she was about to ask for clarification, He Lingying lifted her clothes, revealing the frozen rouge mark on her arm, exactly the same as the one on Xuan Qiancao's neck.

It is said that Xuan Qiancao was stunned when she saw that He Lingying had the same frozen rouge as her. He Lingying told Xuan Qiancao the true reason why Chen Tongxue, the Crown Prince, approached her, and advised her to leave Chen Tongxue and not to struggle in vain.

Upon learning the truth, tears uncontrollably flowed from Xuan Qiancao's eyes. It turned out that all those deep feelings were fake. Remembering the past, Xuan Qiancao's heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife. On her way back to the mansion, she coincidentally met Chen Tongxue, but by now Xuan Qiancao's heart had turned to ashes. Faced with Chen Tongxue's greetings, Xuan Qiancao remained indifferent. Just as she was about to leave, devastating news reached her once again. There was a flood outside the city. Oh no! Her mother was still at home. Without considering anything else, Xuan Qiancao hurriedly rushed home upon hearing the news. Chen Tongxue followed on horseback and rode out of the city with Xuan Qiancao.

Not long after leaving the city, the two encountered assassins. After a fierce fight, Chen Tongxue got injured. Xuan Qiancao had no choice but to find a cave to temporarily rest and bandage Chen Tongxue's wound.

Inside the cave, Xuan Qiancao poured out her heart to Chen Tongxue. If Chen Tongxue could promise to help her seek justice for her father, then regardless of the Xuan Qian power she possessed or any other means, she would do her best to assist Chen Tongxue with everything she had. Chen Tongxue looked at the pitiful figure in front of him and felt a pang of heartache. Without a second thought, he embraced Xuan Qiancao and sealed her lips with a kiss.

In the wild late at night, Xuan Qiancao and Chen Tongxue were forced to rest in a cave due to their injuries. Chen Tongxue confided in Xuan Qiancao about the hardships he had encountered and revealed that although he initially sought the power of Xuan Qian, spending time with Qiancao made him develop new emotions. His feelings for Qiancao were not just driven by a purpose but rather a desire to protect her.

The Crown Prince reported to the Emperor about Chen Tongxue's unauthorized departure from the city the previous night and requested punishment for Chen Tongxue. Chen Tongxue arrived just in time to explain the whole situation. The Emperor praised Chen Tongxue for his handling of the matter and advised the Crown Prince to learn from him.

After being criticized by the Emperor, the Crown Prince felt unhappy. He was about to speak out against Chen Tongxue, but unexpectedly, Chen Tongxue presented an arrowhead bearing the exclusive mark of the Crown Prince. It turned out that Chen Tongxue had obtained evidence of the assassins he had sent the previous night.

Two princes from the Kingdom of Kun came to visit the Kingdom of Wei. The Emperor was worried that the hot-headed Crown Prince might clash with the princes from Kun, which could be detrimental to the relationship between the two countries. Therefore, he assigned Chen Tongxue to assist in the reception. However, the two princes from Kun displayed unfriendly behavior, making sarcastic remarks. After they were seated, they mentioned having a gift to present. When the box was brought in, it was discovered that it contained the military flags of Wei. Xuan Qiancao was infuriated, but Chen Tongxue managed to hold her back in time, preventing any further incident.

It was revealed that the gift presented by the prince from the Kingdom of Kun was actually the military flag that Xuan Qiancao's father had lost after his defeat in battle with the Kingdom of Kun. Xuan Qiancao felt a surge of pain in her heart, but fortunately, Chen Tongxue held her back in time, stabilizing her emotions.

The second prince from the Kingdom of Kun spoke disrespectfully and provoked the people present, making sarcastic remarks about the Kingdom of Wei. This enraged the people of Wei who were in attendance. The prince from Kun proposed a challenge to determine the winner or loser, and upon seeing this, Chen Tongxue bravely accepted the challenge, planning to compete in archery. They agreed to start the competition the following day. The Crown Prince ordered Chen Tongxue that if he were to fail in this competition, he should commit seppuku as an act of self-punishment.

Xuan Qiancao recalled the gift presented by the prince from Kun during the day and thought of her father who had been wrongfully killed, fueling her deep resentment. So, taking advantage of the night, she went to her family's residence to take a look. However, she unexpectedly discovered someone attempting to steal military secrets within the general's mansion. Xuan Qiancao fought against the intruder, but fortunately, Chen Tongxue arrived in time, ensuring that the secrets were not leaked.

The next day, the competition arrived swiftly. Before taking the field, Chen Tongxue had his injured hand treated in advance. However, it turned out that someone had tampered with the medicine, causing Chen Tongxue's hand to lose strength. It was uncertain whether he would be able to perform well in the archery competition, causing a panic among the crowd.

Because someone drugged Chen Tongxue, causing him to lose strength and be unable to compete, the prince from the Kingdom of Kun successfully hit the bullseye and started provoking Chen Tongxue. Xuan Qiancao took the initiative to compete in archery on behalf of Chen Tongxue. However, the Crown Prince had malicious intentions and deliberately ordered the target to be moved two hundred steps away. Xuan Qiancao, undeterred, bravely stepped forward and requested the target to be moved another hundred steps away. The crowd held their breath, fearing that a woman taking on such a responsibility might bring disgrace to the Kingdom of Wei if she were to fail. But to everyone's surprise, Xuan Qiancao hit the bullseye with every shot, garnering applause from the onlookers. Chen Tongxue felt relieved and proud of Xuan Qiancao's achievement.

The following day, after the Emperor summoned Chen Tongxue to the palace for a face-to-face recognition, he demanded that Chen Tongxue kill Xuan Qiancao as proof of his loyalty. As Xuan Qiancao was a descendant of the traitorous Xuan family, the Emperor suspected that Chen Tongxue might have hidden motives if he were to protect her. Chen Tongxue found himself in a dilemma.

Upon hearing that Chen Tongxue was injured, He Lingying went to visit him with medicine. However, she unexpectedly encountered the Crown Prince on the way. The Crown Prince warned her, as his fiancée, not to have any ulterior motives and threw away the medicine she had brought.

After returning to the palace in a huff, the Crown Prince witnessed a dispute between two palace maids, one of them being Lan Yao. Noticing the Crown Prince's presence, Lan Yao was momentarily unaware. In his angered state, the Crown Prince ordered both of them to receive a punishment of fifty beatings as a severe warning. This made Lan Yao panic.

After punishing the maids, the Crown Prince pulled Lan Yao to his side and asked if she was willing to learn martial arts for his sake. Under the imposing presence of the Crown Prince, Lan Yao dared not resist and could only agree.

In the Tai Cheng Palace, Xuan Qiancao was anxiously cleaning when someone from the Ministry of Justice came and handed her a letter. Xuan Qiancao opened it and saw that it was written by Lin Yi. He mentioned that there was a hidden library in the Ministry of Justice that contained dossiers of major criminals, which might include information about Xuan Qiancao's father. Lin Yi assured her that he would handle the connections and try to help her. Upon learning this, Xuan Qiancao immediately rushed over, but to her surprise, it was the Crown Prince who was waiting for her. Xuan Qiancao realized that she had fallen into the Crown Prince's trap.

Drunk and in a daze, Chen Tongxue knelt in front of his mother's grave and confessed his unfilial behavior. He expressed his inability to abandon Xuan Qiancao for the sake of recognition and pleaded for his mother's forgiveness, knowing that he could not fulfill her wish. At that moment, Lu Qinghui came to find Chen Tongxue and gave him a letter dropped by Xuan Qiancao in the mansion. Chen Tongxue noticed that the handwriting on the letter was imitated, immediately realizing the trap, and rushed to save Xuan Qiancao.

At the Ministry of Justice, in order to escape the pursuit of the Crown Prince's guards, Xuan Qiancao ran all the way to the edge of a cliff. Chen Tongxue had just arrived, and the Crown Prince also appeared. The Crown Prince claimed that he would reward Chen Tongxue for exposing Xuan Qiancao's affair with the prince of the Kingdom of Kun. Xuan Qiancao found it hard to believe that Chen Tongxue had betrayed her, but in the midst of confusion, Chen Tongxue couldn't explain that it was a setup by the Crown Prince. In a moment of panic, Qiancao was shot with an arrow and fell off the cliff.

The Emperor announced in the court that Chen Tongxue was the son of his concubine Lady Xue, making him the Prince of Da Wei. This should have been the day Chen Tongxue had longed for and should have brought him joy. However, at this moment, he had no trace of happiness in his heart.

Another unhappy person was He Lingying. When she heard that she was chosen as the Crown Prince's consort, she resisted against her father because she loved Chen Tongxue. But it was difficult to defy the imperial decree, and even if He Lingying had countless unwillingness, she was powerless to change the situation.

As the Prince of Da Wei, Chen Tongxue stood at the entrance of the Imperial Academy, thinking about the moments he had shared with Qiancao. But now, Qiancao's fate was uncertain, and he had no chance to explain himself. Everything was irretrievable.

Just when everyone thought that Xuan Qiancao's fall from the cliff meant little chance of survival, the Prince of the Kingdom of Kun actually saved her. He awakened her will to live, and Qiancao regained her life. Upon waking up, in order to find out the whereabouts of her father, she agreed to go to the Kingdom of Kun with the Prince. As they set off, Qiancao saw Chen Tongxue in the carriage, and at that moment, Chen Tongxue also realized that Xuan Qiancao was still alive. He wanted to chase after her, but Lu Qinghui held him back, advising him to prioritize the overall situation. Chen Tongxue could only watch as Xuan Qiancao was taken away by the Prince of the Kingdom of Kun.

After Chen Tongxue watched Xuan Qiancao being taken away by the second prince of the Kingdom of Kun, his heart couldn't calm down for a long time. He went to the place where they had watched the dance ceremony together before, reminiscing about their past memories, feeling extremely sad. Someone called his name from behind at that moment, and Chen Tongxue turned around happily, thinking it was Xuan Qiancao returning. However, it was He Lingying. She presented the gift she had prepared to Chen Tongxue, expecting him to be delighted, but he only thanked her and walked away, which made He Lingying very saddened.

The second prince of the Kingdom of Kun brought Xuan Qiancao back to Kun country, intending to marry her and force Xuan Ze to surrender the military flag. After spending these few days together, the second prince of Kun country not only developed feelings for this brave and resourceful girl in front of him but also expressed his affection one night. However, Qiancao had someone else in her heart. She realized that she had always loved Chen Tongxue. Faced with the second prince of Kun country's proposal, Xuan Qiancao firmly rejected him.

While trailing the second prince, Xuan Qiancao finally saw her imprisoned father. The moment she saw him, Xuan Qiancao couldn't help but feel immense pain. Over the years, her whole family had suffered so much and lost so many lives due to her father's disappearance. She couldn't calm the indescribable emotions within her.

Xuan Qiancao finally met her father. She initially thought her father had truly betrayed the country, but her father revealed the truth of what happened back then. It turns out that His Majesty wanted Xuan Ze to lead 30,000 troops to continue the conquest of Kun Kingdom. However, Xuan Ze, who had just experienced the Battle of Blackwater, believed that engaging in another war would result in heavy losses. Despite Xuan Ze's advice, His Majesty insisted on sending him to lead the army. Helpless, Xuan Ze had no choice but to obey. As expected, during the war, only a few soldiers survived, and Xuan Ze himself was captured alive and became a prisoner. Upon hearing this, Xuan Qiancao had already let go of her grudge against her father and rushed forward to embrace him. The father and daughter reconciled.

When Xuan Ze informed Xuan Qiancao about the Night Army's situation and unlocked the Xuan Qianzhi power within her, they were inadvertently discovered by the second prince of Kun Kingdom. Xuan Ze urgently protected Xuan Qiancao and allowed her to escape, while he fulfilled his mission and committed suicide.

Fleeing from Kun Kingdom, Xuan Qiancao became a wanted person throughout the country. Helpless, she had to disguise herself and seek out Zhao Sheng, the commander of the Night Army. After meeting with him, Zhao Sheng took her to a safe place.

Chen Tongxue, at this moment, was restless and anxious in the mansion. He feared that Xuan Qiancao might encounter trouble in Kun Kingdom. Therefore, he decided to go to Kun Kingdom to rescue her, and Lu Qinghui agreed to accompany him.

After Xuan Qiancao found Zhao Sheng, he brought her to the place where the Night Army suffered defeat, the Broken Separation Valley. Thinking of her father's tragic death and the Night Army's hardships, Xuan Qiancao couldn't help but shed tears. Zhao Sheng comforted her, telling her not to feel guilty and appointed her as the leader of the Night Army. He handed Xuan Qiancao the beloved weapon of General Xuan Ze, which he had cherished in his lifetime. Seeing this, Xuan Qiancao recognized it as the family heirloom her father had told her about. But now, everything had changed, and she thought of her father's unfortunate departure in order to protect her, and she wept bitterly.

The next day, while Xuan Qiancao and Zhao Sheng were on their way, they arrived at a tavern. Unfortunately, Zhao Sheng accidentally drank poisoned wine. It turned out to be a trap set by the second prince of Kun Kingdom. Since Xuan Qiancao refused to go back with him, the second prince ordered their capture, regardless of life or death. In this critical situation, Chen Tongxue arrived and rescued Xuan Qiancao. After Lu Qinghui had arranged for Zhao Sheng to be taken to a safe place, Chen Tongxue explained to Xuan Qiancao that it was all a misunderstanding. However, Xuan Qiancao didn't believe him. Chen Tongxue had to produce the letter that Prince Taizi had disguised as Lin Yi and written to Xuan Qiancao on that day. After reading the letter, Xuan Qiancao finally understood that it was a trap set by Prince Taizi. She then reconciled with Chen Tongxue.

In the palace, Prince Taizi embraced Blue Kite, who possessed extraordinary abilities, and ordered her to kill all her maidservants.

Chen Tongxue planned to take Xuan Qiancao to meet his adoptive father, intending to use his adoptive father's power to clear the grievances of Xuan Qiancao's father. However, Xuan Qiancao refused, expressing her determination to vindicate her father in her own way. At this moment, Chen Tongxue dared not tell Xuan Qiancao that he was the emperor's son, fearing that she would abandon him if she knew the truth.

Prince Taizi's secret practice of the Taiyin Heart Sutra was discovered by the Emperor. The Emperor was furious and warned Prince Taizi's birth mother that if he continued causing trouble, the selection of the crown prince would need to be reconsidered. Upon learning about this, Prince Taizi discussed countermeasures with his mother, planning to frame Chen Tongxue for the case of the missing girls in the capital. Prince Taizi's mother also poisoned the Emperor's food, causing his death.

With the Emperor's demise, chaos ensued throughout the realm. Prince Taizi ordered his men to capture Chen Tongxue and launched an attack on the mansion of the King of Taicheng. During their escape, Xuan Qiancao accidentally discovered that Chen Tongxue, as stated in the wanted notice, was the Emperor's son. Overwhelmed, she couldn't accept it and abandoned Chen Tongxue, leaving him feeling lonely and desolate.

Because the Emperor was imprisoned after being poisoned by the Prince Taizi's mother, the mother urged Prince Taizi to quickly marry He Lingying. However, He Lingying didn't have any interest in Prince Taizi at all. Her heart belonged to Chen Tongxue. But seeing her father's distress, she tearfully agreed to the marriage with Prince Taizi for the stability of the He family.

With the Emperor imprisoned, Prince Taizi gained power and raided the mansion of the King of Taicheng, imprisoning Chen Tongxue's adoptive father. Upon hearing the news, Chen Tongxue recalled his adoptive father's kindness and went alone to the prison to rescue him.

Upon learning that Chen Tongxue was the prince, Xuan Qiancao severed ties with him. As Chen Tongxue departed, he entrusted Lu Qinghui with the house deed and other belongings to give to Xuan Qiancao, asking her and his mother to start a new life in Suzhou with new identities. Under Xuan Qiancao's questioning, Lu Qinghui finally revealed that Chen Tongxue had infiltrated the dungeon to save his adoptive father.

In the prison, Prince Taizi ordered Lan Yao to kill Chen Tongxue. At a critical moment, the Empress Dowager summoned Prince Taizi to meet her, sparing Chen Tongxue from danger. After Prince Taizi left, while Chen Tongxue was in a semi-conscious state, he saw a figure approaching him.

While Chen Tongxue was unconscious, he saw a figure approaching him. It turned out to be Xuan Qiancao. Xuan Qiancao urged Chen Tongxue to regain his composure and find Zhao Sheng to help him rise again. Chen Tongxue told Xuan Qiancao that her Xuan Qian power in her body happened to counter the Taiyin Heart Sutra, so they could join forces to fight against their enemies.

After Lan Yao helped Prince Taizi, she expected Prince Taizi's mother to support her and make her the princess. However, after meticulously preparing herself and going to receive the decree, she was only rewarded with a hundred taels of gold. Feeling completely corrupted, Lan Yao went to the He residence intending to assassinate He Lingying. Unexpectedly, Xuan Qiancao arrived in time and saved her.

Prince Taizi and his mother, who had long been lying in ambush behind the door, emerged. Prince Taizi's mother ordered the capture of the "demonic woman" Lan Yao. Prince Taizi drew his sword intending to kill Lan Yao. Upon hearing Prince Taizi, whom she had devoted herself to wholeheartedly, calling her a "demonic woman," Lan Yao felt heartbroken. It turned out that her deep affection was misplaced. Suddenly, Prince Taizi struck with his sword, and Lan Yao disappeared.

Lan Yao sought Xuan Qiancao, wanting to settle their differences once and for all, but unexpectedly, she fell victim to the Taiyin Heart Sutra and lost her life. Before her death, she willingly took on all the blame for Prince Taizi. Xuan Qiancao reminisced about the days when Lan Yao and she spent time together in the grassy courtyard, unable to hold back her tears. Lan Yao was trapped by her emotions, sincerely giving her heart to the wrong person, only to meet such a tragic end.

Upon learning that Lan Yao did not betray him before her death, Prince Taizi was overcome with grief. Losing the person he loved turned out to be so heart-wrenching. He vowed to make Chen Tongxue taste the pain of losing a loved one. In his sorrow and anger, he ordered his men to find Xuan Qiancao.

At this moment, Xuan Qiancao, in a state of confusion and despair, walked on the street. Her mind was filled with the words Lan Yao spoke to her before her death, warning her not to fall in love with someone from the royal family, for they were the most heartless and ruthless. In the midst of Xuan Qiancao's sorrow, Prince Taizi found her and used the Taiyin Heart Sutra to confuse her. Under Prince Taizi's influence, Xuan Qiancao believed that it was Chen Tongxue who killed her mother. Holding a knife, she went to hunt down Chen Tongxue. Zhao Sheng, upon seeing Xuan Qiancao being consumed by madness, quickly protected Chen Tongxue and helped him escape.

Xuan Qiancao, after being possessed by demonic forces, went to find Chen Tongxue to kill him. Chen Tongxue asked Xuan Qiancao why she wanted to do this, even if she were to die, she wanted to die with clarity. Xuan Qiancao then imagined the scene of Chen Tongxue killing her mother, feeling a wave of pain in her heart. Without hesitation, she stabbed at him. Chen Tongxue saw that Xuan Qiancao was determined to take his life and did not resist. If this could bring some relief to Qiancao, he was willing to accept it. As Chen Tongxue prepared to meet his death calmly, an arrow shot from behind Xuan Qiancao, and he fell unconscious after being hit while trying to protect her. It turned out that the Crown Prince had come to assassinate them. Seeing Chen Tongxue unconscious by her side, Xuan Qiancao's memories seemed to awaken, and she was struck with a splitting headache.

The Crown Prince summoned Mr. He and wanted him to help him ascend to the throne, but Mr. He disagreed. The Crown Prince killed Mr. He, who had called for He Lingying to escape far away and not marry the Crown Prince. He Lingying witnessed her father's demise at the hands of the Crown Prince but was unable to intervene, so she had to obey her father's words and escape overnight.

When Xuan Qiancao woke up and regained her memory, Chen Tongxue had brought her to a cave. Chen Tongxue saw that Xuan Qiancao had awakened and asked her if she was still feeling unwell. Xuan Qiancao remembered that she had tried to assassinate Chen Tongxue before she lost consciousness and quickly checked his injuries. Chen Tongxue assured her that he was unharmed.

After escaping, He Lingying returned to the He residence. She was unwilling to accept her father's tragic death and wanted Chen Tongxue's help for revenge. On the day of the Crown Prince's ascension, Chen Tongxue went to stop him.

After the Crown Prince rebelled and usurped the throne, he severely injured the first person who opposed him, Mr. Lin, establishing his authority among the ministers. When everyone was too afraid to resist, Chen Tongxue arrived in time to restrain the Crown Prince, buying time for Xuan Qiancao and He Lingying to unleash their Kunyin power.

Xuan Qiancao took He Lingying to meet her own mother. He Lingying asked Xuan's mother to release her Kunyin power so that they could join forces and defeat the Crown Prince, seeking revenge for their fathers' deaths.

The Crown Prince gradually pushed Chen Tongxue back, but just as Chen Tongxue was about to give in, Xuan Qiancao and He Lingying arrived in time and injured the Crown Prince. Seeing that the situation was lost, the Crown Prince fled.

After Chen Tongxue rescued the Emperor, the Emperor acknowledged Chen Tongxue's merits in protecting the country and appointed him as the Crown Prince, entrusting him with important affairs of the court.

When everyone thought they were safe, a spy reported that the former Crown Prince had defected to the Kun Kingdom, and the Kun Kingdom had already reached the border. Xuan Qiancao requested to go to battle and punish the Kun Kingdom. The Emperor readily agreed, and Chen Tongxue saw Xuan Qiancao off, hoping for her great victory and early return.

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