Emperor from Humble Origins
Thirteenth year of the Xiaokang era, under the reign of Xu. Han Fu, a young man of humble origins, arrived at the gates of the Duke Sui’s manor, bearing a written marriage contract. His purpose: to wed Qin Zhaoning—the Jade-faced Rakshasa, the General Who Sweeps Her Brows. Yet, the Qin family brazenly broke off the engagement in his presence, heaping insults upon him and tossing him a paltry thousand strings of copper coins in charity. Harboring imperial ambitions and possessing memories from another world, Han Fu accepted only three coins as a retort. Just then, the Qin and Zhou families, eager to unite through marriage, conspired to hold a grand contest: a poetry tournament to choose the groom. At the height of their self-assurance, Han Fu stepped onto the stage. “Qin Ping,” he declared, “your son has humiliated me and cursed my name, and you have never spared me a glance. If I claim your daughter-in-law for myself, is that truly so unreasonable?”
Emperor from Humble Origins
Year 13 of the Xiaokang era, in the state of Xu.
It was September, the heart of autumn.
On the seventh day, in the city of Dingxing.
Three days prior, a major event had shaken Dingxing.
A young man in plain attire, clutching a marriage contract, knocked on the gates of the Duke of Sui’s residence, seeking to wed the duke’s eldest daughter—Qin Zhaoning.
And who was Qin Zhaoning? Setting aside her status as the eldest daughter of a noble house, she was an exceptional woman in her own right.
Beauty? She possessed it in abundance, lauded as one of Dingxing’s three renowned beauties, her allure rivaling any in the capital.
Ability? She had that as well—her mastery of the Soaring Dragon Spear was legendary, making her untouchable even among elite soldiers. She had earned great merit repelling the Tennur raiders at the border, and at the age of eighteen, she served as General of the Left Feathered Forest Guard.
Some called her the Jade-Faced Rakshasa, others the Brow-Sweeping General.
Such a woman, embodying both beauty and martial prowess, naturally attracted countless admirers—so many, they were as numerous as fish in the river.
By all accounts, a woman of eighteen who remained unmarried would be seen as a spinster. Yet Qin Zhaoning had never paid heed to any eligible young men, nor did she care for gossip or rumor, devoting herself wholly to military affairs and martial training.
Perhaps therein lay the flaw of loving armor over rouge.
Many, after failing to win her heart, gave up—not for lack of desire,
