The Emperor's Betrayal

Emperor Xiao Jingheng and Shen Qiyue were once a loving couple, but on the eve of their wedding, Shen was forced by her father to sever Xiao's finger, stripping him of his right to the throne. Years later, upon ascending, Xiao keeps Shen as a slave to revenge. Fearing Xiao will harm their son, Shen secretly raises their asthmatic child, Hongdou, by secretly saving silver coins to pay for his treatment. When the Concubine discovers this, she falsely accuses Shen of theft and throws the coins into the lake. To save her son, Shen jumps into the lake to retrieve them and is rescued by Xiao.