He Chose Her, I Chose His Throne

The empire's Black Armor Guard was commanded by a woman, Lance, betrothed to the emperor Phineas, and no one at court knew she was also the sixteenth master of Sleeping Dragon Mountain. On campaign in the northern desert she went in after the woman Phineas loved and brought her out, and her face was ruined doing it. Phineas could not look at her and was frightened of how much of the army answered to her. He took her command away and told her to choose between a political marriage and giving up her post. She had already broken the engagement herself, with the Empress Dowager's approval, and she left the capital. On the day of the wedding Phineas found out she was gone. The northern desert came across the border again and there was no general left who could hold them. Phineas climbed Sleeping Dragon Mountain to beg the master there for help and learned who the master was. He starts trying to get her back. Prince Xia Ye, who sheltered her while her wounds healed, is closer to her now.