A Lady General from a Humble Family

Two heroines disguise themselves as men, maneuvering through power struggles in a male-oriented court drama, at odds in public but working together in secret to govern the realm. (The author says: This story is set in an imaginary historical world and is entirely fictional. It's a serious, IP-oriented story with a slow build. The second female lead makes a brief appearance around Chapter 59 and appears properly in Chapter 67. Read with caution if that bothers you.) In the waning years of the Southern Qi, the emperor waged wars of conquest, ruled with cruelty and suspicion, and kept his ministers in check through a policy of balance. His harsh rule left the people destitute. Her name is Xue Dingyao, an orphan from a poor family. To survive, she disguised herself as a man, became the chancellor's disciple, and entered the court as an official. She commanded armies in the field and governed the people at court. The empress's relatives pushed her aside for their own gain, while the upright officials disregarded her to preserve their good names. Despite repeatedly earning great merit, she was promoted in title while being quietly demoted in practice, all because of the emperor's suspicions. Her name is Liang Pingqiu, a hermit who has wandered the world. She can predict the weather and understand human affairs. For the sake of one person's ambition, she willingly defied her master's orders. Disguised as a man, she entered the court and made herself a player in the game. She joined forces with the corrupt and used her power for personal gain, winning the trust of the empress's faction. She committed great evils in order to accomplish great good. The two women belonged to opposing factions and seemed as hostile as fire and water at court, yet in private they trusted each other with their lives. To save the people from misery, they used their wits and fought their way through every hardship, pushing through reforms for the good of the nation. After years of struggle, their great undertaking was almost complete, but then a villain stole the fruits of their reform. In an instant, their legacy for the ages vanished and their unprecedented achievements became nothing but a dream. In this chaotic world, where could they go from here?