The royal family of Great Qi has a longstanding headache: all five princesses are beautiful and talented, yet none of them will get married.
The elder members of the clan nag every day: “It’s time for the girls to marry!”
The court officials submit memorials daily: “Leaving the princesses’ consort positions unfilled is bad for the stability of the court!”
The emperor is fed up with all the nagging, but can’t bring himself to pressure his daughters.
The five princesses put their heads together. “So we have to find consorts? We’ll find them ourselves!”
They give themselves one year to find someone they like. If they can’t, they’ll never resist arranged marriages again.
The news sets Great Qi abuzz.
The aloof chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy keeps finding excuses to approach the princess. Every time, he hesitates and says nothing more than, “Are you feeling well, Your Highness?”
The tough-talking but softhearted young General Pei visits the second princess every day to spar. After they’ve been at it a while, he flops onto the ground. “I concede. Now you have to take care of me for the rest of my life.”
The young master of Jiangnan’s richest family tries to take a shortcut, but the third princess calculates him into ruin. Now he obediently works as her accountant.
The young Chancellor carefully plots every move, certain he has the upper hand, only to discover that his sweet and obedient fourth princess has all his dirty little secrets in her grasp.
The Vice Minister Lu of the Ministry of Justice is terrified of talking to women. The fifth princess chases him through the streets. He finally manages to hide in a secret chamber, but the door is torn down the next moment. “Lord Lu, are you hidden away safely?”
A year later, five outstanding young men kneel in front of the throne in unison. “We have long been in love with the princesses. We beg Your Majesty to grant us permission to marry them!”
The emperor grins from ear to ear.
