The world is the board, and you and I are the pieces.
But I want to be the one moving them, so I can flip the board over and start a new game.
*
The thirteenth year of Yuanfeng.
One night, Ping Wang Shijinghong broke into Consort Qing's bedchamber.
It sounds like a piece of palace gossip passed down from some ancient dynasty.
No one knew that night marked the beginning of an era.
Behind green gauze curtains, candles burned bright.
With just a few words, the two made a move on the chessboard.
“Then... don't go easy on me when the time comes.”
“All right.”
*
The fourteenth year of Yuanfeng.
Consort Qing, envied by Consort Li, died.
That same year, Emperor Yang of Zhou died of illness, and Emperor Li of Zhou succeeded him.
Out of sight, Ping Wang welcomed his bride with an elaborate wedding.
Sadly, no one ever saw the bride's true face.
Otherwise, someone would have noticed that the Princess Consort of Ping Wang looked exactly like the late Consort Qing.
The wheels of fate turned once more. Together, they took up the pieces and set the world in order again.
But from that point on, the two nearly fell apart.
“Shihuai, you're too kindhearted.”
“But the people of that city were innocent! There was a way to cause fewer casualties...”
“But this is the most effective way, isn't it?”
“...You're too cold-blooded.”
“The victor is king, the loser a bandit. Why get hung up on trivial details?”
“...”
The closest of kin can become the most distant of spouses. So it goes.
But when Ping Wang finally became Emperor Wu of Zhou, the Princess Consort of Ping Wang no longer wished to be his empress.
At last, there was a chance to fulfill the promise they had made in their youth, of a phoenix crown and wedding robes. But before he could make it happen, he received her letter of divorce.
“Your Majesty, let us divorce.”
* The heroine marries the hero's older brother first, but both she and the hero are physically and emotionally faithful. The reason will be explained in the story.
* Political intrigue, two equally formidable leads.
* The romance is not a sweet, doting love story. Neither character is perfect, so misunderstandings and conflict arise in the middle and later parts. The hero gets his brief moment of satisfaction from mistreating his wife, then has to chase her back. But they both prioritize their ambitions, and even arguing and filing for divorce won't stop them from conquering the land.
* The heroine will have a child. Please avoid this story if that bothers you.
Theme: Love begins with respect.
