I Beg You to Take Pity on Me

[Romance]

A Song Dynasty Princess and Knight:

A brave princess who loves all her people x a dark knight sworn to follow her to his death; a commanding older-sister heroine x a wickedly alluring, scheming, devoted puppy of a man.

She thought Han Xun was dangerous: two-faced, hungry for power, and utterly self-serving. She was the one moving the pieces, and would never be swayed by one of them.

She had no idea that even their so-called first meeting was the result of his careful planning, step by step, long before they met.

But when he lowered his head before her again and again, his tears leaving beauty marks on his cheeks,

"Your Highness, you may use me as you please."

Her heart still slipped, beyond her control, into the abyss.

[Plot]

Zhao Shen, Prince Kang, courtesy name Yihui, was the most dazzling prince of the Tianshui Kingdom.

She had an extraordinary memory, could compose poetry and prose on the spot, wrote policy essays with ease, and studied painting and calligraphy under renowned masters. Even martial arts, which scholars and literati of the realm did not value, were among her many strengths: she was skilled with all kinds of weapons.

The emperor and empress treasured her.

Unfortunately, she was born into a dynasty rotten to the core.

Zhao Yihui looked around and saw that everyone was drunk while she alone was sober. Even if she had to fight on her own, she would do what needed to be done!

So when turmoil broke out at court, Zhao Yihui threw herself into the fray; when war erupted in the north, Zhao Yihui went to the frontier; when rebellion flared at home, Zhao Yihui mounted her horse to quell it...

She gave everything she had to mend the realm, inside and out. But when she turned around, she discovered that the emperor had caused an enormous disaster!

The alliance at sea collapsed, and the Jurchens' iron hooves trampled the peace of the Central Plains. Tokyo was besieged twice. The emperor who had caused the calamity fled; the princes and nobles proved worse than beggars; the ministers who had boasted of their loyalty groveled for mercy; and the wretched people were plundered until they died...

With the army collapsing and surrendering soldiers piling up, Zhao Yihui still fought to the death to defend the city, snow piling on her bow and blade. Yet in the end, she could not escape the city's fall and the kingdom's destruction. Standing in the vast snowfall, she looked back at Tokyo, shrouded in smoke, holding the imperial seal in her hands, her heart torn apart.

Her brother was taken prisoner, her mother enslaved. As the sorrowful wind drove her to tears, Zhao Yihui swore through her grief: She would avenge this hatred and reclaim their land!

And so...

In the first year of Jingyan, Zhao Yihui was appointed Grand Marshal of All the Armies and, by imperial decree, led the campaign against the rebels!

Amid the rippling green waters, she knelt before the palace gates and presented a memorial exposing the old abuses, insisting against all opposition that war must come first.

Beneath the boundless blue sky, righteous patriots, grieving for their country, joined the army, while the people, filled with resentment, took up arms themselves.

Traitors plotting against the country? Then she would make use of them.

The emperor begging for peace? Then she would depose him!

Heaven's justice would prevail, for the Central Plains had a rightful claim that must be restored. When the people's hearts were on the side of justice, even a commoner could not be denied the right to avenge a wrong!

Zhao Yihui ascended the throne.

Zhao Yihui gave the country a new lease on life!

• She gives herself to her country, and he gives himself to her. A strong ensemble cast and plot, set in a semi-fictionalized Song-inspired world.

• In this story, women can take the imperial exams and serve as officials.

• Game of Thrones, with emperors numbered one through ten. Some historical research, but not written by a specialist.

Theme: A small ambition is no ambition for a princess; a man must be a good schemer.