[Updates follow scheduled rankings when available, otherwise whenever inspiration strikes]
If you ask Lu Jiaozhou what the happiest times of her life were, she might tell you of the heady thrill of riding out with a spear, the extravagant indulgence of lavish banquets, or the supreme power to decide who lived and died.
All of those things were her, yet none of them told the whole story. There are countless tales about Lu Jiaozhou's legacy, but neither other people's words nor the records in the history books can piece together the full picture of this prodigy, so lauded and so reviled.
Lu Jiaozhou and Xie Xun hardly seemed destined for a happy ending. Trading on her military achievements, Lu Jiaozhou forced Xie Xun to move into her residence. Taking a sitting prime minister as one's spouse was an absurdity rarely seen in a century. Xie Xun's parents were so enraged they spat blood, and though they repeatedly submitted memorials, nothing could change the outcome. Lu Jiaozhou did it anyway, with a clear conscience and an air of utter conviction.
What no one knew was that, in Lu Jiaozhou's eyes, this upright and incorruptible Right Chancellor was like a coveted delicacy she'd yearned for but could never have during her impoverished youth. Now that she was in power, she meant to take him and devour him whole.
Every hero needs a beauty by his side. How was she, Lu Jiaozhou, not a hero? Besides, she was devoted to just one person. Of all the waters in the world, she would drink from only one cup, as long as Xie Juansheng, her bright moon, lay in her bed.
Excerpt:
“Those who came before us have turned to dust, yet their thoughts and deeds live on. Moved by their stories, people study their poetry and prose, observe their temperaments, and reflect on themselves, borrowing a flame from them on their journey through life.”
Xie Xun spoke softly without looking up. When he finished, he fell silent and continued copying something.
“Poetry and prose have their limits, after all.” Lu Jiaozhou held a brush too, but she couldn't sit still. It danced between her fingers, and any ink on it threatened to splatter all over Xie Xun's face.
Her tone was casual. “No one can ever be understood and read completely. No matter how deeply you delve, you'll still be like a blind man trying to understand an elephant.”
Xie Xun didn't reply. Lu Jiaozhou simply snatched his brush away. Her usual flippant expression turned unexpectedly solemn. “Burrowing into old books is a coward's way out. You're just trying to find something in the lives of those who came before you that resembles your own, so you can comfort yourself. But Xie Juansheng, they're dead. You're still alive.”
But the strength of one person is so small. What can the living really change?
Lu Jiaozhou x Xie Xun
Unrestrained and easygoing x gentle as jade
Content notes:
· Female-led romance, entirely fictional setting. Political intrigue on the surface, possibly with some power fantasy and romance mixed in. I want to try writing an ensemble cast, but will probably fail. The heroine will face setbacks, but she'll resolve most of them in the end. The author's brain may let the little head take over the big one, leading to inexplicable male-character favoritism (possibly not just the hero, but male supporting characters too?). The secondary couples may involve any sort of orientation, but won't get much page time.
· Neither lead is perfect. The hero is a bit of a white-cut-black-cut-white, with plenty of layers to savor.
· Also known as "My King"
Theme: Many hands make light work
When a wife and husband work together, their power can break through metal