Because she was bold and mischievous as a child, Lin Youqin disguised herself as a man and took the imperial examinations. By a stroke of luck, she came in second.
For seven years, she worked diligently and walked on eggshells, terrified that anyone would discover she was a woman. If that happened, not only would she lose her head, her entire family would be executed alongside her! But one slip was all it took: at a boat banquet, she fell into the lake.
Clutching her chest, she stared at her sworn rival in shock. "So you were disguised as a man too?!"
Much, much later:
Emperor Yuancheng muttered suspiciously about everyone, especially the newly arrived top scholar. Tsk, with such delicate features, that one must be disguised as a woman too, right?
Dual female leads, romance. The author is terrible at historical settings, but here's a little idea I'm saving for later...
