A Minister's Duty

[Updated Whenever I Can]

In history textbooks for later generations, Meng Huizhi is barely mentioned, for several reasons:

First, he wrote no poems or essays that would be remembered for generations, and made no contribution to the nation's literary legacy.

Second, he was no incorruptible, selfless official, and left behind no widely circulated anecdotes.

Third, he abused his power and manipulated the emperor. Most importantly, he attempted reform, a reform that “failed.”

Later generations have judged him both harshly and favorably, but no one can deny this: born a commoner, Meng Huizhi became the true ruler of the Great Zhou dynasty, despite being a minister. He was no exemplary bureaucrat. He was a politician, a reformer, a genius, and a lonely figure in his time.

They were right about Meng Huizhi, and wrong. They did not know she was a woman. Along that broad road, there was someone who had always been watching her.

The moment I saw Your Lordship die, I knew there was no turning back.

I've never regretted it, Shen Zhou. Do you regret it?, Meng Huizhi

I don't., Shen Zhou

Meng Huizhi and Shen Zhou met only three times before getting engaged.

The first meeting: Meng Huizhi played the hero and rescued Shen Zhou, marveling that the Shen family's young lady was a peerless beauty.

The second meeting: Meng Huizhi thought Shen Zhou was about to jump into the river and kill herself. They both fell in instead. Afterward, she asked, “Will you marry me? I mean it.”

Shen Zhou: “...Take your sincerity and shove it!”

The third meeting: Meng Huizhi, intent on getting married, ran into Shen Zhou, who was being pressured to marry, while buying rice.

Shen Zhou: “One hundred and five coins. Not a coin less!”

Meng Huizhi: “...Have you made up your mind?”

A naturally gifted female politician disguised as a man x a male gossip expert of the inner quarters disguised as a woman

Content notes:

1. To the outside world, the female lead and male lead will live their entire lives dressed as men and women, respectively. Gender equality will not be a theme.

2. The female lead is an angry young radical early on, but gradually grows into an outstanding politician. Ruthlessness is a basic qualification for her. She is no perfect person.

3. The female lead is loosely inspired by a mash-up of my three Ming dynasty idols: Xia Yan, Xu Jie, and Zhang Juzheng. She may not resemble them much; that depends on my writing.

4. Don't apply the novel's values to real life. Remember to uphold socialist values.

Coming Soon

"To Be Emperor":

Until she was twelve, Gu Jianyu was simply Gu Jianyu. Her birth mother was the empress, while her birth father was unknown.

At a palace banquet when she was twelve, one offhand remark changed Gu Jianyu's fate forever: “I wonder which of Your Majesty's princesses this is. She looks seven parts like Your Majesty.”

After the age of twelve, she had a second name: Zongzheng Yue, the dynasty's legitimate princess.

In a single stroke, everything changed. For the first time, Zongzheng Yue felt how intoxicating power could be. At twelve years old, she looked seriously at the dragon throne.

She wanted to sit on it.

After all, her surname was Zongzheng now, wasn't it?

First: Taoist princess x noble family son

Later: Empress x minister

Theme: Serve the people, sacrifice the self for the greater good