I Will Not Be a Subject

(Princess x Young Rebel Minister)

Li Lushuang's birth mother was a foreign-born enchantress, favored by the emperor.

From childhood, Lushuang endured disdain and mistreatment in the palace, especially from the emperor.

*

In her dreams, Li Lushuang repeatedly sees a powerful minister advising the emperor to marry her off to a foreign land.

She also sees Xue Feileng, the emperor's most favored minister, overthrowing the court single-handedly.

-

A wise person tells Lushuang that perhaps Xue Feileng can help resolve the cause of her troubles.

But Xue Feileng is cool, detached, and reserved. Rumors of his ruthlessness abound both in court and on the streets.

Winning him over with beauty and amateur scheming alone will be no easy task. She'll have to use a clever approach!

With a little plotting, Lushuang gets Xue Feileng appointed as her tutor.

One day, Xue Feileng is teaching her to write.

"Grand Tutor Xue, you're teaching me the strokes of this character wrong."

Xue Feileng: "?"

"The first stroke of the character for love shouldn't land on the paper. It should land in my heart first."

Xue Feileng, who could barely spare Lushuang a glance, tosses off a light "Princess, please behave yourself," then doesn't set foot in her palace again for half a month.

*

After repeated failures, Lushuang is about to draw a clear line between herself and Xue Feileng.

Then, beneath a misty, pale-blue sky, she sees him standing tall with an umbrella in hand.

His clear, tranquil phoenix eyes hold a sinister gleam and a rare hint of jealousy as he grips her wrist.

"What is the princess playing at? You keep saying you love me, yet you keep pushing me away." The corners of his eyes redden with barely contained sorrow. His voice turns hoarse. "I've taught you so much, Princess. Why can't you teach me the same?"

1. An alternate-world setting inspired by the Tang Dynasty

2. The male lead is reborn

Theme: With hearts laid bare, neither need doubt the other.