The Princess and the Rebellious Ministers

#By day, she is the most exalted and unrivaled princess. At night, she is a slave at his mercy.## After the palace coup, the young emperor ascends the throne, and Princess Yuan Weizhi takes charge of the court as regent. She uses an iron fist to eliminate all opposition, and helps the young emperor secure his throne. But everyone knows she is nothing but a puppet. The real power belongs to the ambitious Prince of the Great General, Wang Huan, who orchestrated the changes of emperors from behind the scenes. Yuan Weizhi asks for little: that her younger brother stay safe, and that when Wang Huan succeeds, he let them live. That was the condition Wang Huan promised to honor. But lately, Yuan Weizhi has realized that Wang Huan has no intention of keeping his word. He covets the throne, and once the time is right, he will exterminate her and her brother and take their place. In the deep shadows of night, candlelight flickers in the princess's bedchamber. A man's rough hands slowly strip away her ornate court dress. Through her daze, Yuan Weizhi looks up with tearful eyes and sees Wang Huan's cold, clear gaze. He looks down on her. He treats her like a prostitute, like a slave, without a hint of true affection. But he doesn't know that she is using him too. When her wings have grown strong enough, she will kill him. ◆ The capital is adorned with ten miles of wedding finery as the Great General takes a new bride. Yuan Weizhi approaches with the newly appointed chancellor, smiling as she offers him a toast. Outside the walls, killing intent hangs in the air, and the ambushing soldiers await their master's command. Wang Huan lowers his eyes, his gaze settling on her hand clasped with another's. In those nights hidden from view, the inexplicable pangs of his heart, the restless unease, all suddenly make sense. Without his knowing, she has already taken root in his heart, growing into a poisonous thorn he cannot pull out or break. Wang Huan slowly draws his sword and sneers, just as he did before: "Why can't you ever behave?" "You belong to me. You can only belong to me." "You can't escape." 1. A fictionalized Northern and Southern Dynasties setting 2. A groveling redemption arc and a love triangle Theme: Love requires understanding and honesty.