The Minister of Revenue was forced from office in disgrace after embezzling disaster-relief funds. The Crown Prince and Prince Ning fought fiercely to install their own men as the new minister.
The cabinet meddled from the sidelines, and the three sides reached a stalemate.
Yet another hand was stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
The eldest princess, Xu Rongyao, was delicate and frail, her health ravaged by illness. In this man-eating inner palace, she was the easiest white magnolia to break.
Yet this seemingly harmless flower secretly turned the entire court upside down.
Cheng Yun had heard of Xu Rongyao's great reputation while still at the border. He had always imagined that this legendary princess would be as brilliant and dazzling as the noblewomen of the capital he had met, graceful and witty in conversation.
But when he saw her outside the Golden Hall for the first time, Xu Rongyao looked frail and could barely hide her exhaustion.
She walked straight into Cheng Yun without looking up, murmured an acknowledgment, and went around him.
It was Cheng Yun who apologized.
That day, snow and wind swept past the palace. Snowflakes fell in thick, cottony flurries.
The princess's pale blue cloak patterned with clouds billowed in the wind, but she never broke her stride. Like a green branch pushing against the current, she disappeared around the corner in a blink.
The eldest princess's invitation never made it to Young General Cheng's desk. It was intercepted.
Along with the news came a crude remark about the boor's disrespect.
Xu Rongyao lowered her eyes. The newly brewed tea by the brazier had gone cold. She picked up a piece from the chessboard.
"If a chess piece won't obey..."
Xu Rongyao let it slip from her fingers without a care. The white piece fell into the fire.
"Just replace it."
Xu Rongyao x Cheng Yun, 1v1
The seemingly delicate eldest princess, who's actually full of schemes x the valiant and fierce young general who's occasionally a bit slow on the uptake
Probably a political-intrigue story
Theme: The people come first
