[A top scholar born into a poor family who disguises herself as a man & a powerful minister, a descendant of the fallen dynasty who wants to overthrow the court]
Lu Yuan (Yuan) & Song Zhuo
Lu Yuan was not born with that name. Because the times demanded it and women were forbidden from taking the imperial examinations, she changed her name to Lu Yuan and lived as a man from then on.
Lu Yuan was born into misfortune. Her father died under suspicious circumstances on his way to the capital to take the examinations.
Her family was destitute, and her mother was forced by poverty to sell her beauty.
Just then, the emperor issued an edict of peace, turning away from military affairs and promoting literature. Scholars from poor families could now enter government service through their writing.
To change her fate, Lu Yuan set out alone, traveling a long distance to the capital to take the examinations.
She nearly died after running into bandits on the road, but Song Zhuo, the Minister of State, happened to be returning to the capital and saved her from their blades.
When she learned who he was, she immediately knelt and paid her respects.
Song Zhuo said, "If you want to work for me, you must at least make it to the palace examination."
That time, she not only made it to the palace examination, but was also personally named top scholar by the emperor. She was appointed a sixth-rank official and entered the cabinet. At last, a scholar from a poor family had stepped into the halls of government.
*
He asked, "What is it you seek?"
She said, "With the strength of a poor scholar, I will stand against overwhelming odds, carry on the teachings of the sages, and bring peace to a prosperous age."
He asked, "You want to be a reformer?"
She said, "Why not?"
Song Zhuo was the most controversial man in the court.
Those who admired him said, "His writing is vast and profound, and his talent is without equal. He is the foremost of scholars, a towering peak to look up to."
Those who feared him said, "He is a ruthless usurper who has reduced the cabinet to a puppet. He is a traitor who throws the court into chaos, a blight upon the nation."
Song Zhuo had seen Lu Yuan four times.
The first time, Lu Yuan was a beggar on the roadside, traveling to the capital with her mother to find her father. She nearly starved to death along the way.
The second time, Lu Yuan was on her way to the capital to take the examinations and barely survived an encounter with bandits.
The third time, Lu Yuan was taking the palace examination before the emperor. Her clear eyes were composed as she answered, her mind full of knowledge.
The fourth time, Lu Yuan wore a purple official robe. The beggar girl of old had become the new top scholar, dazzling all the court.
Theme: Bring peace to a prosperous age
