○ A dashing bandit queen vs. a seemingly sickly prince who's actually a lovesick schemer
○ Gender-bender romance, currently revising
Shen Huaiyu was once a bandit. Since the court couldn't defeat her, it sent an imperial decree offering amnesty month after month, hoping to bring her into the palace and win her allegiance.
Shen Huaiyu ignored them until the Empress Dowager brought her a secret edict:
"The deaths of Generals Shen and Yu conceal another truth. Come to the palace and seek it out."
Shen Huaiyu couldn't help laughing. When she lied, she often said there was another truth to uncover.
How interesting. She decided to bring weapons and explosives into the palace and take a look.
Instead, she discovered that every member of the royal family was more deranged than the last.
The supposedly idiotic emperor was faking it.
The supposed discord between mother and son was an act.
Even the sickly prince she had personally rescued was pretending.
Shen Huaiyu: "The Forbidden City's feng shui must be good for you. It makes everyone go a little crazy."
The fool emperor wants his wits back. Shen Huaiyu: "Just hit yourself on the head harder."
The Empress Dowager wants to return the reins of government and enjoy herself. Shen Huaiyu: "Go on, drink up. Who could outdrink you?"
The sickly prince wants to rebel. Shen Huaiyu: "Hurry up. Once you're done, I'll go back to being a bandit."
The sickly prince isn't pleased. "Once I'm emperor, you'll still be empress."
Shen Huaiyu: "Maybe I should be the one to rebel."
Some years later, at Helan Mountain Stronghold...
"Chief! Stronghold Master Shen has become empress!"
"Chief! Stronghold Master Shen has become emperor!"
"Chief! Stronghold Master Shen married that prince from the previous dynasty and made him her stronghold...ahem, her nation's consort!"
Curtain up on the bonus scene
The fool emperor's eyes fill with tears. "Why doesn't the empress apply medicine to me like she does to Prince Zhao?"
The bandit empress: "Wipe those tears away. You're the Son of Heaven, and your acting's better than a theater troupe's."
The sickly prince's eyes turn red. "Sister-in-law, it hurts."
The bandit empress: ...Is acting hereditary in the royal family?
Time for a disclaimer!
1. Fictional setting, lighthearted comedy.
2. The characters' mental states are all quite wonderful. Don't take it too seriously.
3. May you all be free, brave, and strong, with new hope filling your lives!
Theme: Be independent and strong, and never give up.
