A youthful, wild idea that I really love. Someday, I'll come back and continue it.
[A scheming, unhinged female strategist and a sickly, gentle male grand tutor]
Shi Yun, the daughter of a military family, lost her family in a single day. When she returned for revenge, she fought her way into the final round at the Eastern Palace and successfully secured a position as the Crown Prince's adviser.
The Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Wen Jin, recognized her talent. He was exceptionally gifted, but frail, and drank bowl after bowl of medicine every day.
She had benefited from his promotion, so she wanted to repay his kindness. Not wanting him to get caught up in the bloodshed, she tried to make him face reality: he shouldn't be blindly loyal and bring misery to the people, and he shouldn't ruin his health either.
But Wen Jin's mindset as a devoted subject was deeply ingrained. He refused outright, declaring that Heaven cherished all living things and that he would surely set the emperor back on the right path.
Shi Yun glanced at the emperor, glaring like a fighting rooster at a list of officials he wanted dead.
She: “...”
Great, he's an idiot and we're doomed! We might as well take them all down together.
*
So she planned every step, climbing higher with each one, until she was promoted to a position at the emperor's side and made connections with veteran officials from the Ministry of War.
One night, she added him to her list of people to kill. As she studied the officials' roster by lamplight, she was wondering what pretext to use to launch a rebellion, unaware that Wen Jin had suddenly come around and decided to join her side.
He arrived late that night, picked up a brush, and casually circled a name on the officials' roster in her hands. His tone was brisk: “This one's corrupt. Let's purge the emperor's inner circle.”
Shi Yun: ???
*
One night, a newly arrived maid brought tea to the hall and saw the Grand Tutor go around the screen and enter the female courtier's room.
She assumed they were discussing official business, so she set down the tea and hurried to leave. But as soon as she rounded the screen and poked her head out, she froze in place.
By the lamplight, she saw the female courtier grab the Grand Tutor by the collar. Pinned against the desk, he heard her grind out, “Grand Tutor, you are a loyal and devoted subject. Now you're acting for the sake of the realm's rightful order too. What are you planning to do to harm me?”
The usually proper Grand Tutor showed no regard for manners or decorum. Instead of resisting, he used the pull to loosen the fabric at his neck, then leaned in with a smile, not backing down for a moment. “I no longer want to be a loyal subject. I've come to join your rebellion. Will you take me in, my lady?”
A book fell to the floor. The two tumbled down in front of the desk, speaking treasonous words in gentle voices.
1. The heroine is resilient and clear-eyed. She shows no mercy when taking revenge, but she isn't consumed by bitterness or estranged from everyone she loves.
2. The hero doesn't think like a conventional Confucian. He isn't foolish in the beginning; he simply has a different approach from the heroine, and he changes over time.
3. The hero really is gentle in the beginning. Later, when he sheds that image, he's even more unhinged than the heroine.
4. The hero has high social standing, while the heroine works hard to rise. By the end, they're evenly matched.
Theme: Speak plainly and live well.
