Pei Heqing, Lord Pei of the Censorate, is as pure as snow and plum blossoms, as graceful as rosy clouds and moonlight. Like a lone crane in the snow, like green bamboo by a stream, she is unforgettable at first sight. Yet she curries favor with superiors and ostracizes those who disagree with her. Her family cannot accept her, and among the upright court officials she has a notorious reputation as a treacherous schemer.
The mother of Princess Chang Wenzhao, Chu Yaojing, was not favored. After the late emperor passed away, she became even more of a nonentity. So she plotted to marry her daughter off as a second wife to the Qinghe Prince, a wealthy man nearing fifty, in hopes of securing support for her family.
Chu Yaojing had no choice but to secretly switch the wine meant for Lord Pei, who was attending the palace banquet, and lure the drunken official into an empty chamber. Once their clothes were off, she discovered that the famous Lord Pei was actually a woman!
When Pei Heqing sobered up, the two reached an agreement.
One would escape an unbearable marriage; the other would ward off court officials trying to win her over through marriage, and maintain the appearance of a thoroughly isolated minister.
They thought they would be nothing more than a couple in name, but the one who had once been timid began to grow ambitious, while the one who had once been aloof lowered her head.
Pei Heqing realized that the timid and fearful princess seemed to be unusually direct with her alone.
One day, the cool and self-possessed Lord Pei, eyes gleaming and face radiant as the morning clouds, softly coaxed her: "Please try a little harder for the sake of my ambition to become The Outcast, Your Highness."
Theme: Women should be self-reliant; ambition is no sin
It looks great, but it's too short.