Make Me a Prince Consort Again, and I’ll Start a Rebellion

Princess Xiao Ruoyun of Great Liang is exceptionally talented. She can write plum-blossom seal script with both hands. The princess is past eighteen, and the emperor wants to find her a royal consort. When he discusses it with her, the princess says, "I have written a piece in plum-blossom seal script. Post it outside the Meridian Gate at the morning court. Whoever can recognize every character will become my royal consort." The emperor agrees, personally writes the imperial proclamation, and posts it outside the Meridian Gate alongside the piece of plum-blossom seal script written by the princess.

Who could have known that after the plum-blossom seal script had been posted for over a year, not a single person who could read it would turn up?

One day, a young cobbler named Tian Xuewen comes from the countryside, carrying his cobbler's tools as he passes the Meridian Gate. He sees a piece of writing posted beside the gate that looks like a picture and is very beautiful, so he puts down his tools and walks over for a closer look. The official on duty guarding the imperial proclamation hurriedly approaches and asks, "Can you read this plum-blossom seal script?" The young cobbler shakes his head and drawls, "I can't recognize a single character." The official thinks to himself: The proclamation has been posted for months, and nobody has claimed to be able to read this plum-blossom seal script. This young fellow can recognize just one character, which is already pretty good. So he grabs the young cobbler and won't let him leave, immediately submitting a request for the emperor's decision. The emperor also thinks that recognizing even one character shows a decent education, so he issues an order summoning the young cobbler.

Tian Xuewen is led into the palace by an attendant, changed into court clothes, and brought to the emperor. Tian Xuewen is completely bewildered. He thinks: My tools are still out on the street. What's going on? As he lets his mind wander, he hears the emperor ask, "Can you read the plum-blossom seal script?" Tian Xuewen hurriedly kneels and replies, "Your Majesty, I can't recognize a single character." Seeing that Tian Xuewen is handsome and dignified, the emperor says, "It doesn't matter if you can't recognize a single character."