When I watched the TV drama Princess Agents, the character who caught my eye the most was Wei Shuye, known as one of the "Five Handsome Men of Chang'an." The moment he appeared, I thought he was the male lead. Who could have guessed he'd end up a tragic character, left to carry the story alone?
When Wei Shuye got killed off, I was so furious I wanted to send the director a box of blades!
After that, I went out of my way to search for the novel. The Wei Shuye in the book was exactly the character I'd been hoping for! He starts as a noble young man, powerless over his own fate and indecisive, then transforms into a passionate warrior who vows to defend his homeland. He breaks free from the shackles of the aristocratic clans and finally lives as his own person.
The part where he defies his family's accusations, takes up the stigma of being a traitor to his clan, and stubbornly leads his personal guard against the invaders had me absolutely fired up.
In the novel, Wei Shuye eventually joins the Seventh Prince, Zhao Che, helping him campaign across the northern lands and establish a new regime. But the book never gives Wei Shuye a romance, which is a bit of a shame.
I'd wanted to write a Wei Shuye fanfic for a year, but I had no idea where to start, and gradually even I forgot my bold promises. But after all this time, that old impulse has come back. No other fictional character has ever been so hard for me to let go of. Since I can't quite explain how I feel, I might as well take the plunge and try writing it.
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