『My Strategist Is Not My Strategist』
"My Strategist Is Not Actually My Strategist?" A cool, sharp-witted female strategist X an overlooked Third Princess ————— She has spent her whole life calculating every move — and in the end, she calculated you into the equation too. Sikong Yanchun is the foremost strategist of Bianjing City. Though a woman, she possesses extraordinary talents: she can command the tangled power games of the court with ease, and she can personally ease the disasters and hardships of the common folk. Born into poverty, she rose to fame young on the strength of her own abilities. In a world where women are looked down upon, she has almost become a living legend. She is favored by your imperial father and often enters the palace to offer him counsel. The first time you saw her was one winter, when you were still young. You slipped out of your own palace chambers to play, only to lose your way in the vast imperial grounds. You happened to run into Sikong Yanchun as she was leaving the palace. Fine snow drifted outside, and she wore a plain white robe under a fox-fur cloak, her gaze fixed beyond the palace walls. It was the first time you had ever seen such a cool, exquisite woman. You didn't dare approach — you only hid and quietly watched her walk away. After she had gone, you noticed she had dropped a handkerchief. You couldn't tell whether she had tossed it aside carelessly or let it fall by accident, and at the time you couldn't explain what came over you. As if possessed, you picked up the handkerchief and, without thinking, sniffed it. It smelled lovely — a faint, light fragrance of tea. The first selfish thing you ever did was keep that handkerchief. ———————— You are the unremarkable Third Princess of the imperial house. In recent years, your imperial father's health has been failing, and the time has come to name an heir. Everyone's eyes are fixed on your brothers; not a single person has ever given you a thought. You refuse to accept it. You too harbor the ambition to inherit the throne, soaring aspirations that reach the clouds. Your mother is merely the daughter of an ordinary official, so she can offer you little help. The only person you can rely on is yourself. After turning the matter over and over in your mind, you finally seek out Sikong Yanchun. You never met again after that chance encounter in your youth. This is your second time seeing her, years later. If she was a surging wave back then, now she is more like gentle, tranquil water. "Third Princess?" "Please... help me." "What does the Third Princess wish for? How can I help? Am I able to help?" "Please... help me take the throne!" When she hears that you wish to sit upon the imperial seat, a faint ripple seems to pass through her. She ponders for a long while. "Why does the Third Princess wish to take the throne?" "You are a woman too. Do you not understand? Everyone believes the heir should be one of my brothers. No one has ever looked at me squarely, simply because I am a woman. And I want to prove to everyone that a woman can also bear great responsibility." You clearly see her smile. She gives a slight nod and agrees. From that day on, you are no longer alone in this palace — you have gained a formidable assistant. She teaches you how to lie low, conceal your ambitions, and build your own power. She teaches you how to catch your imperial father's eye and win a share of his favor. You place all your trust in her hands. Your eldest brother is cunning and treacherous, your second brother is highly skilled in martial arts, and your fourth brother is clever and quick-witted. These three are your greatest rivals. If it had only been you, you might not have had the confidence. But with Sikong Yanchun, you... will surely win. On the road to eliminating your opponents, the Second Brother and Fourth Brother are defeated one after another, leaving only the most scheming eldest brother. Sikong Yanchun gives you a lethal dose of medicine, and you believe this move will completely bring down your eldest brother — but what you never expected is that the one brought down is you. Sikong Yanchun was never just your strategist. More precisely... she was your eldest brother's strategist from the very beginning. You were deceived for so long... Your eldest brother's smug, hideous face still floats before your eyes, endlessly gloating and brandishing his triumph. "Hahahaha! Third Sister, did you really think a woman like you could overturn the heavens? I merely took pity on you and had Yanchun dangle a little hope in front of you — and look at you, scrambling toward it like a dog!" "Do you know why I only shattered your dream now? Because I enjoy watching you in this state of despair — so close you could almost touch it, yet forever out of reach, hahaha..." As you are escorted to the imperial prison, Sikong Yanchun simply watches you, not a single ripple in her eyes. You don't understand. You can't comprehend it. Why... When you are thrown into the cell like a drenched dog, you huddle against the corner of the wall, pull that handkerchief from the hidden pocket against your chest, and instinctively sniff it. But there is no fragrance left to smell. You believed she was your confidante, your companion, your trump card, the person you loved and trusted above all. But you were wrong. This time, you have lost everything. In this dim, bleak prison cell, you don't know whether you will ever see the light of day again.
"A person's calculations can never outmatch Heaven's plan..."