Many princesses had appeared throughout the history of Great Yu.
But whether at court or among the common people, the most renowned of them all had been Princess Zhaoshu, Chu Zhaohua.
From the time Chu Zhaohua could remember, she had been brought to her imperial father's side to be taught by him personally.
At first.
The emperor had merely kept her close because he loved this lively, cheerful daughter.
But later, he discovered that she was extraordinarily clever. The slightest hint was enough for her to grasp many things, and even the Crown Prince he favored most at the time could not compare.
And so, eager to nurture her talent, the emperor began teaching Chu Zhaohua, an education that continued for years.
Of everything a sovereign ought to learn, she missed nothing.
When an essay on statecraft written by Princess Zhaoshu at the age of ten circulated beyond the palace, it shook the entire court and country.
Even the illustrious Crown Prince was, for a time, eclipsed by her brilliance.
The emperor, diligent all his life, had once drunk himself into a stupor.
In his drunken dreams, Chu Zhaohua had heard him say something.
She heard her imperial father say, "Zhaohua, if only you were a man. If this realm fell into your hands, our Great Yu might well enter a new golden age."
What lofty praise.
Fortunately, no one else had been nearby at the time.
Chu Zhaohua's heart had trembled at those words.
But then she lowered her eyes, a trace of desolation entering her expression.
Though the world was said to be tolerant of women, it was not so tolerant that she could ascend to the imperial throne.
Every official at court praised her, and the people sang her praises. No one envied her, and no one