Real/Fake Princess: Vol. 3

by I-Huan

Synopsis
Zhong Lu's lover, Dai Xuan pretends to be the princess and unsuccessfully tries to kill Zhi Li, then tragically commits suicide. But the things she told Zhi Li before her death have caused a serious misunderstanding between Zhong Lu and Zhi Li.

Review
Well for once, the synopsis accurately sums up what happens in the book. Zhi Li is finally summoned to the palace to see if she really is the princess, except Dai Xuan shows up doing the exact same thing. She insists that she does it to get back at Zhong Lu for abandoning her. Things come to a head between the two when Dai Xuan tries to kill Zhi Li to get rid of her as competition, and because one of them will die anyway for impersonating the royal family. I personally thought this was out of character for her because she always seemed so nice, but I could believe that people might change when their plans for the future are destroyed. Finally, before she kills herself, she tells Zhi Li lies about Zhong Lu in order to "curse" their relationship.

Later, after Zhi Li is healthy again, she finally becomes acknowledged as Princess Yi Fu. Just when we think things are going to be better, such as when Zhi Li is offered to Zhong Lu as his bride, the "curse" comes back with a vengeance. Because you know, your rival in love, who's trying to kill you, "has no reason to lie" before she dies. Yeah, right. The really pathetic part is that Zhi Li believes her, instead of Zhong Lu, whom she's gotten to know a lot better these past few months. As annoying as it is, though, since this series is quite short, I'm not really worried about the romance being dragged on ridiculously. It'll probably iron itself out in the next volume.

Final thought: I'll read the next book.

Real/Fake Princess: Vol. 2

by I-Huan

Synopsis
At the chaotic end of the Northern Song dynasty, a young Princess Yi Fu was entrusted to the care of Hui Tang and taken south for safety. Ten years later, Hui Tang seeks out Zhong Lu Wu, the emperor's seeker, to help the princess restore her title. After much travail, Zhong Lu find himself in love with Zhi Li.... Zhi Li's impression of Zhong Lu has changed for the better, but she is still in love with Hui. Yet, when she hears that Dai Xuan and Zhong Lu are lovers, she fall into depression....

Review
The story continues to be interesting. It appears that Zhong Lu's position as a seeker is somewhat of a joke. As the emperor has to pay tribute based on the number of royals, it's unlikely that he would want to increase that number.

Zhi Li is still very much in love with Hui, though I wonder if it's because he is what she knows, he is comfortable for her. Yet at the same time, she acts jealous when she finds out that Zhong Lu has a lover, which indicates that she may have feelings for him. Likewise, Zhong Lu continues to find himself thinking about Zhi Li, and it's clear he has feelings for her, too.

As for Zhi Li becoming the princess, the official who was sent to check her out was rude, so they kicked him out. I wonder if this is the last we'll hear from him....

Finally one thing, this volume has a lot of typos in it, and even one panel doesn't have any text. It's fixed in and errata in the next book, but it is quite annoying at times. I don't hold it against the book, but it's rather unfortunate.

Final thought: I'll read the next book.

Real/Fake Princess: Vol. 1

by I-Huan

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
This story begins in the Sung (Song) Dynasty, ancient China. The country is in great chaos due to the infamous Jin Kang Rebellion. Fearing the possible destruction that might come as a result, Concubine Liu tearfully entrusts the care of her baby daughter, Princess Yi Fu, to a common citizen named Tang Hui. Tang Hui immediately escapes with the princess to the South. And so, Princess Yi Fu's whereabouts become a mystery....


Review
The synopsis just gives the background of the story. In fact, the book is really about Zhi Li and her attempt to restore her title as Princess Yi Fu.

It doesn't really start out as her attempt, though. It is her caretaker, Hui, who initiates everything. He feels very loyal to his duty that the concubine entrusted him with, so he takes Zhi Li to the "seeker" Wu Zhong Lu, to prove her claim.

Meanwhile, Zhi Li wants none of this. She is happy being a country girl, helping Hui, her "brother" the doctor. She also secretly has feelings for him, which will influence her in the story.

Zhi Li is an annoying character at times, but unlike Misty-rain in Land of Silver Rain, she at least is sympathetic, and has a good heart. She is only stubborn because events in her life are completely out of her control, and she cannot have what she really wants. When she puts her mind to it, she can be a very hard worker, and can learn very quickly. Of course, she's not really doing it for herself, she does it for Hui, which shows that she's not selfish and cares for people other than herself.

Zhong Lu seems rude at first. He has a boring job, finding lost royal family members, of which the people who come to him, claiming they are one, are always lying, mostly for money or their own personal gain. I can see how this would make him cynical to Zhi Li's claim. He takes her in, and teaches her etiquette and manners because she has better proof than most.

As the story goes on, there is a lot of bickering and battles of will. Zhi Li does not want to be the princess, but discovers that she and Hui will be put to death if she discovered lying. Zhong Lu is does not like his job as the seeker for royal family members, and sees Zhi Li as his ticket back to the battlefield.

This story has some potential, and I'm curious to see if Zhi Li can really make it, and become Princess Yi Fu.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!