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!