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Title: Real/Fake Princess #3

Author: I-Huan

Publisher: DrMaster

ISBN:  9781597960810

May Contain Spoilers

Zhong Lu’s carelessness might just cost Zhi Li her life!  By sharing intimate details of Zhi Li’s life with Dai Xuan, he’s given her and Fang Yao a potent weapon to use against the pair.  Inexcusably allowing the magistrate’s letter of proof of Zhi Li’s lineage fall into the wrong hands, cleverly manipulated circumstances have made Dai Xuan appear to be the true princess.  As Zhi Li watches her future unravel, she begins to doubt Zhong Lu’s sincerity for her regaining her title.  Are Dai Xuan and Zhong Lu scheming to discredit her?  If his lover is recognized as the real princess, Zhong Lu’s every ambition within his reach.

This series is really starting to hit its stride.  Zhi Li seems to have gained some maturity, or maybe she’s just resigned herself that her dreams and desires are going to take a backseat to her obligations as the princess.  When she’s confronted with Dai Xuan, with her elegant mannerisms and quiet self assurance, even Zhi Li must admit that the other girl makes a better princess than she does.  Dai Xuan produces the letter of ancestry from the magistrate, and suddenly Zhi Li has doubts about Zhong Lu’s loyalty to her.  Is he really plotting with Dai Xuan to have her recognized as Yi Fu, as the other girl has hinted?

 To complicate matters, Yi Fu’s nanny, Jia Hua, has been given a royal decree to determine which of the two girls is the true princess.  It’s been ten years since Jia Hua has set eyes on the girl, and Zhong Lu’s father is concerned that she won’t remember what she looked like.  When his father suggests that they attempt to bribe the woman, Zhong Lu is appalled.  His honor won’t let him stoop to those lows, even though his father cautions him that things have changed in his absence. The bishop has gained favor in the court, and men like Zhong Lu and his father, who would prefer to fight the Jin to signing a treaty with them, have fallen from favor.  If it’s decided that Zhi Li isn’t Yi Fu, Zhong Lu will likely be charged with treason!

The meeting with Jia Hua doesn’t go well, as Zhi Li is suddenly terrified of the older woman.  Heedless of the consequences, she tells Jia Hua that she feels that they’ve met before, and she doesn’t like her. She makes her feel uneasy and scared.  In fact, she hates the other woman!  Oops!  I don’t think Zhi Li has earned any brownie points with Jia Hua!

Later, when Zhong Lu chastises Zhi Li for speaking to Jia Hua, the woman who controls her destiny, in such a rude way, the girl becomes upset.  She suddenly realizes that the woman in her dreams, the one trying to kill her with the scissors, is Jia Hua!  Ah-ha!!  Jia Hua, you conniving old bat!  Why did you try to murder your charge?  The answer may not be found in this volume, but Jia Hua’s hatred of Zhi Li continues to simmer.  She conspires with Dai Xuan, convincing the other girl to murder her rival, so she can escape from her life in the brothel and become the princess.  Dai Xuan, seeking revenge for Zhong Lu’s defection, agrees to the plan.  Will Zhong Lu be able to save Zhi Li? 

With her well considered words and actions, Dai Xuan drives a wedge between Zhong Lu and Zhi Li. Zhi Li, confused and hurt, now weighs every word Zhong Lu speaks to her, and she wonders if he was somehow involved in the plot to end her life.  Dai Xuan must be smiling at the success of her plan.  With Zhi Li seriously injured, even Hui Tang becomes suspicious of the other man.  Zhong Lu just can’t catch a break in this volume! 

With the characters at the royal court, they are now attired in elaborate finery.  I found the art especially appealing in this volume.  The outfits were beautifully illustrated, and despite having a stick stuck through his top-knot, Zhong Lu cut a particularly dashing figure.

Grade: B

Rated for All Ages