Shi Kemono Houchi-den

In the kingdom of Sei, honesty is revered as the highest virtue, and the royal family possesses a unique gift: the ability to discern truth from falsehood. Princess Shixue, however, was born without this power. Despised by those around her for lacking this defining trait, she nevertheless grew into a resilient young woman. Her life is shattered when her greedy stepmother, Lu Furong, assassinates the king in a ruthless bid for control. Seizing real power behind the throne, Lu Furong installs her own son as a puppet ruler and forces Shixue to flee the castle. During her desperate escape, Shixue is saved by Jingsui, a mysterious and handsome young man who treats her with unwavering devotion. Though they find refuge together in hiding, Shixue cannot ignore the suffering inflicted upon her people under the new regime. Tormented by her own helplessness, she learns of a recruitment drive for court ladies within the palace harem. Concealing her true identity, the princess once scorned for her lack of talent resolves to infiltrate the very stronghold that exiled her. Armed with the one weapon she was never meant to wield—deceit—she begins a dangerous campaign to reclaim her stolen country.