Chronicle of the Ming Dynasty's Fall: From the Eastern Palace to the Crooked-Neck Tree

Chronicles of the Ming's Fall: From the Eastern Palace to the Crooked Tree: In the waning years of the Tianqi reign, the eunuch faction ran rampant, and the people suffered. During a great fire at the Tongzhou grain depot, Yang Lian stumbled upon ledgers documenting the Wei faction's embezzlement of military provisions. From then on, he was set on a perilous path.

The death knell of the Eastern Depot's mounted guards followed close behind, swaying outside his window every night like an omen of doom. Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, laid secret plans; mysteries lay hidden in the underground palace of Xishan Temple; Shen Lian, a double agent, navigated the worlds of light and shadow; and a brand on the sleeve of a woman from the Rose Bureau concealed a deadly secret.

From clashes of steel at the canal wharves to life-or-death standoffs in secret chambers of ancient temples, they risked their lives amid blood and fire. The truth of the ledgers was hard to discern, and people's motives were impossible to fathom. Some died for what they believed in, while others held fast in the darkness.

In their despair, they kindled a faint light and paved the way ahead with their blood and bones, hoping only to break through the gloom and live to see the dawn.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.