Before the Inkstone's Return Hall

The Shen family of Jiangnan is a prominent official clan, with numerous branches under one roof. The family appears harmonious, but undercurrents run deep. Shen Yan is the legitimate daughter of the second branch. Her father has gone away to take up an official post, leaving her and her mother in the family home, where all household affairs are controlled by the matriarch of the first branch. A plate of pastries or a bolt of cloth can be a test in disguise. Shen Yan avoids showing off her edge, quietly takes stock of her dowry lands and property, and keeps an eye on the people in the household, planning each step carefully to protect her mother and the foundations of their branch. By chance, she meets Gu Jingheng, a court official. They come to know and support each other through turmoil, weather the clan's storms together, and find a lifetime of peaceful warmth within the deep mansion. This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.