Love, friendship, and family; infighting within clans and schemes between them; feuds in the martial world, business rivalries, and the intrigues of officialdom; great evil that extinguishes every trace of conscience, and great goodness that lets go of resentment and hatred.
The story takes place during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty.
Tan Guokai hires the Cheng Troupe to perform for three days to celebrate his wife’s birthday. In his wildest dreams, Master Tan never imagines that Cheng Xiangdong, the young troupe leader, is the son he and his wife lost nineteen years ago.
Nineteen years earlier, the Prince of Yan’s army surrounded the marquis’s residence. To preserve the Tan family’s only bloodline, the Marquis of Qilin and Princess Changping sent their maid Cuiyun away with two-year-old Chen’er, fleeing to Cuiyun’s hometown of Anqing for refuge. This sets off a chain of separations and reunions, joys and sorrows, and dramatic twists. When Chen’er is reunited with his family, the Tan clan is facing danger on all sides. Three conflicts erupt at once: within the family, between the clans, and between Tan Guokai and his political nemesis. One deadly struggle after another follows, until the Tan family’s Huairen Hall and Yipin Studio defeat Yixiao Hall and Yipin Pavilion. Defeated and forced to retreat, Minister Zhai, his son Zhai Wenliang, Magistrate Mao, and Prefect Zhang conspire with their allies at court and hatch a deadly scheme: an imperial edict orders Tan Guokai to be escorted to the capital. Chen’er, Princess Changping, and Imperial Censor Ouyang, Tan Guokai’s close friend who is home in mourning, each set out for the capital by a different route. A battle between life and death, good and evil, begins.
The author's conceptualization ability is strong. The story may be based on the misfortunes of Chen Di, the Minister of Rites under Emperor Jianwen, and his son Chen Zhu. In reality, Chen Di and his six sons were all killed, and the youngest son, Chen Zhu, was rescued by a maid named Ran Niang. After enduring many hardships, he was exiled to Penglai to serve on the border. After Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne, he dismissed all the ministers loyal to Emperor Jianwen and provided them with financial compensation. The author overturned history, conceiving this grand work of good and evil, a tale of retribution. It's quite good. However, I have a few minor observations: First, people didn't smoke back then, and there were no matches. Second, was the backstory of Chai Jin's transformation too brief, making it feel too abrupt? Some parts are also verbose.
This is a fantastic book. I've read and listened to many chapters I missed repeatedly, not wanting to miss a single one. The whole book is full of twists and turns, captivating and engaging. A great book, absolutely wonderful!
It's well-written; it seems plain, but it's incredibly moving and deeply touching! A great and satisfying ending!
It's great, especially suitable for making TV dramas. With a good director and good actors, it's bound to be a hit.
The author's emphasis on loyalty and affection, particularly family and friendship, is well-written. Such qualities are rare in today's society.
Super super good-looking Absolutely brilliant and incredibly captivating.
That's great, but there are some places where the food is repeated.
The writing is good, and although the content is short, it is full of twists and turns. Please take a look!
It's alright, I hope you'll keep up the good work.
I really enjoy reading this good book.