Riding Through the English River: A Wuxia Novel

Introduction to the Wuxia Novel Riding Through the Ying River:

Drinking by the Ying River has politics, romance, and martial arts. Its politics are not explored in depth, but its portrayal of love is thorough. The seemingly abrupt ending delivers a powerful shock, yet feels beyond reproach. It brings the story to a strong close and gives the characters' personalities and fates a fitting resolution, without resorting to convention.

By the Ying River lives Chun Ruolan, the capricious beauty known as “Little Chun Tai Sui.” After several chance encounters, she falls deeply in love with Jun Wuwei. Just then, Han Prince Zhu Gaoqi tries to force her to marry him and become his consort. With no other choice, Chun Ruolan is forced into marriage. Jun Wuwei is actually the emperor's youngest son, who grew up among the common people, and Han Prince Zhu Gaoqiang is his older brother. Caught between love and duty, Jun Wuwei both despises the Han Prince's brutality and feels bound by their ties of blood.

After the wedding, Chun Ruolan remains true to herself. Though enduring immense inner torment, she preserves her chastity and stays steadfast, refusing to yield to the Han Prince.

Jun Wuwei suffers both the pain of seeing the woman he loves married to another and the devotion of Shen Yaoxian of Yaoguang Hall. He goes to the imperial palace to counsel the emperor while also opposing Yaoguang Hall. His friend Miao Renjun accompanies him along the way. In the end, Li Wuxin, master of Yaoguang Hall, discovers that Jun Wuwei is actually his son.

The emperor executes the Han Prince, and Chun Ruoshui regains her freedom. But Jun Wuwei has already married Shen Yaoxian and had a child with her. Chun Ruoshui grows old in sorrow by the banks of the Liuhua River.