When the Clouds Come in the Morning and Rain at Dusk

The Clouds at Dawn, Rain at Dusk is a novel centered on court intrigue and the fate of a family. After his family is struck by catastrophe, the protagonist, Zhao Jin, assumes a false name and enters the court, using his intelligence and courage to gradually uncover the truth and avenge his family. Set against the shifting tides of the imperial court, the novel depicts Zhao Jin’s power struggles with the emperor, empress, and influential ministers, as well as the tangled feelings that develop between him and Li Zhao and others, from enmity to cooperation. As the layers of conspiracy are peeled away, Zhao Jin must face the temptations of power and the trials of betrayal, while choosing between his family’s honor and his personal feelings. In the end, Zhao Jin leaves the turmoil of court behind and retreats to the countryside with Li Zhao and the others, where they live peaceful lives.