The New Nine-Colored Deer

The New Nine-Colored Deer, by Yu Mo, is a work filled with fantasy and cultural depth. The story is set in the world-famous Mogao Caves, deep in the deserts of the northwest. The caves, like a vast honeycomb, cover the cliffs on the eastern slope of Mingsha Mountain. They hold a thousand years of history and are shrouded in mystery and solemnity.

The protagonist, Zhang the Master Painter, is a legendary artist among the painters of the Mogao Caves. He is lean and has weathered years of hardship and sandstorms. His face is etched with wrinkles, but his love of art has never dimmed. His hands are covered in calluses, yet move as nimbly as if by magic. The figures, flying apsaras, and Buddhas he paints all seem lifelike.

Zhang the Master Painter dreams of painting the most perfect Nine-Colored Deer. When he shakily dots the eyes of the deer in the mural, something miraculous happens: the deer comes to life and leaps out of the painting. Zhang's daughter, Yingniang, has gone missing. To fulfill his wish, the Nine-Colored Deer disappears into the night and sets off to find her.

With delicate prose, the author depicts the mystery of the Mogao Caves and the grandeur of the desert, weaving Dunhuang culture into a fantastical adventure. Through this journey, readers can feel Zhang the Master Painter's dedication to his art and the Nine-Colored Deer's kindness and courage, appreciate the unique charm of Dunhuang culture, and immerse themselves in a fantastical reading experience.

In My Sister Is a Queen, Wang Lan, a Lanzhou shopkeeper, is driven to jump into a river by loan sharks. By chance, she carries a piece of black jade with her as she transmigrates to the Sixteen Kingdoms period and becomes Yin Shi, a woman who has just been widowed. She marries the general Li Hao and uses her modern business and management skills to improve farming, open markets, and standardize military discipline. She helps Li Hao establish the Western Liang kingdom and becomes a virtuous queen.