The Black Lotus of Great Ming

Name: The Black Lotus of Great Ming
Author: Xian Yuke

大明黑莲花

by Xian Yuke (羡鱼珂)

Status: Completed
Length: 594k Words
Genre: Ancient Romance
Subgenre: Ancient-Style Life
Updated: 10mo ago
English: Request a translation

Read on Fanqie

Synopsis

[Female con artist × hypocrite]

The year the Jiajing Emperor ascended the throne of the Ming Dynasty, Magellan's fleet completed its circumnavigation of the globe.

It was only decades later, along the eastern coast of Zhejiang, where the sea ban was in force, that a country woman happened to hear the Western theory that “the world is round.” Suddenly, she realized:

If all four seas are round, then wherever you stand, you can be the center of the world.

But when she looked around, women had no path in life beyond marriage and children.

So she chose another way to live. Greedy and cunning, she cheated and swindled her way through life. She was the notorious female con artist Bei Luosha, but she was a good girl.

To break into high society, she took a dangerous gamble and pretended to be a top-scorer's wife, attending a nobles' banquet.

This place had once been Ruyi Harbor, where countless sails raced across the waves. Now it was a playground for the powerful, where a single banquet cost a fortune and nobles chatted about romance and beauty. The lowly were never fit to set foot there. She was determined to sample this heavenly paradise for herself.

The noble ladies mocked her for being crude: “A pheasant dares to reach for a high branch?”

She had no scruples and shot back, “How do you know it wasn't that radiant, refined top-scorer who seduced me and begged me to be kind to him?”

She turned around and saw the real top-scorer standing tall and elegant. She trembled, already deciding where she wanted to be buried.

To her surprise, the top-scorer smiled. “My wife is right.”

She was relieved, thinking he was a gentleman who would treat a woman kindly. Little did she know, her misfortune had only just begun.

His leniency was a delusion: he wanted to turn their sham into reality and make a streetwise con artist like her play the adoring wife! So who was deceiving whom?

“Are you a gentleman or a demon?”

“That doesn't matter. You want to overturn a case, and I want to turn the world upside down. Why don't we fan the flames together?”

Two black lotuses bloomed side by side. You kill, I'll hand you the knife. A butterfly flutters its wings in the harbor, stirring a storm in the imperial court...

Other names

After Contracting a Marriage with the Black Lotus与黑莲花契约婚姻后Alternate title on Fanqie
The Black Lotus of the Great MingEnglish name

Stats

186Chapters

5.9kReads · 30 days

312.4kReads · all time

1.1kShelves

9.3Score

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Reader comments 50

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I consider this author's work to be her best! Her profound knowledge of literature and history makes it feel like reading a historical classic; her brilliant writing strikes right at the heart! The emotion and awe she evoked in "Why Not Cross the River Together" still lingers in my mind, and the prologue to "The Black Lotus of the Ming Dynasty" has already stirred my emotions once again.
211 likes1y ago
Wow, the author's writing is as good as ever! I followed my previous book, "Why Not Cross the River Together," from cover to cover, watching it go from no rating to over 7 points and finally over 9 points. Keke's writing skills are incredibly profound and her style is masterful. This new book is just as good; once you start reading, you can't put it down! I wait for updates every day!!!
143 likes1y ago
Having followed her work through "Why Not Cross the River Together," Xian Yu Ke's second book solidified my resolve: I will definitely follow her future works. Whether it's the language, plot, or character portrayal, the author's writing unfolds the story like a scroll before the reader's eyes. Every detail is perfectly polished, and every sentence, even every word, is worth careful consideration.
89 likes1y ago
I absolutely love "Why Not Cross the River Together"! I've been waiting for this author to start a new project, so I'm rushing to support them. I'm sure it will be just as wonderful! The first few chapters are already captivating! I finally finished reading this book on January 1st, 2026!
83 likes1y ago
I'm here to support Ke Da's new book! After reading "Why Not Cross the River Together," I truly fell in love with Xianyu Ke's writing style. "The Black Lotus of the Ming Dynasty" is also right up my alley; I absolutely adore the male and female leads' characters. Everyone is intelligent, and I was constantly thinking while reading. Keep up the good work, Xianyu Ke! Update more often! [Understood]
70 likes1y ago
This is so good! I've been looking for a novel I like, and I kept giving up on other ones until I finally found this one. I've also read another novel by the same author, "Why Not Cross the River Together," which is also excellent. The characters the author creates are all very three-dimensional, like Nan Yi and Xu Miaoxue. These characters all grow and mature over time.
63 likes1y ago
If you're tired of mindless, wish-fulfillment time-travel/reincarnation novels and prefer a more dramatic, historical romance with a strong female protagonist, then you absolutely must read this. The author's writing is exceptionally good, a rarity for Tomato, and the plot is truly captivating, making it impossible to put down. A definite five-star recommendation! 👍👍👍
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It's a great book. I read "Why Not Cross the River Together" first (unfortunately, the casting for the TV adaptation was poor), and then I followed the author and read this second one. The author is truly a person of ambition, with depth and substance. I'll definitely read the next one! ❤️
44 likes8mo ago
A rare gem of writing among tomatoes. From "Why Not Cross the River Together" to this book, the author's writing style is one of my favorite writing styles. It reminds me of Liu Suola's "You Have No Choice" and Ling Li's trilogy "A Beauty That Could Topple Kingdoms".
38 likes4mo ago
The author has written the characters so well. Most novels these days are written for the sake of high readership, focusing on the male and female leads while ignoring the common people and other NPCs. But this author has taken the time to depict the characters, bringing even the NPCs to life on the page. It's as if you've stepped back in time, feeling the sea breeze and witnessing the fierce battles among the merchants. Please update soon! @
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