Frost of Qi

In the final years of the Spring and Autumn period, hegemonic power is waning, signs of Jin's division into three states are already apparent, and within Qi, the blades of the Tian clan's takeover from the Jiang house are drawn. Twenty-five-year-old aristocrat Qin Yunhao carries the bloodline of the Xi family. Perceptive and discerning, he is nevertheless forced to tread carefully beneath the shadow of the powerful minister Tian Heng. His wife Ling Yao's warning still rings in his ears: “Those who spy into the depths to see the fish invite misfortune; those who divine what is hidden bring calamity upon themselves.” A test at Luta Terrace, a sinister glance, even a family tree blocking someone's view could spell disaster. He must walk a tightrope between seeing too much and playing the fool to protect himself and his family. But the Bao clan's blood stains the streets of Linzi, a loyal minister's desperate plea reaches a secret chamber, a Mohist classmate's ingenious craft produces a dangerous tool for spying, and a mysterious youth from Jin brings a faint hope of outside help... In the raging currents of a troubled age, who can stand apart and keep themselves safe? On one side stands the Tian clan, relentless and unstoppable. On the other is a frail force loyal to the royal house, but powerless to turn the tide. Caught between them, Qin Yunhao navigates court politics and secret chambers, relying on his wit and insight, forging ties with Mohist inventors, drawing strength from the changing fortunes of Jin, and even becoming entangled in complicated affairs of the heart. Is this a doomed defense, or a faint chance of survival wrested from the jaws of despair? Follow the clever, cautious Qin Yunhao as he struggles and makes choices amid an era of upheaval, seeking a difficult path forward for his convictions and the people he loves amid the tide of the Tian clan's takeover of Qi. This epic political saga brings to life the grandeur and tragedy of Qi in the final years of the Spring and Autumn period.