What kind of life might a woman lead if her medical skills could restore flesh to bare bones, her wisdom could bring peace to a nation, and her martial prowess could carry her across the battlefield?
Shen Qingyu is the answer. When the world tried to confine her with the saying “A woman's lack of talent is a virtue,” she shattered every prejudice with her own blend of virtue and ability.
Someone asked her, “You are only a woman. How dare you aspire to the imperial examinations and involve yourself in court affairs?”
She replied, “Half the ills of this realm lie in the court, and the other half on the frontier. Since I understand medicine, I cannot stand by and do nothing.”
Another challenged her, “A woman wielding a sword and practicing martial arts? What kind of propriety is that?”
She smiled. “When enemy hooves trample our land, propriety cannot save the people. I raise my sword to protect them.”
She journeys onward, burdened by the doubts of the world and the shackles of her age. But perhaps her greatest challenge lies within: When she reaches the pinnacle of power, will she keep climbing, or turn away and forge her own path? See how Shen Qingyu uses her formidable skills to answer the challenges of an entire age.
