Ashes Behind the Vermilion Wall: A Spy's Spring in the Inner Court

Also known as My Life as a Spy in the Imperial Harem: Every Day Is a High-Stakes Operation: He is a young emperor, she is a spy from an enemy state. Love at first sight, a kingdom destroyed by a single thought, half a lifetime spent fighting each other, and at last, growing old together. This is the story of Xie Yuehua, the heroine of Southern Chu, who is sent to Northern Chu as a spy. She matches wits with Emperor Xiao Che, and they love and fight each other, until she helps Xiao Che destroy her family and then turns around and kills her husband.

Expect shocking twists, star-crossed love, and melodrama galore.

Coercion, domestic abuse, imprisonment, difficult childbirth, dismemberment.

This story comes with no personal accident insurance. Read the warnings carefully. If you hit a land mine and get blown sky-high, you are responsible for the consequences!

One main couple and four supporting couples in total: two happy endings and three tragic endings. There is no prize for guessing correctly.

“Hua’er, remember this: ultimately, the wars in this world are fought by men for power, land, and ambition. But the blood shed, the suffering endured, and the hardships faced are often borne first by women and children.”

“Women are citizens of Great Chu too, and we have a duty to defend our homeland! Why should men be allowed to govern the country and keep it safe, while women are confined to dreaming within their chambers? The realm belongs neither to one family nor one surname, and its authority is certainly not exclusive to men! If we are to defend our land, protect our people, and preserve our unity, then every woman who lives in this country must share that responsibility!”