[Completed] [Alternate History | War | Discarded Royal Heir | Romance]
For centuries, three kingdoms stood in a stalemate. Yue and Wei clashed repeatedly, while Yi was consumed by civil wars within its royal family.
A folk legend held that whoever obtained the three Moon Spirit Treasures crafted by the ancient sage Guyue would rule the world. Yet the Yue royal family, owners of the treasures, had never taken the tale seriously.
That changed when Wei invaded and was destroyed in turn. Only then did King Wu Jian of Yue begin to dream of unifying the realm.
But the throne had another destined claimant: Li Chang, the Sixth Prince of Yi. He was a discarded royal heir who wanted nothing more than to do business and live in peace, yet the turmoil swept him into the center of events, where he unexpectedly turned the tide.
Volume One: Storms Over the Mountains. Ling Shu, a Yue princess wielding the power of the Moon Blade, is forced to marry Li Chang, the Sixth Prince of Yi. With no other choice, Li Chang steps in to stabilize the situation and repels an invasion from Yue, securing a temporary peace.
Volume Two: Waves on the Ling River. Li Chang and Ling Shu hope to retire from public life with their children, but the remnants of Wei launch a counterattack to avenge themselves, drawing the couple into the turmoil. Their children grow up through hardship and shoulder the fate of their country and family.
Volume Three: When the Storm Clears. Li Kang, Li Chang’s adopted son, brings the situation under control, unifies the realm, and establishes the Ning kingdom. Li Chang and Ling Shu return, and the whole family is reunited.
Volume Four: The Legend of Guyue. At last, Li Chang and Ling Shu are able to retire. Passing through the former lands of the Chong kingdom, they glimpse its history through a connection to the Moon Spirit, uncovering the love story and devotion to family and country of Guyue and his wife.
I am a sentimental person, and many chapters in it made me burst into tears and I was very moved. This novel is a bit like Gu Long's style, the writing is crisp and clear, and the plot advances quickly. There's a lot of foreshadowing, and it's fun to watch. Highly recommended.