[#Historical fantasy #Li Yu and the Two Ladies Zhou #Based on official history #Heartbreaking and tragic #Imperial intrigue #Historical romance #Nation and family #Jiangnan romance #Devotion amid chaos]
Li Yu was born with double pupils and joined teeth, bearing the extraordinary signs of an emperor.
His grandfather and father doted on him from childhood, but this earned him the deep resentment of his elder brother, Li Hongji.
The inner palace was a nest of endless rivalries, with schemes and oppression at every turn.
As a boy, he saw through the coldness of imperial power and grew timid and reluctant to compete.
To protect himself, he concealed his talents, avoided court affairs and power struggles, and immersed himself in poetry and landscapes. He called himself the Recluse of Zhongyin and asked only for a quiet life, never involving himself in the contest for the crown.
But fate could not be defied, and the world had other plans.
The crown prince died suddenly, and the other princes fell one by one. Li Yu, who had spent his life avoiding power, was forced to take up the crumbling realm of Southern Tang in its hour of peril.
He ruled with compassion and cared for his people. For ten years, he and the Great Lady Zhou shared a loving, harmonious marriage. Their music, dance, and romance were the sole warmth in his shadowed life. But time was cruel: his beloved son died young, his cherished wife succumbed to illness, and his flourishing world shattered overnight.
The Northern Song pressed against his borders, and his kingdom was in decline. To spare the people of Jinling from massacre, he surrendered the dignity of an emperor and gave up his entire kingdom, becoming a prisoner in the north.
Through three years of captivity, with mountains and rivers between him and his homeland, only the Lesser Lady Zhou remained by his side, helping him endure the bitter, lonely nights.
One poem, “To the Tune of Yu Meiren,” laid bare his grief for his lost homeland and the sorrows of half a lifetime
I have followed several of the author's books, and they are as exciting as ever.
I like Li Yu's words. I can read Li Yu's story today. I am grateful to the author and will continue to follow it!
The author is based on history, not limited to history. Rich imagination, three-dimensional characters, great book!
I have been following the author's footsteps. The author has profound knowledge of ancient Chinese literature and rich historical knowledge. It is a very interesting historical novel!
I really like this kind of historical novel. The author's writing style is very good, and Li Yu's story is also wonderful! Give me five stars first and keep chasing!
I still like reading books on historical themes [plus one on the bookshelf]
The author's writing style is good and the story is exciting. It's a legend of the Southern Tang Dynasty worth looking forward to!
Wonderful! The writing is smooth and compact, with constant conflicts.
The imaginary setting is very novel. Clever idea
It's a different feeling. The author describes it very well and the text is vivid.