Historical Fiction That Doesn't Dumb Down the Characters 历史文不降智商

1. 851 家 My Father Is Zhao Kuangyin: Son, Put on Another Layer, It's Cold! 家父赵匡胤，儿啊天冷加件衣服！ The Pumpkin Became a Rookie南瓜变成菜鸟Historical1.5M WordsCompleted "What! My father is Zhao Kuangyin? And I'm the eldest legitimate son born to Zhao Kuangyin and his first wife, Lady He!" "Dad, it's been a little cold lately." "Son, I've put on some weight recently. Take this bright yellow robe and wear it!" A modern man transmigrates to the end of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, becoming the eldest grandson of the Zhao family in Bianliang. Many years later, Zhao Dexiu looks down at Zhao Guangyi and asks in a measured voice, "Third Uncle, do you obj 13.4kReads8.0Score1.1kShelves

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   🔥 *Weak Song? That's Because the Crown Prince Died Early!*: A mind-blowing, exhilarating Song Dynasty novel! Who says weakness was the fate of the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties? It was only the early death of the Crown Prince that tarnished the golden age! The protagonist transmigrates into the body of the Northern Song Crown Prince, using his foresight to turn the tide: strengthening the army and reforming weaponry, using firearms to defeat the Liao and Jin invaders; promoting agriculture and commerce and reforming the tax system, filling the treasury with grain and silk; wielding power in the court, eliminating treacherous officials, and uniting the people to resist foreign aggression. No forced appeasement, only a bloodthirsty counterattack! From court intrigue to battlefield battles, from reforms to territorial expansion, watch the Crown Prince turn the tide, transforming the "weak Song" into a powerful empire that commands respect across the world! A dense tapestry of patriotism and exhilarating moments, fast-paced and high-energy throughout, you won't want to stop watching! Open Tomato and dive in to witness a different kind of Song Dynasty!

2. 852 辽 The Iron Cavalry of Liaodong 辽东铁骑 Interesting Plantain有趣的車前子Historical286k WordsCompleted In the winter of 1580, when Nurhaci scattered his grandfather’s ashes into the Hun River with his own hands, Li Chengliang was at a training ground a hundred miles away, shooting a rebel general through the throat with a single arrow. The frigid land of Liaodong had always believed in one law: the strong prey on the weak. Li Chengliang, a descendant of a military family who had yet to make his mark even as he approached forty, finally saw his fortunes turn while his wife and children went hungry 435Reads7.0Score—Shelves
3. 853 覆 Overthrowing the Tang: Transmigrate into Emperor Ai, Who Abdicated the Throne 覆唐：穿越禅位天子唐哀宗 Ren Daxi任大兮Historical657k WordsOngoing A modern soul transmigrates into Li Zhu, the last emperor of the Great Tang. In the fourth year of Tianyou, Zhu Wen usurps the Tang throne, and the dynasty collapses after 289 years. In name, Li Zhu is the Prince of Jiyin who abdicated the throne. In reality, he is a prisoner trapped in a cage. The history books are unequivocal: just three months later, a cup of poisoned wine will be his end. Given a second life, he refuses to sit still and await death! Imprisoned in his residence, he uses polit 3.3kReads—Score326Shelves

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   A work of historical research

4. 854 大 Great Ming: Transmigrating to the End of the Ming Dynasty to Revive the Empire 大明，穿越明末，中兴大明 Reborn: The Urban Little Immortal Doctor重生之都市小医仙Historical168k WordsOngoing My new work is out! Come read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Look, look

5. 855 君 Ruling the Four Seas: The Emperor's Dashing Ways 君临四海：吾皇风流 Invincible Sea Anemone无敌海葵Historical328k WordsOngoing [Great Ming] [Chongzhen] [Transmigration] [Court Intrigue] [Struggle for Supremacy] [Dynasty-Building] [An Emperor's Making] [Alternate History] [Ensemble Cast Power Fantasy] After his Transmigration into Great Ming, Zhu Youjian thinks his luck couldn't get any worse. Fortunately, he has a good imperial sister-in-law. Determined to escape the fate of becoming the ruler who loses his country, Zhu Youjian decides to rebel against the corrupt Great Ming. The imperial estates become his base, and h 3Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Would you, the less intelligent among you, read this? For example, one book: the emperor painstakingly plots and considers all aspects; the other: the emperor opens his eyes, snaps his fingers, and the Later Jin dynasty is destroyed, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang is stripped naked and sent to his bed! Be honest, which one would you read? [What][laughs]

6. 856 我 I, the Ming Dynasty’s Restorer: Emperor Shizu 我，再造大明，明世祖 Reborn: The Urban Little Immortal Doctor重生之都市小医仙Historical173k WordsCompleted Go ahead and stir things up. Keep at it until Tomato has no good stories left and historical fiction has fallen into decline, and then my masterpiece will make its debut. We’re the ones carrying the torch for historical fiction on Tomato. —Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 857 千 A Thousand Years in an Instant, White Hair Like the Moon 千年一瞬白发如月 Light a Lamp in Your Heart 421点一盏心灯421Eastern Fantasy2.0M WordsOngoing An unexpected transmigration, a love spanning a thousand years, and a modern man’s romantic adventure in the High Tang: a millennium unfolds in a single instant. Li Zhe, a history student, is playing a game when a phone leak shocks him into the Tianbao era of the Tang dynasty. The moment he opens his eyes, he meets Li Ye, one of the Four Great Tang Dynasty Poets: her white hair shines like the moon, her beauty is bold, and her spirit is free and uninhibited. She assumes Li Zhe is a drunken, pas 106Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Li Ye, one of the four great female poets of the Tang Dynasty, was praised by historians for her unrestrained and bold style, and later generations called her a female poetic hero.

8. 858 商 A Comprehensive History of Commerce 商史通鉴 Mu Feng Wuchen, Branch Office沐枫无尘分号Historical1.5M WordsCompleted A sweeping historical novel that lays bare six centuries of power games in the Shang dynasty. No myths, no romanticized tales, only the truest human nature, the cruelest contests, and the deepest lessons of rise and fall. My writing on Shang history began with questions about the origins of Chinese civilization, and ended with a reunion with myself. The Shang dynasty was a pivotal era when the rites, royal authority, and divine power of Huaxia took shape together. Yet scarce historical records a 168Reads—Score—Shelves
9. 859 人 The People's He Liu Hun: This Time, I Won't Become Prince Gao 人民的贺六浑：这一次我不做高王 CyanedgeHistorical738k WordsOngoing With a soul from a later age, he plunged into a world of chaos that devoured all who entered. In 2023, on the rainy night his thesis defense failed, history doctoral student Chen Zhiqing opened his eyes to find himself in the Northern Wei's Zhengguang era, year four, as Gao Huan, a courier in a frontier garrison. No System, no golden finger. His only asset was the unfinished manuscript in his mind, A Study of the Six Garrisons Rebellion. From the start, it was hellishly difficult: Poliuhan Bali 246Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 860 明 Late Ming Dynasty: Your Majesty, Why the Rebellion? 明末，皇爷何故谋反 The Tabby Cat Who Loves Sweet Potatoes吃番薯的狸喵Historical201k WordsOngoing Dawn, March 19, 1644. Zhu Wang, an amateur history buff with a doctorate in engineering, transmigrated into the body of an emperor at the end of his reign. The moment he opened his eyes, he faced an unwinnable situation: Li Zicheng had breached the capital, and the Manchus were at the passes. Two abdication edicts sent Li Zicheng into a frenzy while laying a trap for Dorgon. He launched a surprise attack deep into Manchu territory and turned the strategic tables. He won Wu Sangui over, destroyed —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    He was transported to the body of Emperor Chongzhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who hanged himself, and then raised an army to overthrow the Ming Dynasty.

11. 861 北 The Caged Phoenix of the Northern Song: From the Start, I Was Veiled in Red 北宋囚凰：开局被戴红盖头 My Wife Is a Bit Fierce老婆有点虎Historical542k WordsOngoing No golden finger + love of country and family + devoted, not a womanizer + peerless woman of talent + slow burn A highly educated business magnate transmigrates and wakes up beneath a bright red bridal veil. In the Northern Song dynasty, the top courtesan of Qiantang mistakes him for a medicinal ingredient to bring good luck, then plans to burn him once he's served his purpose. A literary academy contest, outwitting Fang La, factional struggles at court, the Jin kingdom and Western Xia. Slow bur 6Reads8.1Score—Shelves

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    The first new book was of good quality. The second one already has over two hundred chapters; both protagonists are highly intelligent and have no cheat codes.

12. 862 我 I Debate the Classics with Great Scholars in the Embroidered Uniform Guard 我在锦衣卫跟大儒辩经 A Grain of Rice in the Vast Blue Sea沧海茫茫粒米身Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Yang Zhi, a top salesman and philosophy graduate student in his previous life, transmigrates to the end of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Through a twist of fate, he joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard, passes the imperial examination, enters the Hanlin Academy, and debates the classics with the great scholars at court! 5kReads8.8Score355Shelves

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    Stop reading mindless novels! My novels have the most realistic historical backgrounds, vivid character descriptions, and a plot full of twists and turns that unfolds like a stream flowing into the sea—you won't be able to put them down!

13. 863 大 The Great Qing, 296 大清296 Huang Xiaozhao0黄小招0Historical304k WordsCompleted This book uses the novel format to depict the 296-year history of the Great Qing. If you find it insufficiently rigorous, just read it as a novel! If you think it's worth reading, please support this struggling author and help me keep writing. 4.8kReads7.8Score120Shelves

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    The Qing Dynasty, with its high intelligence.

14. 864 万 In the Thirty-Eighth Year of Wanli, I Became the Princess Who Guards the Nation 万历三十八年，我成了镇国公主 The River-Tracing Lantern Bearer溯河燃灯者Ancient Romance700k WordsOngoing Tags: #MingDynastyPowerStruggles #RebornAsAPrincess #RigorousHistoricalResearch #SolvingAndInvestigatingCases #HouseholdAndCourtIntrigue #InfrastructureAndReform Beneath the tiny body of a child lies the soul of a forty-year-old who has seen it all. Everyone takes her for an innocent little girl, indulging and patronizing her without a second thought. But they don't know that behind those seemingly clear childlike eyes, she has already seen through the ills plaguing the Ming Dynasty. Illegal k 29Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Read this book! First, the character design is stunning: a young body concealing a vast empire, breaking the stereotype of the strong female protagonist. The most impactful aspect of this book is that its core is a mature and clear-headed soul, while its outer shell is that of a four-year-old child. The child's physique and soft voice contrast sharply with the chillingly calm political maneuvering. There are no cheat codes or superpowers, no system; the only advantages are historical knowledge from later generations, modern institutional thinking, and extraordinary patience. At the same time, it introduces the subplot of Zhu Youxiao, a five-year-old boy who observes the power struggles and silently comprehends the way of the emperor. The two children reflect each other in the undercurrents, and this sense of precocious wisdom is particularly poignant. Second, the historical research is impressive: it's not a fictionalized Ming Dynasty story; it's a story meticulously pieced together from historical facts, anchored to the precise time point of the 38th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, only thirty-odd years before the fall of the Ming Dynasty, precisely the most somber and insidious period before the collapse of the dynasty. - The book meticulously details the problems plaguing the Beijing garrison, embezzlement of military pay, the collapse of the artisan registration system, rampant smuggling of salt in the Lianghuai region, factional strife (the Qi-Chu-Zhe faction), the eve of the Xinhai Revolution's capital inspection, the depletion of the Taicang granary, and the drought and widespread displacement in the capital region—all based on authentic historical materials. - The book meticulously details the process of distributing military pay, the two-stage signing and sealing process, the imperial fund allocation, the power struggle between the Ministry of Revenue and the Grand Secretariat, the obstruction of the Grand Canal, and the problems with the Jiahe River transport system. The female protagonist's reforms are not invented out of thin air; they are aimed at repairing and reconstructing the rules to address the existing loopholes in the Ming Dynasty's system. Each new policy addresses a corresponding real-world pain point. Readers will experience a strong sense of realism: the corruption at the end of the Ming Dynasty was interconnected, and reform was extremely difficult. III. The shock of the logic of power struggles: Establishing systems is worse than fighting people. This book transcends the intricate power struggles of most ancient Chinese novels, which focus on defeating villains, eliminating political enemies, and choosing sides in the court. The female protagonist's core idea is not to focus on people, but on the system. Opponents like Fang Congzhe are cunning, deeply entrenched, and have a vast network of cronies. Killing one Fang Congzhe only means another opportunist will emerge. Therefore, the female protagonist chooses to build a systemic bulwark: direct military pay to soldiers, cutting off the channels for military officers to embezzle funds, converting artisans from corvée labor to hired laborers, and perfecting the roster and accountability mechanisms—using rules to lock down the loopholes for corruption. The struggle is no longer a simple battle between individuals, but a protracted tug-of-war between old interest groups and the new system. Readers will have their understanding refreshed after reading: the highest level of political maneuvering is not winning a single battle, but establishing an order that is not easily disrupted. IV. The Power of a Top-Down Perspective: Seeing the complete picture of humanity, the story unfolds across two parallel narratives, not just focusing on the upper echelons of the court. One side depicts the power struggles within the Forbidden City, the Grand Secretariat, the Censorate, and the nobility; the other side continuously descends: the tears of ordinary soldiers in the Beijing garrison upon receiving their full pay, the artisans in the firearms workshop finally enjoying stable income, the refugees outside the city surviving in winter soup kitchens, the exploitation of street vendors by brokers, and the lowly clerks relying on corrupt practices for survival. A sum of 100,000 taels of silver in the court corresponds to a few bushels of rice for a family to survive the winter. A single policy change by the upper echelons directly determines the life and death of countless ordinary people. This top-down perspective evokes a profound sense of empathy in the reader; power struggles are no longer just a game on paper, but are rooted in the everyday lives of ordinary people. V. The Power of a Sense of Depression and a Glimmer of Hope: Rejecting the fast-paced, feel-good narrative, victory always comes at a price. There are no one-click crushings of villains, no mindless chorus of ministers supporting the princess. Every step of the new policies was fraught with resistance: the Ministry of Revenue feigned poverty, civil officials collectively impeached the government, the Censorate used public opinion to launch attacks, former military officials secretly obstructed progress, and local gentry and merchants banded together to protect their interests in the private salt trade. For every inch the female protagonist pushed forward, she had to constantly compromise, wait for the right opportunity, gather evidence, and leverage Wanli's imperial cunning. Victory was fragmented, slow, and precarious. Under the immense historical shadow of the inevitable demise of the late Ming Dynasty, this group, knowing the road ahead was difficult, still tried to reach out and hold back the collapsing dynasty. This stubborn glimmer of light born from despair brings a deeply moving experience. VI. The Shocking Portrait of the Emperors: No Caricatured Wise or Incompetent Rulers 1. Wanli was not simply a lazy and incompetent ruler, but a man who deeply understood checks and balances, coldly observed factional struggles, secretly supported the female protagonist's reforms at crucial moments, and guarded the three bottom lines of granary management, system reform, and the use of secret agents. His mind was deep and unfathomable. 2. Zhu Changluo, the Crown Prince, is patient and cautious, stabilizing the Eastern Palace amidst the chaos, neither radical nor outspoken. 3. Fang Congzhe is not purely evil; he is an opportunist born of the times, adept at lying low, using trade routes and money to lay the groundwork for his future. His motivations are complex and multifaceted, reflecting the helplessness and greed of politicians. Everyone is swept up by the times; there are no purely good or bad people, only those caught in the game making their own choices. VII. The Shock of the Theme of Fate: Questioning History. Deep in the hearts of all readers of *The Legend of the Ming Dynasty* lies a lingering sense of unease: Was there any chance for the late Ming Dynasty to avoid its demise? This book presents a rigorous simulation. It doesn't confidently declare, "I can definitely save the Ming Dynasty," but rather slowly reveals: when someone foresaw the ills of land, military system, finance, and factional strife, and attempted to make small surgeries, what obstacles would they encounter, and what new variables would arise? While reading, readers will be constantly drawn into deep thinking: Was the downfall of a dynasty a mistake made overnight, or an inevitable result of the long-term accumulation of countless small problems?

15. 865 三 Three Kingdoms: From the Moment I Took the Throne, I’ve Been Outworking Zhuge Liang 三国：从继位开始卷死诸葛亮 Gorky in Flight飞翔的高尔基Historical325k WordsOngoing Pure political intrigue, no System! On the night Cao Pi died, rain fell on Luoyang for three days. The new emperor, Cao Rui, knelt before the coffin and watched the court officials weep throughout the hall. Yet he remembered all too clearly: forty-seven years later, every one of these people would kneel before the Sima family and cry, "Long live the King of Jin." Cao Mao would charge out of the palace with a sword and die in the street. Cao Huan would present the Imperial Seal and abdicate in 8Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Feel free to criticize me if you don't like it; it's an incredibly good historical novel, the author spent eighteen years polishing it.

16. 866 三 Three Kingdoms: Winds Rise in Bingzhou 三国：风起并州 L angya Little Scholar琅琊小书生Historical77k WordsOngoing A modern man transmigrates back to the end of the Han dynasty and becomes the son of a powerful family in Yanmen. With only scattered fragments of memory, he can do nothing but put down roots on the frontier. He doesn't know where he came from, what those fragments point to, how far he can go in this turbulent age, or whether he can defend his own corner of the world amid the chaos at the end of the Han dynasty. At first, he only hopes to change his fate and improve his family's fortunes. But la 10Reads—Score—Shelves

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    I'd like to recommend my book and hope you'll all support it. Thank you! If you have any questions or good ideas, please let me know. [Almost crying]

17. 867 天 Supreme Destiny 天命最高 Sweet Dream Feather甜梦羽Historical180k WordsCompleted He was the “Qin dog” everyone in Handan hated, a hostage who trembled in his mother’s arms. Before the age of nine, he lived for one reason alone: to avoid being beaten to death by the people of Zhao. Then one day, his father died, and he became the King of Qin. The road back to Xianyang was strewn with thorns: his grandmother wanted to depose him, his younger brother wanted him dead, powerful ministers treated him like a puppet, and the queen dowager and her lover controlled the inner palace. H 9Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Who could have imagined that Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who conquered all before him, spent the first half of his life in misery? Returning to power, he faced enemies on all sides, forging his path to the throne through ruthless means. His heart was as hard as iron, unmoved by emotions, yet he was deeply devoted to Epang, promising her the entire empire as his dowry. Just as he stabilized the court, a sudden crisis struck, forcing him to make a difficult choice between his empire and his lover.

18. 868 三 Three Kingdoms: Recreating an Age of Chaos on Blue Star 三国：我在蓝星复刻乱世 Trails of Flash闪之轨迹Urban377k WordsCompleted The protagonist, Lin Chen, transmigrates to Blue Star, a world with advanced virtual technology but no historical records. With the help of a System, he sets out to create the ultimate virtual Three Kingdoms game. (This novel draws on a variety of sources, including Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Records of the Three Kingdoms. The story is for entertainment only and does not strictly follow history. This is not historical fiction, but entertainment fiction. Entertainment fiction. Entertainmen 106Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The protagonist travels to a desolate planet in history to develop a holographic virtual Three Kingdoms game. It combines elements from the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and even unofficial historical accounts of the Three Kingdoms period.

19. 869 御 The Imperial Court’s Favorite Rogue 御用无赖 Wandering Lemon流浪的柠檬Historical123k WordsOngoing (Handcrafted by an old-timer of an author.) (Not a saintly, righteous protagonist) (Light on political intrigue) A deadly plague has broken out in the imperial palace. Palace servants die suddenly every day, and everyone in the palace is on edge. Li Wenzhe, who transmigrated into this world, has spent the past three years scraping by under the guise of a refugee, living off scams and petty cons. Now, the plague corpses being transported out of the palace offer him a chance to turn his fortunes a 3Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Let me recommend myself a bit. I'm not a saint, nor am I invincible. I hope you readers will support me, thank you! [Kissing emoji]

20. 870 三 Three Kingdoms: A Duckweed in a Chaotic Age 三国：乱世浮萍 Black Emperor, White Star黑帝白星Historical1.2M WordsOngoing (Late Han and Three Kingdoms era + alternate history + no System + snatching opportunities + vying for supremacy + famous generals + renowned beauties): The score is low because it was just rated. The pacing is slow, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion arc is complete. In the second year of Guanghe, winter has come to the wilderness of Jizhou. Chen Mo, a displaced refugee, huddles among dead grass and corpses, starving and freezing, on the brink of death. Just as a bandit's blade is about to fall, d 31Reads6.3Score118Shelves

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    Unfortunately, slow-paced stories don't always appeal to readers. This book references history (but there will be a butterfly effect; major events will be kept as consistent as possible). The protagonist starts from scratch and rises to conquer the world. It's a reincarnation story, not a soul-transmigration + no system + hijacking + historical beauties (the early pacing is slow due to the early timeline and the protagonist isn't a traitor, but each character has their own romantic storyline, and the story doesn't end abruptly). The low rating is because it was rated 6.2 Right from the start. Also, the protagonist later develops his own city on his own…

21. 871 我 Reborn at the End of Qin, I Lay the Foundations of Han 我在秦末重生定汉基 Li Ze Cheng Dui丽泽成兑Historical132k WordsOngoing On a snowy day, Xin Yu was delivering takeout when a car hit him and killed him. When he opened his eyes again, he had somehow returned to the twenty-ninth year of Qin Shi Huang’s reign, reborn as an old beggar beside the reeds of Bolangsha. No System. No golden finger. Before he could even get his bearings, they were dragging him off to be beheaded. At the last moment, he drew on what little history he remembered and advised the First Emperor to bring several spare carriages. Sure enough, the i —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    You should check this out; it's historically accurate and quite interesting.

22. 872 大 Great Ming: Cozy Everyday Life Taking the Imperial Exams After Becoming a Father 大明，喜当爹后的科举温馨日常 Three O'Clock on the Seventh of July七月七的三点Historical157k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations] + [everyday life] + [lighthearted] Shen Huaijin inexplicably transmigrated into the body of a down-and-out examination candidate in the Ming dynasty, also named Shen Huaijin. He had to deal with: A controlling mother! A scheming second wife! An eldest daughter who loved stirring up trouble! An eldest son who was lazy and greedy! An arrogant, conceited second son! And two little daughters still too young to fend for themselves! Shen Huaijin decided: things had to change. T 73Reads—Score147Shelves

    Reader note

    I think it looks really good, it's ancient.

Other lists with My Father Is Zhao Kuangyin: Son, Put on Another Layer, It's Cold!