The Li Taibai Collection Pursues the Azure Lotus Hermit

(I was bored, so I changed the title to an abstract version.)

Ji Ling thought her new job was as a librarian, only to discover that every book in the library was a role she herself had played. She transmigrated through time again and again, all to find the original authors and fulfill the various obsessions modern people had attached to their books.

1. The Collected Works of Li Taibai

In the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era, the An Lushan Rebellion broke out. As Li Bai and his wife, Zong Shi, fled south to escape the turmoil, they encountered a woman with white hair and red eyes, dressed in luxurious finery.

She blocked their path and asked where they were going. When the anxious Li Bai explained that they were fleeing, she gave a slight nod. With a wave of her sleeve, she not only killed the bandits but also carried everyone a thousand li away.

Li Bai: ?!

The Collected Works of Li Taibai: “A man kills one at every ten steps, and travels a thousand li without leaving a trace. You wrote it, and I can do it.”

2. The Song of the Great Wind

“The great wind rises, the clouds fly…”

As Liu Bang fled, he heard a melodious song. The instant he turned around, he saw a sight he would never forget: the great wind swept up clouds of dust, and the pursuing soldiers died beneath its blades.

The swordsman with teal hair smiled coolly. “I am the Great Wind Song you wrote.”

After the group was separated and a child had a stress-induced meltdown, while another adult repeatedly failed at grilling, Liu Bang had no choice but to wash his hands and cook a meal himself, to thank the song that had saved his life.

The Song of the Great Wind offered a scathing review: “Even a dog would shake its head at your cooking.”

Liu Bang: So which one of us is whose father?

The blurb has a word limit, so here is the abridged version below ↓

3. Ban Zhao, Lessons for Women and Book of Han

Lessons for Women: I am a book for women. As you wrote, I am gentle and respectful, and I obey only my elder brother.

Book of Han: I think Empress Deng did the right thing.

Lessons for Women: My elder brother speaks wisely. I support the Empress ruling from behind the curtain.

4. Zhuge Liang, Memorial on Sending Out the Troops

Waaah, Father Prime Minister (crossed out), Father, what am I supposed to do now that you’re gone? Don’t leave me here all alone with this memorial! (Because she wants to save Zhuge Liang, she will use other secret identities in this arc.)

5. Li Shimin, Ode to the Auspicious Phoenix

The phoenix you wrote about has come to life. You’re not happy that it looks like me? You dare write it, but you won’t own up to it? (Furiously pecking at Er Feng with a bird’s beak.)

6. Li Qingzhao, The Yi’an Lyrics

I came to save twenty thousand volumes of my kindred. What gold? What are you talking about? I took care of it along the way. What’s there to say?

7. I originally wanted to write something based on the jokes in the annotations to Yongzheng’s memorials, like “I am just this kind of man.” But I thought better of it. I can’t write about the Qing Dynasty. Maybe next time. I’ll leave a spot here for now. Open for sponsorship (not really).

The heroine’s name: Ling, meaning nimble, clever, and lively when describing a woman. [Pin Ling] A common character in women’s names in ancient times. [“Ling, a character used in women’s names.”, Guangyun]

A few warnings:

1. The idea behind the secret identity of Lessons for Women in arcs 1–3 differs from the real Ban Zhao’s views. I feel that as a modern woman, the heroine couldn’t genuinely agree with a book written to uphold male rule. But due to the book’s premise, this secret identity is an utterly devoted big-brother fanatic. The secret identity’s side in this arc is Deng Sui, who is actually the heroine of the arc.

I’m writing historical fanfiction. Everyone knows this isn’t historically accurate, right? Let me off the hook, please.

2. Li Bai’s poems are my favorite, so Li Bai comes first (gasp! There’s favoritism here). The rest are arranged in historical order.

3. I actually have other ideas, but I wrote this blurb in the middle of the night and my brain wasn’t working properly. This is all for now. I may add or remove things later.

4. Each arc may have one or several secret identities, but I can confirm that the identities mentioned in the blurb will be the main ones used (though that may change).

Theme: Haven’t decided yet