I highly recommend a friend's daughter-centered novel, A Virtuous Consort's Guide (by Tian Jiashen). I've had the chance to read it ahead of time as a friend, and I can vouch that it's top-notch.
This story updates daily, with occasional double updates on weekends!
This novel is an allegory for the Qing court. If you see yourself in any of the characters, that's your business, not mine. I'm not responsible, so don't throw bricks at me.
Lighting the handkerchief in my hand, I burned the last keepsakes of the two of them before their grave. As the flames slowly devoured the silk, the young master's voice from years ago, carrying the carefree bravado of youth, rose in my ears once more: “I embroidered a pair of mandarin ducks, playing together in a little pond. When I finished, I had no heart to look; willow fluff covered the bed.”
A short story, complete.
Theme:
