The Tale of the Liang Dynasty Empress

A note from the author about this novel: 1. The main source is the official history, Book of Southern Qi, with references to historical and literary works such as Zizhi Tongjian and Selections of Refined Literature, as well as unofficial histories and legends. Most of the characters are historical figures whose names are recorded, and major events are reimagined based on historical accounts. Longtime readers can tell you about my attitude toward writing. 2. The female lead, Shui Hanyan, and the second male lead, Xiao Yeyu, are fictional. Almost all the other characters with substantial roles are historical figures. There are many characters, so I can only say almost all. 3. The story begins in the early years of the Qi dynasty of the Southern Dynasties and ends during the Liang dynasty, spanning more than thirty years and the reigns of about seven emperors. I say "about" because some emperors are not counted as emperors in historical records. It also means that an emperor will bite the dust every so often in this story. 4. Reasons to read: a. You'll learn that bizarre stories aren't limited to unofficial histories; some of them might be true. b. Take in a sweeping historical epic about the ancient capital of Nanjing, set more than a thousand years ago. c. Review historical facts for exams and collect allusions for your essays. 5. This is a romance, a romance for both men and women. 6. All comments and corrections are welcome, except for abusive remarks. Official blurb: In the ninth year of Taihe under the Northern Wei, the Wei court banned shamanism. The shamaness Yang fled from Wei back to Qi, where she found an abandoned baby by the river in Moling. Yang was delighted to find such a treasure, for the baby girl had a pair of "Misty Rain Eyes," hazy and dreamlike as the misty rain of Jiangnan. In physiognomy, this is known as the "Misty Rain" aspect. It is said that only an emperor with double pupils can marry a woman with Misty Rain Eyes. Otherwise, disaster and turmoil will follow wherever she goes. The shamaness Yang adopted the abandoned baby and named her Shui Hanyan, meaning "cold mist over water." She raised the girl alongside her own son from childhood. Using her shamanic arts, Yang moved among Qi's nobility and soon became a frequent guest at the mansions of the capital's aristocrats. Time flew by, and the baby girl grew into a woman of breathtaking beauty. Yang's true expectations for her gradually came to light, but not everything was under her control. The storms brought by the Misty Rain Eyes were more than Yang had ever anticipated. Theme: To be added.