The Love Sword and the Kingdom

A young man rides through the streets in fine clothes, full of youthful spirit.

When Zhao Kuangyin was young, his greatest wish was simply to grow old together with his wife, He Zhen.

She was gentle and virtuous, and they shared a perfect harmony. He was spirited and ambitious, and promised her a life of peace and security.

Who could have foreseen that a conspiracy would claim He Zhen's life, leaving behind only these words: "May peace prevail throughout the land."

From then on, he donned his armor and took up his weapons, campaigning across the realm.

For the sake of her final wish, he crossed mountains of corpses and seas of blood, eventually becoming the mighty General Zhao, whose name shook the world.

But fate had other plans.

A woman who looked remarkably like He Zhen, Xu Huier, entered his life.

She was not as gentle or long-suffering as He Zhen. She loved and hated without reservation, bright and decisive. She would never live as anyone's shadow, much less become someone else's replacement.

From resistance to attraction, from testing each other to understanding one another, their hearts slowly drew close.

But in a turbulent age, even the deepest love could not withstand the parting fate had in store.

When they met again, Zhao Kuangyin had donned the imperial yellow robes and ruled the realm. Xu Huier, too, was forced to enter the treacherous imperial palace.

He wanted to protect her and give her a life free of worries, but he couldn't protect her from people's schemes. She wanted to stand by his side until they grew old together, but she could not escape the love, hatred, and power struggles of the imperial family.

In this life, can they rewrite the separation that was long ago fated to happen?

Reading guide:

1. Blends historical sources with plenty of imaginative storytelling.

2. First comes the beloved's look-alike, then comes the one who cherishes her.

3. Bittersweet ending!!!! Not a one-on-one romance, so don't read if that's a dealbreaker!!

Theme: An inspiring life, striving for the people of the realm