The Ambition of a Swan

"The ancients said that books hold golden mansions within, and that one should read ten thousand books. So why did they also say that believing every word in a book is worse than having no book at all?"

"If a gentleman should never stand beneath a crumbling wall, then when the nation is on the brink of collapse, how can he care for the whole realm and help all its people?"

"Are the teachings of Confucius and Laozi better or worse than each other? Which should we students uphold: restraining ourselves and following ritual, or ruling through nonaction?"

The teacher at the academy could take no more. He grabbed Meng Zhaojun by the collar and tossed her out the door.

"Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. Once you find your own path, you will naturally understand all these things."

And so Meng Zhaojun set off on a journey to find the way in her heart

Mu Yan had always been irritated by long-winded scholars. The only book he'd ever read was the Analects, and the word he'd written most often was his own name.

He was determined to become a renowned hero, but he never expected his life to go off course after he picked up an "old-fashioned" scholar and a slow-moving little monk

Nor did he expect that when he was wronged and everyone suspected him, only that bookworm would crouch down and say to him:

"I believe you."

"Why?"

"Self-interest is part of the human heart. Without it, there would be no heart at all. A Yan, you are my selfish desire."

Little Scene

Mu Yan had finally saved up enough silver to buy the throwing knives he'd been eyeing for ages at the blacksmith's. But as he passed a roadside bookstall, he stopped.

The ancient book in the stall owner's hands looked just like the one the bookworm had been talking about for ages.

Mu Yan glanced at the blacksmith's shop in the distance, gritted his teeth, and walked away.

That night, when Meng Zhaojun returned to the inn, she saw the ancient book she'd been longing for on the table. Her eyes widened with delight. "Where did this come from?"

"I just... picked it up along the road..." Mu Yan rubbed his nose and answered, pretending not to care.

Meng Zhaojun looked at him, then suddenly smiled. "A Yan..."

"Hm?"

"Your ears are red..."

I want to write a story about a young man and woman traveling the jianghu and chasing their dreams (and I really love pure romance and the contrast between characters~).

The setting is an ancient world inspired by a utopia of gender equality, where women can hold office, teach, and more. The male and female leads come from ordinary backgrounds. The story will mention quite a bit of classical Chinese, poetry, and the ideas of famous thinkers (I'll do my best to broaden my knowledge).

It may be told in episodic form: everyone travels together, meets new companions, and grows together in a series of lighthearted, relaxing stories.

Anyone who's interested is welcome to hop in~

Theme: Small, but resilient