The Silver Crossing

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[Next up: Pillowside Beauty. Blurb at the bottom.]

Blurb:

In the early years of Chengping, Ming Learning flourished, and the Sheng Dynasty first opened the path to official careers for women.

The great edifice collapsed overnight. The new emperor took the throne, burned every book on Ming Learning, and buried the former dynasty's female officials alive.

Shen Dai's mentor and all her fellow students died in the torrential rain in Tongzhou that year.

"Dai studied under the Yang family and learned in Tongzhou. I seek no glory for my family, only to stand upright and true. Now the Red Chamber is gone, and I survive in this world, scrambling for money. Among the three thousand mortal passions, I have become just another seeker of profit."

"My fate has been full of hardship, borne by this frail body, like a dying candle in the dust. For ten years I have labored to uphold the crown of clear winds and bright moon. Across the Chu River, merchant ships rise among the brocade; I pass on my craft to aid women, writing the annals of spring and autumn on silver."

"Though my body is broken, my heart is bright."

Eight years passed in a flash. Snow and frost poured over her, and countless nights Shen Dai silently recited the Book of Self-Reproach, afraid that the departed would visit her dreams that night.

Male Lead's Blurb:

After being exiled by Southern Chu, Wu Luoxi had nothing but a set of tattered clothes when he stumbled into Yutai in Tongzhou.

A girl in yellow entered the young man's darkened field of vision and just managed to pull him back from the abyss.

When he saw her again, she had shed her youthful naivety. She was solitary and aloof, with a graceful, noble bearing.

He waited for her for thirteen years, only to receive a gentle smile in return. "A Xi, there's no need."

"The Great Compendium of Ming Learning is complete. Dai must give her life for the Way and honor the sages of old."

The silver bridal crown, forged over thirty days and tempered in blood, shattered into pieces and rolled into the dust. Years of dignified restraint came crashing down.

"You say your heart is bright, yet you shut me out completely. You speak of righteousness and universal love, but your heart is empty."

"A Dai, you are cruel beyond belief."

That day, the Miao people's most brilliant genius Gu master grabbed her hand and made her feed him a blood Gu.

1. Female lead: gentle, aloof beauty with a noble sense of duty. Male lead: a refined, unhinged young master from Miaojiang / a purehearted, devoted husband type.

2. An alternate-history setting inspired by the Ming Dynasty, with a mix of historical eras. Some characters are based on historical figures, but the worldbuilding is largely original.

3. The author is not Miao. Most of the content involving Miao culture is invented, so please don't take it as fact, dear readers (palms together!!).

4. Some lines in the blurb were inspired by the writing style of the Preface to the Tengwang Pavilion. "This heart is bright" comes from Wang Yangming's words: "This heart is bright, what more is there to say?"

[Coming Soon: Pillowside Beauty]

[Soft, sweet, airheaded beauty x gentle, scheming powerful official]

Jiang Lingyi, the second young lady of the Minister of Rites' residence, is delicate and lovely. She has been betrothed to the Marquis of Huairong's family since childhood.

Then everything changes, and her father entrusts her to his student, Yan Che.

Lingyi doesn't cry or make a fuss. She timidly takes the young man's hand and sweetly calls him, "Big Brother..."

*

Everyone says Yan Che appears as bright and refined as the moon, but is truly gloomy and difficult to approach.

Only Lingyi likes to cling to him. No matter when he returns, she lifts her skirts and runs to greet him.

Calling him "Brother Xunzhi," she wraps her arms around his neck and coaxes him to carry her.

Yan Che is neither warm nor cold toward her. He never reaches for her or holds her of his own accord.

Until one day, he holds his brush and lightly paints a flower mark on her shoulder, tracing a path down to her chest.

"Go meet him."

"The people of the marquis's household should regret breaking off the engagement."

*

Later, the marquis's household proposes marriage again, hoping to bring home their heir's bride as soon as possible.

Lingyi leans coyly against Yan Che's knees. "Brother, A Heng says he wants to marry me."

She rests her cheek on her hand, her face full of a young girl's bashful sweetness.

The man smiles and sets down his jade cup. The fragrant tea swirls around the dark currents in his phoenix eyes.

Yan Che takes a great deal of interest in her marriage.

Before the wedding, he enters her bedroom and signals the etiquette matron to leave.

Black boots step over the illustrated books scattered across the floor.

Rain lashes the window lattice, and soft moans sound from inside the room.

Lingyi's cheeks are flushed. She pushes him away with a flailing hand. "Are you really teaching me lessons, Brother...?"

The man smiles faintly as his fingertip presses against the beauty mark on her lip, gently caressing it.

"What did I just teach you, little one?"

"If you want something, how should you ask me for it?"

*

In his life, Yan Che toys with imperial power and people's hearts as if they were in the palm of his hand. Only two things took him by surprise.

First, he took in a little white rabbit and neglected to keep a close eye on it, nearly letting someone else steal her away.

Second, he taught her too well and could no longer bear to let go.

Theme: Continue the teachings of the sages of old and bring peace to all generations