Joyful Zen

In a chaotic age, men fight over power, wealth, and beautiful women.

Le Chan is one such beauty, fought over by all the warlords.

*

The great scholar Gongsun Hong adopted a beggar girl named A Chan and carefully trained her into a celebrated beauty whose fame could topple kingdoms.

Gongsun Hong was trapped in a desperate predicament, and only A Chan could resolve it.

Following his plan, he sent A Chan to become the concubine of the treacherous minister Shentu Yue.

On the night before she left the Gongsun residence, A Chan drugged Gongsun Hong and had her way with him.

Gongsun Hong was so angry and embarrassed that he called her shameless.

A Chan caressed his face, gazing at the alluring reflection of herself in his upturned eyes and smiling as she said, "Didn't you say that in a chaotic age, we shouldn't be concerned with shame? Shentu Yue is old and fat. Just looking at him turns my stomach. You're much better-looking."

With that, A Chan swept out of the room.

From then on, she moved among different men to gather intelligence, becoming the sharpest blade in Gongsun Hong's hand.

*

Later, Gongsun Hong plotted the death of the powerful minister Shentu Yue, installed a young ruler on the throne, and gained power over all under heaven.

He took A Chan back and locked her away in the rear courtyard.

A Chan cursed him for being shameless. "Wasn't it enough to send me to those beasts to be abused? Now you have to humiliate me yourself?"

Gongsun Hong replied coolly, "You were born to be a pawn, a plaything for serving people. If you can serve others, why can't you serve me?"

*

A Chan didn't know that Gongsun Hong had started regretting his decision the moment she left his home.

Seeing her spend her days among those men drove him so mad that he spat blood in the dead of night.

He worked tirelessly, defeated the powerful minister, and took A Chan back, doting on her and keeping her all to himself every day.

But A Chan's heart was long gone. She laughed and chatted happily with others, while giving Gongsun Hong nothing but cold looks.

Gongsun Hong gripped her waist and kissed her sweat-dampened temples, staring at the crazed reflection of himself in her eyes as he begged, "What do I have to do to satisfy you?"

A Chan laughed, her whole body trembling, and whispered provocatively in his ear, "Give me gold. Give me power. Let me live in splendor."

*

When I offered you my heart, you looked down on it. Instead, you urged me to put the greater good first and promised to make me famous.

Now that the greater good has been achieved, I helped you win fame, power, and status. But I'm still just a courtesan you keep, someone of no standing who doesn't even deserve to be mentioned.

What use is your false love to me?

All I want is the power in your hands and the reputation I deserve.

This chaotic age is unjust, but I'll make it give me justice!

*

In a chaotic age, men fight over power, wealth, and beautiful women.

A Chan enjoys the power and wealth men have fought to obtain.

And that laughable thing called true love.

*

Key points:

A fatherly male lead who has to win back his wife's heart.

The mischievous heroine takes revenge on the male lead, keeping the old man wrapped around her finger.

Fake political intrigue, a sweet romance.

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Recommended completed novel: "The Sweet and Charming Life of a Soft and Adorable Concubine". A sweet heroine and her sugar-daddy male lead in their everyday life.

Recommended upcoming novel: "Greetings to the Empress Dowager". The political life of a Daoist heroine and her hopelessly devoted Mary Sue admirers.

Theme: Those who disrespect love will ultimately be punished by it