A Life Too Hard to Put into Words

[Demonic Dragon and Phoenix / Two Powerful Leads / Love at First Sight / Empress and Emperor in a Chaotic Era] (Note: long-running plot threads throughout the book)

A few brief lines in the history books concealed the laughter and tears of her entire life. Today, the past is told once more.

*

Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, the gentry and commoners had been worlds apart. In the final decades of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, talented men and beautiful women had turned to dust. The aristocratic clans were no longer at their height, and the common-born no longer powerless.

*

Shen Miaorong was born into the gentry of Wuxing. She was both beautiful and talented, and had no desire to compete for anything. With the Shen family’s centuries of accumulated wealth, she could have lived a carefree life.

But fate had other plans. She married into the Chen clan, a family rising to power at breakneck speed.

This marriage was like a flaming arrow striking her heart. Something that had lain dormant in her blood for a hundred years, amid luxury and tranquility, was suddenly set ablaze: desire, ambition.

*

Chen Tanqian was born into a humble family. A brilliant strategist and skilled warrior, he was handsome, gentle, and courteous, the very image of a modest gentleman.

To Chen Tanqian, this marriage was no forced union. It was a gift from fate, and love at first sight.

Spring waters ran cold. A letter stirred his heart. He saw a blurred silhouette behind a screen, then finally beheld her face. She was the love of his life, and would always be the only one.

*

They were devoted spouses whose love never wavered, soulmates who understood each other’s hearts, and each other’s sharpest weapons. They planned every move, and lived and died together.

At first, each thought the other gentle and mild, someone who never fought for anything. Neither realized they were a dragon and a phoenix meeting, and that two ambitions were about to collide.

Their intimate kisses, their passionate nights, their days and nights together, leaning on each other like pine and ivy: they would never change. Their fates were red threads twisted together…

*

Many years later, Shen Miaorong took her place as empress, just as she had wished.

But the years were cruel. He was too tired, and everything happened too quickly…

But life was long, and after watching those around her pass away one after another, she grew tired too…

Perhaps a person’s life is simply the process of watching everything beautiful fade away.

End of blurb

The next book belongs to the same series. Please check out the upcoming novel, Autumn in the Han Palace: Empress Zhangde of Emperor Zhang (revenge / palace intrigue / political scheming / demonic dragon and phoenix).

Reading notes ①:

1. The story is set from the late Southern Liang to the fall of the Southern Chen.

2. The heroine is not insane (this refers to the opening).

3. The heroine has two children. Their roles are closely tied to several later plot points, but child-rearing is kept to a bare minimum. The focus is on the leads.

4. There is no BL romance whatsoever between Han Zigao and the male lead, Chen Tanqian, either in this book or in the historical record! None!

5. Historical-detail enthusiasts are welcome to offer suggestions.

Reading notes ②:

Although this novel is inspired by history, some details have been changed to serve the plot. These include:

1. Characters may appear in a different order. Their historical backgrounds are unchanged, but they appear at different points in the story.

2. The experiences of multiple people may be combined into one suitable character. The story has limited scope, so it cannot feature too many characters; some people’s experiences will be folded into one character.

3. Some dates and seasons may be shifted to suit the atmosphere of the story.

Theme: Always be on your guard against others.