The Four-Sided Cage

Romance-focused blurb:

1. Shen Yun receives a mission to rescue a hostage from a bandit.

She expects the bandit to be a fierce and fearsome brute, only to find a handsome young gentleman.

She underestimates him in her eagerness to win, falling right into his trap.

Over nineteen days and nights, two fugitives scheme against each other.

Shen Yun exhausts every lie, all to trick Liu Qi into going to his death.

She thinks Liu Qi will hate her when he learns the truth.

But just as a sword is raised, she hears the handsome young gentleman say, “I would gladly die for Huai Zhu.”

2. This should have been the most satisfying game of chess Liu Qi ever played. Even the emperor was just another piece on his board.

But one day, an old acquaintance barges into the game, intent on taking his life.

He doesn't toss her off the board. Instead, he tricks her into staying by his side.

He uses the clumsiest methods to make Shen Yun his ally.

But he naively believes her when she gives in.

With a sword at his throat, he hates her to the core, yet still offers her sweet words.

He wants Shen Huaizhu to love him, and he wants Shen Huaizhu dead.

Plot-focused blurb:

One audacious kidnapping draws in half the people in the dynasty.

The kidnapper is Liu Qi, son of the Grand Tutor. The hostage is a prince who has yet to come of age.

As for their accomplices...

The mysterious jianghu bandit Shen Yun

The imperial court's handpicked pursuers

A beautiful consort hidden in the palace

A great general returned from the dead

An old statesman living under an assumed name

The kidnapper's band grows ever larger, and they all have the same person's head in their sights.

They have lain in wait for eleven years, seeking justice for a wrongful conviction. They swear to use the tyrant emperor's blood to honor the dead.

But just as victory is within reach, someone tells them they have taken revenge on the wrong person.

This is an endless web of schemes: friends betray one another, ideals are shattered, brothers turn against each other, and spouses grow apart. Loved ones part forever, cherished people die tragically, the innocent bear the blame, and murderers win fame across the land.

It is also the comeuppance of a band of villains. Heaven's punishment is to make them become good people from now on.

Reader's Guide:

This novel is plot-heavy, and the romance comes later. The second volume has more romance, so if you only want the romance, you can read that one~

The dynasty is fictional, and all official titles are made up.

The story is expected to have two volumes. Each stands on its own, so you can understand the story by reading either one.

Please feel free to point out anything controversial or unreasonable!

Theme: I am not alone on my path. I will surely find kindred spirits.