Snake Pearl

Jiang Qing x Shen Zhuitu | Futuristic political intrigue

The proper title is Snake Pearl, which the Soushen Ji explains as meaning exceptional talent. The first volume has 14 chapters and two timelines: [Pearl's Face] takes place during their university years, while [Snake's Heart] takes place during the political struggle.

The full story is free. I was in a bit of a literary mood while writing and haven't quite found my rhythm again, so I hope you'll be patient and enjoy it.

The Vermilion Bird District had suffered defeat after defeat. Its newly appointed general, the one everyone had pinned their hopes on, went missing during a retreat and was suspected of deserting.

Shen Zhuitu was a young female council chair who had spent years in a wheelchair. With her unpredictable temper, endearing face, and silver tongue, she put down rebellions at home and sought peace abroad, somehow managing to stabilize the situation.

Her achievements were remarkable, and it was time to think about marriage.

But no one dared bring it up.

Because everyone knew that the missing general who had deserted was Jiang Qing, Shen Zhuitu's first love, the one who had always held a special place in her heart.

--

Jiang Qing of the White Tiger District was peerlessly beautiful and talented.

To outsiders, she was studying at the top university in the Vermilion Bird District, working hard and making the right connections with powerful people. Her father was a friend of influential figures, and her future seemed certain to be bright.

Then war broke out, and the former council chair was imprisoned for failing to lead the war effectively.

Jiang Qing resolved to enlist, and her prospects seemed brighter still, because the new council chair, who was always in a wheelchair, was Shen Zhuitu, the lover she had known and been close to since their university days.

With her district on the brink of ruin, Jiang Qing volunteered to go to the front.

Gravely wounded, Jiang Qing survived in a foreign district. The one thing that kept her going was the hope of making it back alive to see her.

Until she discovered that it was Shen Zhuitu who had falsely accused her of fleeing to another district.

--

The Vermilion Bird District was on the verge of collapse, its survival hanging by a thread.

At the peace talks between the warring districts, Jiang Qing's red hair was tied high, and she was as heroic as ever. The only thing that had changed was the insignia on her uniform.

She had thought she didn't hate Shen Zhuitu. They both had ambitions greater than themselves, and it was those shared ambitions that had drawn them together and kept them entangled to this day.

But what she said was:

"Chair Shen, if you can swallow the ring in my hand right here in front of them, we can talk about the past before we sign the agreement."

--

A few words from the author:

1. Devoted one-on-one romance.

2. A seemingly delicate but actually scheming recipient x a ruthless, darkened first love with both brains and brawn. Two ambitious women, a relationship broken but not ended, and a reunion that brings them back together completely.

3. Potential content warnings: later on, Jiang lightly restrains and bites Shen, and has some breakdowns; Shen is not disabled, but really does love using a wheelchair, and mostly just teases her wife rather than pursuing her.

I'm grateful this story brought us together.

If you enjoyed it, please also check out my upcoming novel, The Empress Is Forced to Be Everyone's Darling, and join me in exploring a new world and a new connection.

Theme: Love is taking the moon down from the sky and heading toward the future together.