Synopsis
[This is a partly road-trip revenge story. The plot reaches a major climax in Chapter 10.]
My next novel, Kiss the Blade, will launch at the end of December. It's a two-lifetime love story about a "bewitching consort × a court official." Here's the blurb. Please add it to your reading list:
A cunning, resourceful heroine, the wealthiest woman in the capital × a male lead who is reborn, outwardly elegant but actually unhinged, possessive, and insanely jealous
[The "Kiss" in This Life]
Chen Yu, the only daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, was stunningly beautiful. When she turned eighteen, her family began looking for a husband for her, and she immediately took a liking to a refined, courteous young gentleman.
But the young gentleman gave her a cold look. "A face this pretty will bring trouble to the household!"
Chen Yu rolled her eyes inwardly. What a sour, rotten old pedant! Then she turned and walked away.
Who knew that within a month, one after another, the young men she had considered marrying would run into trouble?
The Luo family's young master, whose gentlemanly reputation was known throughout the capital, turned out to be keeping a mistress in a poor neighborhood. The previous year's top scholar, admired for both talent and looks, was actually a sinister villain. Even her childhood sweetheart, her cousin, only wanted her family's status and had no genuine affection for her.
With her prospects for marriage going nowhere, Chen Yu muttered to herself and went with her maid to burn incense and draw a fortune stick at the Matchmaker Temple.
The old Daoist who interpreted fortunes lifted the bamboo cylinder, gave it a shake, and pulled out a stick. His eyes lit up. "My lady, this is the best fortune!"
"Hey, my luck is..." Chen Yu took the stick and left, satisfied. Her smile was halfway formed when she spotted the sour old pedant she'd insulted, in a corner, boasting shamelessly to his drinking buddies:
"How dare a wretch of rotten wood and filthy earth dream of a heavenly beauty? Lu Tingyun was born with a warm heart. I only want to test Chen's suitors and weed out the good from the bad, so she can be spared trouble in the future. I'm the only man in the world worthy of her!"
Chen Yu's brows shot up as she cursed inwardly: Oh, please! What a lecher! A hypocritical, arrogant, deceitful lecher with nothing going for him but a pretty face!
Her quick-witted maid hurried over, just in time to hear the wealthiest young lady in the capital grit her teeth and smile. "Taoyao, mobilize all the people, resources, and money we have in the capital. I'm going to make that wretch pay!"
In his previous life, Lu Tingyun was a newly crowned top scholar who died after becoming embroiled in politics. Before his death, rumors swept the court that he and Queen Chen Yu had been having an affair.
He said nothing, dying with a secret thrill. At least those officials had good eyes!
Half a day after he died, he was reborn. Overjoyed, he began plotting how to steal the emperor's bride before the emperor could claim her. But then his memories told him that he had just rejected Chen Yu's marriage proposal and insulted her.
Smack! Smack! He slapped himself hard across the face. Lu Tingyun's heart was breaking. What a useless fool! You were reborn and still didn't get a head start!
A thought struck him, and Lu Tingyun quickly rallied, full of fighting spirit and as elegant as ever, while his schemes swept through the city like a storm. That Luo fellow, the top scholar, her dear cousin... They could all die! He was the only man Chen Yu had ever loved, in her previous life and this one!
After ruining several of the young lady's marriage prospects one after another, Lu Tingyun wore a beaming smile and seemed half-mad. His good friend couldn't stand it any longer and dragged him to the Matchmaker Temple to burn incense and atone.
After burning incense, he went down the mountain and ran into Chen Yu right outside the temple.
Spring flowers bloomed all around them. Chen Yu was breathtakingly beautiful, more lovely than the blossoms. Before leaving, she gave him a meaningful look, bit her pearly teeth, and smiled sweetly.
Lu Tingyun's heart pounded as he stared at her, eyes shining. Bowing to the Matchmaker five hundred times really worked! She loves me!
[The "Blade" in the Previous Life]
After entering the palace, Consort Chen Yu loved one stubborn young top scholar. He refused to bend, and she insisted on forcing him. Until death, their hearts never belonged to each other.
[Assassin Zhang Blurb 1]
Zhang Wanwan was said to be the top assassin in the world. Her sword could slice through iron as if it were mud, and she killed without a trace. Her name alone could stop a child from crying.
One day, a refined musician playing a jade flute fell from the sky and asked her to kill a group of villains.
Zhang Wanwan snorted, yet willingly became the sword in the hands of that madman, clearing every obstacle for him.
The villains' blood was a little thick. After killing them, she frowned in displeasure. The musician came over, wiped the blood away with his white sleeve, and pulled her into his arms.
The little madman smelled of green bamboo and autumn dew. Zhang Wanwan sniffed, then broke into a radiant smile.
[Blurb 2]
Lin Feng had lost his parents, his younger sister, and his friends. Surrounded by enemies in both the court and the martial world, he was a solitary soul who walked into a deadly trap, willing to die in pursuit of the Dao.
One day, a top assassin carrying a short sword passed by and asked him if he had seen her master.
Seeing the tears glistening in her eyes, he swore to be her shield forever and protect her from all worry for the rest of her life.
There were quite a lot of villains. After wiping them all out, he was left with nothing to live for and a heart as cold as ashes. The young woman stayed by his side, handed him a skewer of candied hawthorns, and pulled him into her arms.
The young woman's presence held the colors of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. Lin Feng rested his head on her shoulder for a long time, returning to the world of the living.
A Little Glimpse of Married Life
As the sharpest blade in the martial world, Zhang Wanwan hid weapons in her skirts and coated her hairpins with deadly poison. She wore a new outfit every time she killed: a consummate professional with impeccable taste.
Her husband, Lin Feng, had recovered from the poison that once afflicted him. He watched her with a gentle smile. "Your brocade is beautiful today, Wanwan. Shall I find you a hairpin decorated with flowers to go with it?"
He was the only person in the world who would tie a ribbon around her bloodstained wrist, lower his eyes, and softly ask, "What color dress would you like to wear for this kill?"
Zhang Wanwan blushed and fluttered into his arms like a butterfly, her eyes shining like stars. "Tonight I don't want to kill anyone. I just want to find a dashing gentleman to look at the moon with."
Lin Feng stroked her hair and tapped her dainty nose. Delighted, he readily agreed. "It would be my honor."
That night, the moon was full and the flowers were lovely. Magpies sang in harmony, and the two branches joined as one.
Reader's Guide: The first arc of this novel focuses on the "assembly of the Avengers." The romance between the leads takes a big step forward in the third arc. There are many couples, with all kinds of dynamics: the male and female leads' pure-love redemption romance, a brother-sister romance between the second female and male leads, and a bewitching woman × a serious man for the third female and male leads. Former title: The Chronicle of Ancient Mountains and Rivers.
Theme: Love surges through magnificent mountains and rivers.
