A Noble Wife’s Schemes

Gu Zhen is the eldest legitimate daughter of the main branch of the Gu clan of Wuling, one of the realm’s foremost aristocratic families. Gu Yun is the second legitimate daughter of the main branch of the Gu clan of Wuling, one of the realm’s foremost aristocratic families. Yanling is a slave with foreign ancestry and eyes of different colors. Xiao Qiu is the young princess of the Prince of Huainan’s household, which wields immense military power. Lizhi is a mute woman who wandered from the Western Regions to the Central Plains. Once a princess of a city-state, she became a slave. Fuqú was raised in a brothel, became a merchant’s mistress, and was later bought from slave traders by a guild as a dancer. Anan is a dancer born into the distinguished Yuwen clan. Zhu Minglian is a noblewoman from the Zhu clan. Xiao Yun is the eldest princess of the Great Qi dynasty, which is already in its second generation of decline. This is a sweeping story about a group of women from vastly different backgrounds, each with her own character, as they navigate a chaotic age. (The male characters are just as compelling, but they’re happy to play supporting roles for the women.)