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A Romantic Collection of Chinese Novels

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Chapter 5: The Legend of Shushan

  Zhou Man had often taken refuge in places like this while fleeing the Wang clan’s relentless pursuit. The cramped chaos of Nipan Street felt strangely familiar—almost like coming home. A thin layer of blackened mud coated the street, its origin uncertain—perhaps the grime of decades, pressed deep by countless footsteps. The eaves of the shops leaned toward each other, crowding overhead like a tangle of weary roofs. Peddlers huddled beneath them, their cries rising and falling in the humid air. From time to time, beggars drifted past, banging broken bowls and crooning lotus songs in cracked voices. After declining the flirtatious greetings of the brothel men and women for the third time, Zhou Man finally caught sight of her destination— —a weapon shop . It was large, its open front displaying an impressive array of steel and wood: swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks gleamed under dim lantern light. Only in a neglected corner rested a few bows and arrows—unloved, forgo...
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Moon Unfading

 


Original Title: ็ฌฌไธ‰ๅๅนดๆ˜Žๆœˆๅคœ

Author: Yun Xiang Qing Ning ่Šธ้ฆ™้’ๆŸ 

Raw Link: Di San Shi Nian Ming Yue Ye


Synopsis:

In the thirtieth year, under a silver moon that bathed the palace in ethereal light, the lotus pond shimmered like a mirror of the heavens. Princess Li Ying of Yong’an, gentle, kind-hearted, and beloved, tragically drowned at the age of sixteen, her life cut short beneath the floating blossoms. The Emperor, gripped by inconsolable grief, nearly lost the will to live.

A closer investigation revealed a horrifying truth: the princess had been pushed into the pond by her fiancรฉ. Enraged, the Emperor executed the entire family of the treacherous noble, a move that shattered the influence of the aristocracy and ignited the rise of the commoners. This monumental upheaval marked the beginning of the Taichang Reforms, reshaping the very structure of the realm.

History would later honor the late Emperor as the “Saint Ruler of the Renaissance” for his transformative reforms. Li Ying’s mother, Consort Jiang—once a humble palace maid—rose to become Imperial Concubine, then Empress, and ultimately even crowned herself alongside the Taichang Emperor, achieving unparalleled authority. Yet every triumph was rooted in the tragic death of their beloved daughter, Li Ying.

Thirty years on, the empire thrived in peace and prosperity. Citizens still whispered of the princess, mourning her untimely demise, yet recognizing the profound changes her death had inspired. Amid the celebrations and reforms, the soul of Princess Li Ying lingered in the mortal realm. She appeared before the infamous, ruthless, yet brilliant Minister of Affairs, Cui Xun, who was plagued by illness and feared by many. She wore the same green silk gown she had worn the night she died, her face frozen in the delicate beauty of sixteen.

With a voice both sorrowful and commanding, she said, “I need your help to investigate a case.”

Her eyes, bright and unwavering, met his. “I want you to find out who killed me.”

Evil spirits may turn to demons—but once a demon is born, why bother chasing the path of Buddha?


Genre: Historical Romance, Mystery, Supernatural, Fantasy, Royalty, Thriller

Tags: Historical Chinese Romance, Palace Intrigue, Supernatural Mystery, Ghost Investigation, Tragic Princess Tale, Forbidden Love, Ancient China Drama, Political Power Struggle, Mystery Thriller, Noble Family Conflict, High-Quality Translation