#Mo Shu Bai

[living-realusion]

i cannot believe they are living their peaceful domestic era imprisoned and separated by a wall. ㅜ ㅜ

[mj220991]

Finally i finishedddd Cang Lan Dao, this is a masterpiece really. Its been a long time since i cried reading a webnovels. This one i just so so good.

I post the snippet of the scene where the ML just killed the emperor by hand, glad to tell you that later he will have another murderfest in the court. Remind you this happen with only like 5 chapters left 🥲.

Spoiler

Like your typical revenge story. The ML is the only person left in his clan. His family is your usual heroic border generals family, we know what will happen to them. Ofc the other aristocrats hates them, the emperor grow suspicious of them too. Short story, the ML executed his own family with his own sword under the emperor order. And becomes his sword.

Comes our FL, a doctor lived a pampered life but her family fell into political schemes. Ofc she has problems, short story on her way to exiled she exhanged identities with a killer. Then she employed under our ML.

I know the novels is just sooo long, MSB longest novel i think at 195 chapters. But so worth it.

Im tagging another novels guru @mercipourleslivres @dangermousie @aysekira

[smittenskitten]

Seems like when I start reading a novel I will look up the author's other books, and if their other works follow the same theme I would read those books too.

Qian Shan Cha Ke's books are very female lead oriented, drives towards revenge and it's so soooo satisfying but the ending kind of falls apart for me.

Mo Shu Bai has excellent writing, romance driven even though it's slow but executed very well.

September Flowing Fire books have a start and a finish, it's very chill. The only thing worth mentioning is probably they have some provocative novel titles but in the end they are just titles.

[blobofcolour]

I really hope this airs! 两位主演都太贴脸了 <3

When if it does, I sure hope the scriptwriters don’t go crazy with changing the overall plotline because the novel was great as it was, but it’s a cdrama so ... 

I started 山河枕/长嫂为妻 (Mountain and River Pillow) immediately after Chang Feng Du, found myself somehow rooting for ex-husband Gu Chu Sheng instead of the ML so I turned to 四嫁 Si Jia (Four Marriages? doesn’t look like this got translated) which had a very similar set up but with the ex as ML instead. And indeed it was like the AU version of Shan He Zhen (or was SHZ the AU of Si Jia??)

I finished Si Jia over my work trip but it didn’t quite hit the same as Chang Feng Du. Perhaps cos Qin Shu Huai & Zhao Peng’s struggles in her 3 prior lives were told through flashbacks that I couldn’t feel them as deeply. Now I’m back to SHZ again but still starting/stopping, maybe it’s a sign I should move on to my next novel.

1. Let’s see if it actually airs.

2. Pls be good!

3. I hate the pastels…

[kukuandkookie]

I finished lining little Easter bunny Mo Ran and Luo Binghe, so I wanted to post them first before the day officially ends here! 🐰 💝

Still hoping to slap some messier colours onto these messy lines lol. 

[radiantaro]

[Swap AU] doodle postings

SWAP AU's storyline is somehow similar to the SVSSS itself. It's just that our transmigrators (Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua) and the peak lords are demons of this story and our demons of the original svsss (Luo Binghe and Mobei-jun) are the ones who transmigrated in the novel. To be precise, our author now is Mo Beijun aka Lord of the Frost and the anti-fan now is Luo Binghe aka Heavenly Pillar while our demons are now Yuan-Jun aka Shen-Jun (Qing Jing Demon Lord - Heavenly Demon) and Shang-Jun (An Ding Demon Lord - Fire Demon).

Although, pretty much the same, I tried to make some different plot points because I'm trying to fill in these plot holes (like Shen Yuan lmao).

SQH - Fire Demon / An Ding Lord

QQQ- Flower Demon / Xian Shu Lord

MQF - Snake Demon / Qian Cao Lord

LQG- Water Demon / Bai Zhan Lord

YQY- Heavenly Demon / Qiong Ding Lord

[traineecryptid]

NPSS Weibo Q&A (20240831) Part 1

This is a Q&A session held on Weibo. People will tag their questions with the hashtag #南派三叔藏海花在线答疑# (#NPSS Zang Hai Hua Online Q&A#) and NPSS will look through the tag to pick some to answer. The event started at 1500 hours on 2024 August 31st. For comedic purposes, this translation will include the timestamps for the answers. And for efficiency purposes, I have left out all usernames. The usernames of the question-askers can be found via the screenshots in this folder if anyone is inclined to do that.

1422 Come ask questions at #NPSS Zang Hai Hua Online Q&A#. I will stay online and pick questions to answer without limits from 3pm onward. 1500 Q: Sanshu, what was the thing that Zhang Qiling wanted Pangzi to tell Wu Xie that Pangzi mentioned when he was fixing Wu Xie’s dislocated shoulder? My friends and I would love to know. 

A: Eat well, sleep well, wear socks even in the summer. 1500 Q: Lei, do you like this pic I made? [It’s an edit of NPSS’s face on a pink dressed magical girl body]

A: I feel like this pic is affecting the fengshui in my house.

1502 Q: Shu, it is confirmed that Ten Years is included in the ZHH drama. Then, will the drama show the changes between ZHH Wu Xie and Ten Years Wu Xie? In yesterday’s livestream you said that there are four turning points in the drama. Is it that Wu Xie will become Xie Di after being tricked four times? A: Every character and their fate all have big turning points. Whether he’s a good person or an evil person, whether his answers are real or fake, you must watch till the end [only then you’ll know].

1502 Q: Sanshu, what was Wu Xie thinking in the split second when he saw Menyouping’s portrait in Tibet? A: “What the fuck!” (T/N: swears are not very translatable in meaning. I tried.) 1503

Q: Pumpkin Sect (T/N: this might be an intentional typo punning of nanpai which means southern sect), what would the scene be like if Xiaoge’s mom met Wu Xie? Would Bai Ma be happy that her child had gained some humanity because of Wu Xie? A: Bai Ma would probably teach Wu Xie to sing. Something like The Night of Ulaanbaatar.

1505 Q: Shu, why have you been answering so many questions lately? Has there been some big thing happening?

A: They said that I’m a liuliang celebrity so I should shoulder the publicity mission. (T/N: Liuliang celebrity refers to celebrities who are popular (or controversial) and are able to generate a lot of social media traffic. For example: when a celeb would get on the trending searches whenever they post selfies/ attend events/ do just about anything.)

1513 Q: What would Mo Yungao from Southern Archives do if he had really found Xiaoge? A: He would eat Zhang Qiling.

1523 Q: Is the audience viewing experience taken into deep consideration when making drama and movie adaptations? For example, allowing those who haven't read the novels to understand the plot. I saw some people saying that they couldn’t follow the plot [from the drama].

A: For Reboot, in order to help the audience get into it, we introduced the characters and their occupation in the first episode. But for ZHH,  according to the number of votes, we all chose to do a cold open based on the novel. 

1524 Q: Sanshu, Sanshu, I want to know, based on Zhang Qiling’s arm strength, how many Wu Xies can he carry?

A: If he uses the strength from his waist to assist, he can throw Wu Xie up to the third floor.

1526 Q: What is the ending for Boss Jiao in the Reboot novel?

A: Became Jiao. (T/N: The character for Jiao means burnt).

1527 Q: Will Xu Zhenxuan play Wu Xie in the Heavenly Palace re-shoot?

A: Yes.

1528

Q: Shu, did Zhang Haike recommend Xiaoge’s drink to Wu Xie because he wants to show off that he understands Xiaoge? A: Hahahahaha

1532 Q: ZHH drama and novel will have two separate endings. Now that the drama has an ending, have you decided on the ending of the novel? When will you experience Tianshou? A: I always understood the dramas as the dreams of the characters from the books. That means that the changes in details in the dramas, to me, I would always explain it as the intentional and unintentional amendment to the details as they tell this story to someone else. Or that these are part of their dream and after-the-fact fears. I will explain it again after [you] see the end.

1533

Q: I would like to know the mental state of the company. It seems like it’s taking big steps towards a beautiful direction.

A: It’s rare to be able to legally go crazy. Everyone’s very happy.

Here's the first 15. There are more answers and I will chip at them at a pace that will hopefully be able to keep up with NPSS. The folder also contains a google doc that has all the complied Q&As if anyone prefers to read on that.

[lttawnymadison]

Danmei most highly rated/loved

This list is based on my poll of people's favorite danmei novels. They're also the ones I've heard about multiple times. Many are licensed for English, and more are being licensed all the time!

MXTX – Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu) 

MXTX – The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi)  

MXTX – The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong) 

Meatbun – The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun)

Meatbun - Remnants of Filth (Yu Wu)

Meatbun - Case File Compendium (Bing an Ben)

Meng Xishi - Thousand Autumns (Qian Qiu) 

Meng Xishi – Peerless (Wu Shuang) 

Priest - Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang)  

Priest – Lord Seventh (Qi Ye)

Priest - Faraway Wanderers (Tian Ya Ke), sequel to Lord Seventh

Priest – Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire 

Priest - Guardian (Zhen Hun) 

Shisi - Little Mushroom (Xiao Mogu) 

Feng Yu Nie - Mistakenly Saving the Villain 

FTYX - Dinghai Fusheng Records

FTYX - Legend of Exorcism (Tianbao Fuyao Lu) (loose sequel to DFR)

FTYX - To Rule in a Turbulent World (Luan Shi Wei Wang)  

Tang Jiu Qing - Qiang Jin Jiu 

Tang Jiu Qing - Nan Chan 

Cang Wu Bin Bai - Golden Terrace (Cang Wu Bin Bai) 

Cang Wu Bin Bai - Chun Feng Du Jian 

Qing Se Yu Yi - Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know  

Man Man He Qi Duo - Those Years In Quest Of Honour Mine 

Lu Ye Qian He - The Wife is First (Qi Wei Shang) 

Yi Yi Yi Yi - How to Survive As a Villain (Chuanyue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ruhe Huoming)  

Zhìchǔ - Fan Service Paradox (Ying Ye Bei Lun)  

Mu Su Li - Global Examination (Quanqiu Gaokao)  

Wei Feng Ji Xu - Mist (Bowu) 

Xue Shan Fei Hu - The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish 

Wu Zhe - Run Wild (Sa Ye) 

bafflinghaze - Dao Of The Salted Fish (Salted Fish Cultivator) 

Lin Qian - The Fallen Merman 

Feng Liu Shu Dai - Quickly wear the face of the devil 

Yin Ya - The Legendary Master’s Wife  

Wú Yì - The Killer of Killers (Sha Qing) 

Bing Kuai’er/ICE (冰块儿) - After Dawn/Dawning 黎明之后 

Jiang Weiji - How to Feed an Abyss! 

Lei Xu - The Grave Robbers' Chronicles

[renewedmotionforjudgment]

FINAL THOUGHTS -- *Spoilers*

This is a beautiful shot and I completely understand why the show ended on such note. However, I really wish -- to come full circle -- that we could have seen a happy 40 yr old Pei Wenxuan with 38 yr old Li Rong. Plus you know, Pei daddy.

The drama wasn't perfect -- I wish it had a stronger secondary cast (ahem, SRQ) and a better OST -- and I'm going to eat my words and say another 4-5 months in post-production would have ironed some of the weaknesses out. But overall, a thoroughly enjoyable watch with an OTP that I adored and kept me invested even though there wasn't a ton of relationship drama after the midway point.

Also, FWSC -- if you are listening -- if you ever want to work with Mo Shu Bai and we can get a full length drama of their first life, let me know. The first life is so tragic but LBR I would eat that up.

[living-realusion]

The Grand Princess (Zhang Gong Zhu) by Mo Shu Bai

Chapter 16

“I don’t need you to do anything, Mother Empress. You’re not suitable for politics, so leave these things to me and Chuan’er. There is only one thing you need to do.”

Her expression slightly wavered as she looked at the Empress. The Empress was still blankly staring at her. Li Rong looked at this woman who had been vaguely aged by time and continued in a low voice: “Be a good mother.”

He looked at the Li Rong in front of him and felt that she was someone familiar yet also very unfamiliar.

The person in front of him was still the proud phoenix from the previous life. She was always calm, always unperturbed, always composed, and even if Mount Tai collapsed right in front of her, her face still would not change.

But he felt that this person had somewhat changed. He vaguely saw the vulnerability and tenderness deep down in her heart. He vaguely sensed that that innocence has never faded, even after going through 50 years of a lifetime of trials and hardships.

At the present, she was like a butterfly that had fallen on a spider’s web, and the moment she struggled to escape, she unfurled a terrifying sense of beauty.

Both of them were like lonely cranes forced down a dead end. Even though their feet have sunken into the mud, they still desperately try to crane their necks to look at the blue sky above.

They quietly looked at one another. For a moment, it seemed as if 50 years had passed before their very eyes. 

“Does Your Highness feel that we should go through this marriage again?”

[mj220991]

Because of Changfengdu, i feel like i need to make a list or introductions of the author's novel (墨书白)

The ML's usually crazily devoted and the FL is crazily competent. I will write some of her historical ones first. (English is not my 1st language, so sorry if there's some mistake)

I'll tag @dangermousie and @mercipourleslivres, maybe you guys can enjoy some of this!

长公主 (The Grand Princess)

This one is a double rebirth story of a princess and her estranged husband. They both died (at age 50's) thinking they killed each other. They born in a time before they married. In their new life they started as friends.

Our FL is Li Rong, is a prideful princess and in the 1 st life married our ML Pei Wen Xuan because he's the most handsome XD. The emotional part of this novel feels so delicate and raw. The longings, remorse, regret, especially from the ML really hook me up. The bloody drama also not only come from the main couple but basically everyone. There's no such a thing as npc chara, everyone have their own purpose. I know many people said Li Rong don't deserve Pei Wen Xuan ( nahh do we read the same novel?) Both are at faults. This one is not for the faint heart. Last time i heard they will adapt this into a drama with Zhao Jinmai and Wang Anyu, i don't want them to touch this.

山河枕 (Mountain river pillow aka the eldest wife is my wife)

This one is a rebirth story. Our FL Chuyu already married the 2nd ML in her 1st life. But her love was wasted and her husband didn't treat her right. After being reborn, she choose to married her supposed to be husband, Wei Jun (the eldest son of a border general). You know what happened to the generals who lives in the border right? Right, scapegoat of the politics in the capital.

Short story, the wei general and his 6 son died (including Chu Yu husband) as a traitor in battlefield leaving the youngest son Wei Yun bring his father and brothers coffin. The real story begin here as Chu yu keep helping Wei Yun to keep the Wei family legacy.

Poor Wei Yun, is all that i can say :p.

From the news i see Song Qian and Ding Yuxi name, please just no :(.

论撩世家子的技巧 (the trick to teasing a noble family son)

This is not the famous one but WORTH READING. Oh and this a crossdressing novel. Our FL Wei Lan is a reborn, but not from your usual world. She came from a matriarcal world, when women is the leader in society and men task is in the backyard. When she came to the her new world, the 1st thing she do is change identity with his brother. Yes you hear me right, Wei lan become the brother and her brother Wei Hua become the sister. Our ML is Xie Zichen, also a reborn. He died being betrayed by the prince that he supported.

This novel is hilarious in the beginning as Wei Lan feels like douchebag,and feels that women is far superior than men. She FLIRT a lot. Because her thoughtfulness, all of these men of course being tempted. Our ML too think like that but reverse. But don't worry there's chara development from everyone, i cried a lot and too be honest my fav chara is one of the FL suitor who end up died.

I change my mind, i'll write her Xianxia and modern too here XD.

琢玉 (Carven Jade)

One of my fav danmei together with Yuwu. Our Gong is Fu ChangLing and Shou is Qin Yan (ma babies). This is a rebirth story. In the 1st life Fu Changling killed Qin Yan out of revenge and hate thinking that he is the one who killed his family and bring demise to the cultuvation world, little did he know that Qin Yan did all of that for him.

After being reborn Fcl did everything to keep Qin Yan safe and sound. I love how devoted they are to each other. All the support characters also great. I really love the parents story too.

剑寻千山 (sword of searching mountain)

This is a broken reunion story. Our FL Qin wanwan and our ML Xie Changji were married. The FL didn't know that our ML cultivated the heart of sword way ( the way of being indifferent, throw away feelings and other desires), she think the ML doesn't love her.

Our ML lives with sadness and trauma for hundred years. Our FL sects also meet a demise around this time and it so so sad. This novels feels emotionally heavy.

Xie ChangJi is up there for me for Crazyily masochist obsessed devoted ML. This one is not my fav but have some really good part. All the support chara also awesome.

余生有涯 (rest of my life)

TW : R&pe, Suicid*

This is a modern setting novel but being the heaviest of the bunch. Definitely not for everyone. This is a realistic novel about our FL Ye Sibei who is getting r*pe after office drinking party. Usually her husband pick her up, but he didn't do it on that day.

This is very hard to read for me, only 39 chapters with knife in it. Felt very real, the one that didn't felt real was her husband Qin Nan (definitely doesn't exist). Do not recomend ro read this when you're feeling down. But very uplifting.

[smittenskitten]

Mo Shu Bai creating second leads so full of themselves, so toxic it will make you want to vomit blood.

[web-novel-polls]

WN Women Tourney - Images & Propaganda

[Last Updated: June 6th, 2024]

The submissions post has been updated with all the current propaganda/submissions. I'll try and add propaganda to some of the characters, but here's a list of the current characters without any propaganda whatsoever:

No Propaganda List

Lang Qiao from Mo Du / Silent Reading 

Lee Sookyung from ORV

Lin Jingshu from Can Ci Pin

Nangong Jingnu from JWQS

Nangong Shunu from JWQS

Su Xiyan from SVSSS

If you'd like to submit propaganda (for characters without propaganda or characters with), feel free to send an ask at any point during the tournament. The following are characters that I couldn't find an image of but will be represented with an image of the cover of their novel unless someone sends in an image:

No Image of Character / Image of Novel

Fu Wanqing from The Beauty’s Blade (Eliminated)

Li Yanru from JWQS (Eliminated)

Manman from Itinerant Doctor* (Eliminated)

Mansha from FGEP

Nagsi Jiya from JWQS (Eliminated)

Qiyan Nomin from JWQS (Eliminated)

Qu Qing Ju from To Be a Virtuous Wife (Eliminated)

Ryu Seol from Best Teacher Baek* (Eliminated)

Su Qingluan from Lord Seventh (Eliminated)

Wei Chengxiang from Tai Sui* (Eliminated)

Youqin from FGEP

Zhao Qindan from Tai Sui* (Eliminated)

*Suspected to have no canon image

Full Character List

A-Qing from MDZS

Baili Qingmiao from Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know

Bai Rong from Thousand Autumns

*Carynne Heier from Resetting Lady (Dealer’s Choice)

Christelle de Sarnez from When the Third Wheel Strikes Back

Chu Yue from QQGK

Consort Jing from Langya Bang / Langya List / Nirvana in Fire

Feng Xiaoshu/Princess Jing’an from Lord Seventh

Frédérique Riester from When the Third Wheel Strikes Back

Fu Wanqing from The Beauty’s Blade

Grand Princess Liyang from Nirvana in Fire

Gu Xiang from TYK

Hannah from LCF/TCF

Han Sooyoung from ORV

Hua Xiangyi from QJJ

*Isella Evans from Resetting Lady (Dealer’s Choice)

*Iseol Yu from Return of the Blossoming Blade (Dealer’s Choice)

*Jang Hayoung from ORV (Dealer’s Choice)

Jiang Yanli from MDZS

Jian Lan from TGCF

*Jung Heewon from ORV (Dealer’s Choice)

*Kim Seyun from My School Life Pretending to be a Worthless Person (Dealer’s Choice)

Lang Qiao from Mo Du 

Lee Jihye from ORV

*Lee Sookyung from ORV (Dealer’s Choice)

Ling Wen from TGCF

Lin Jingshu from Can Ci Pin

Lin Wanyue from FGEP

Liu Mingyan from SVSSS

Liu Qianqiao from TYK

Li Xian from FGEP

Li Yanru from JWQS 

Luo Qingyang / Mianmian from MDZS

Manman from Itinerant Doctor

Mansha from FGEP

Mary from LCF/TCF

Mu Nihuang from Nirvana in Fire

Murong Mengze from Yuwu

Nagsi Jiya from JWQS

Nangong Jingnu from JWQS

Nangong Shunu from JWQS

Ning Yingying from SVSSS

*Olivia Lanze from DPA (Dealer’s Choice)

Qiu Congxue from DVAWTK

Qiyan Agula from JWQS

Qiyan Nomin/A-Die from JWQS

Qi Zhuyin from QJJ

Qu Qing Ju from To Be a Virtuous Wife

Ryu Seol from Best Teacher Baek

Sha Hualing from SVSSS

Shu Yanyan from DVAWTK

Song Qiutong from 2ha

Son Moa from I Stole the Number One Ranker’s Soul

Su Qingluan from Lord Seventh

Su Xiyan from SVSSS

*Uriel from ORV (Dealer’s Choice)

Wei Chengxiang from Tai Sui

Wen Qing from MDZS

Ye Wangxi from 2ha

Yoo Sangah from ORV

Youqin from FGEP

Yushi Huang from TGCF

Zhao Qindan from Tai Sui

Zhou Fei from Bandits/Legend of Fei 

[dangermousie]

A danmei lover's biased and incomplete het web novel rec list

@mercipourleslivres thanks for inspiring me!

When it comes to Chinese web novels, I mainly read danmei. I tend not to care too much for OP heroine with a hero who dotes on her for no reason as she fights with 14 year olds narratives, nor inner courtyard fights. BUT!!! There are some het web novels I like and so here is my biased and incomplete rec list. Most of these don't have OP heroines, and very little to none courtyard fights.

Before I start, my favorite het web novel authors are: Gong Xinwen, Mo Shu Bai, Peng Lai Ke, and Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. I have yet to read anything bad by them.

Anyway, rec list:

1000 Miles of Bright Moonlight - one of my ultimate favorites, this would make such an epic drama! A smart as hell heroine, a hero who is a monk and a warrior (but also terminally?) ill and such a vivid world and amazing secondary characters (heroine’s brother is possibly my favorite supporting character of all time) and so much angst and happy ending. This has an amazing romance but it’s not romance-centric if it makes sense - ML doesn’t appear for a while. But once he does, it’s worth it!

Accompanying the Phoenix - the one that just got adapted into The Legend of Shen Li, this is high adventure and cottage core and funny and tragic and powerful ML being putty in the hands of capable FL and just EVERYTHING.

Apocalypse Arrival - Gong Xinwen’s novels are made just for me. Her heroines are always powerful as fuck and rescue abused MLs. In this novel, our heroine who lives in the post-apocalyptic world, wakes up right before that apocalypse happens. She forms a survival crew and also rescues ML who has miraculous blood and has been drained of it and is now hunted after the rescue for it. SO GOOD!!!

Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script - so fucked up, so good, with monster hero who learns to love and be human and heroine who learns to love and be human (but from the other side, her tower of perfection.) Much better than the drama which I did enjoy.

The Blue Whisper - the drama was so-so, but the novel is a bona fide angst masterpiece, which really delves into what it feels like to be imprisoned or to love.

Counterattack of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid - I remember starting this and loving the realistic feel and the heroine and wanting to stab the hero and @mercipourleslivres telling me to be patient. She was right, by the end I was on board with both the hero (who was abused and is rather autistic-coded) and the OTP. Anyway, heroine is a servant who was a concubine in the last life and got killed as part of a rich family’s harem intrigues. In this life, she just wants to keep her head down but her life gets derailed anyway. She gets sold away and eventually made a servant in the household of an exiled prince who takes a fancy to her and she endures it because what choice does she have? All she wanted was to serve out her term and become a small time merchant. This is quite realistic about lack of options for women, especially lower class women or upper class male attitudes (ML is never vicious or mean to FL but it does not initially occur to him to wonder if she fancies him or enjoys being his concubine or w/e.) It is a DELIGHTFUL slow burn tho as they grow to love each other and grow together and become one of the most wholesome cnovel couples out there.

Dandere General and His Lord - hi there, Gong Xinwen! God, I love this one. Heroine transmigrates from modern world into a brutal slave-holding world at war (think something like Warring States era.) Our heroine transmigrates into the body of a noblewoman who just hung herself. When she comes to, she discovers that woman’s twin brother was the ruler of a city poisoned by a rival claimant and the besieging army of said claimant is about to take the city and original occupant of the body and the rest of the family chose suicide as a way to avoid dishonor. Our heroine refuses, schemes with advisors to pass as the brother and rally the troops. Once the invaders are defeated, she keeps on the masquerade and rides off to one of the never-ending wars “she” is summoned to. Our hero couldn’t be farther from this. A slave and a son of a slave, he’s escaped a horrific, starving childhood during which he narrowly avoided being murdered or raped, and ended up in the army. When the story opens, he distinguished himself in battle and as a reward, he and a few of his fellow slave warriors are invited to a banquet, where they are given some alcohol and to be playthings of any nobles who want them. One of them does not survive this but ML is lucky - heroine feels terrible and so “claims” him for herself. Instead she just tends to his wounds and sends him back. She does not fancy him or anything, she is just a human being with a conscience. And the story goes from there.

Demon King's Repayment - another delicious Gong Xinwen tale with a powerful ML dedicated to capable FL. This one is a great fantasy plot (I keep imagining it as an animated series) and a sprawling cast of amazing secondaries (and secondary OTPs - there is, I swear, an OTP that is Dong Hua x Feng Jiu done thru GXW lens) to boot.

Doomed to Be Cannon Fodder - I hesitated to put this one on the list because by the end I was not keen on how misogynistic novel got to original female lead but it was one of my earliest novels and I loved it for 90% and it’s fucking hilarious at times. Heroine transmigrates as bit villainess into a novel, all she wants is not to die, but her new attitude of “pls stay away” catches the attention of her terrifying general husband. Honestly, imo still worth it.

Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir - my n1 novel on this list, smart and fierce and don’t really read this for romance because it does not start until really late, but ice cold heroine x ice cold hero both of equal brains and ruthlessness is everything. I went from loathing the ML to finding him fascinating to adoring him (and yet he softened around the edges only for FL, he never became “nice”) and loved FL throughout; secondaries are epic. If you read only one non-danmei web novel, make it this one.

The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl - my n2 novel on this list. Our heroine is the unlucky laundry maid A’Chou. She is a di daughter of an upperclass family but her family got destroyed in one of the political upheavals of the time and A’Chou, only a small child at the time, was the only survivor and was made an enslaved laundry maid. Due to various events, at the start of the novel she is a laundry maid in a minister’s household and the minister’s beloved daughter is having a fit because she’s supposed to marry the former Crown Prince which may have been great a few years back but Crown Prince had since been deposed, tortured, imprisoned and now is living in the middle of nowhere under conditions that are too meager to be called house arrest. And he’s seriously crippled too. Understandably, the young lady doesn’t want to marry him! She’d rather kill herself and so she does. And so, a desperate plan is hatched - why don’t we pretend the laundry maid is the di daughter of the minister’s household and send her off? And so A’Chu is sent as the bride. She arrives to discover a broke, seriously injured man on the verge of death…and we go from there. This is so gorgeous and tender and slow in just the right way and like AAAAAA! Secondary OTPs (one of which is MM) are also epic.

Futu Tower - the drama (Unchained Love) was a mess but the novel is such a lovely, dark exploration of coming back to life, for the ML from his dark revenge-strewn path and for heroine from not being allowed wishes of her own. She is a tribute bride, he’s a (fake) eunuch, they are both servants who use themselves to achieve goals and find peace and happiness together.

The Grand Princess - a tale where both members of the OTP reincarnate as their younger selves after killing each other in their 50s, and get a new start, this is smart and slow and so good in portraying old souls in young bodies. Their rediscovery of not just each other but themselves and their passion for living is just AAAAAA!

Heroine Saves Gentleman - Gong Xinwen novel so we have a tough martial artist lady saving a very upper class scholar and it goes from there. If elegant gorgeous ML being saved and protected (and lovingly dommed) by awesome FL is your bag, pls come right in.

Husband Be a Gentleman - schemer meet schemer. He’s an idle prince she’s perfect daughter, in reality both are wolves out for blood. Mmmm. Very OTP gets together early and is us against the world.

I’ll Be the Male Lead’s Sister in Law - one of my all time favorite novels. Heroine is made to marry a disabled nephew of the emperor. He used to be a victorious god of war but went mad and now is basically locked away and kept as a beast. GOD I LOVE THIS NOVEL SO MUCHHHHH! So much hurt/comfort and awesome OTP and after he eventually recovers, all he wants to do is to fight and murder things and dote on wifey. MMM. He’s honestly one of my fave MLs.

I Married a Disabled Tyrant After Transmigrating - if you have a Florence Nightingale complex, this is for you. Heroine wakes up as tribute bride to an almost dead dragon lord and slowly nurses him back to life as his rivals try to murder him. They are both utter adorable babies!

Let the Villain Go - another Gong Xinwen novel, this and Apocalypse Arrivals are AUs of each other. Heroine is surviving in the apocalypse, ML is the “bugbear” of the world but in reality just reacting to all abuse and torture and after she accidentally saves him, devotes himself. Fun fun fun!

Long Wind Crossing - Amazing ML and FL who grow together, clever plot, arranged marriage to love etc etc. Oh, and one point he feeds her his blood to keep her alive, what’s not to love? (Adapted into Chang Feng Du/Destined)

Lost You Forever - this is a short but delicately wistful tale of trauma and loss and love, wrapped in a high fantasy setting but so relatable despite it.

Love In Another Life: My Gentle Tyrant - so so fucked up in the best way! ML cannot live with OR without heroine. It opens on them banging in jail night before her execution (ordered by him) with corpses of men he killed for trying to defile her cooling nearby. If you want healthy relationships with respectful boundaries, gentle and considerate male leads who are modern men in period clothes, OP heroines who have everyone help them and are OP to the max, fluff and wholesomeness, that is about the worst book for you.If you want complexity, dysfunction, darkness, pain and an absolutely lyrical even if fucked up story, come right IN!!!!I am so fucking in love with the melancholy heroine, with ruthless psycho hero and the endless regret and devotion and paaaaain!

The Marquis Is Innocent - our heroine is a beautiful woman married to a warlord who hates her family. (Yes, this was gonna be The Prisoner of Beauty until SZE tax scandal.) Except she's a transmigrator from the future who knows how it ended last time around and has no interest to end up this tragically. This is in my top 5 - FL is smart but believably so (and doesn't have super battle powers) and ML is a believable period warlord. The way their relationship develops so gradually and the way his character changes so gradually as well (and the way they slowly fall in love, her slower than him) is just amazing. It is such a smart, nuanced, gorgeous slow burn. With some gonzo sex scenes :P

Mulberry Song - you like tragic endings? Come right IN! This is short and heartbreaking and wistful and very what-if.

Nightfall (Ever Night) - so long but also so smart and unusual and bloody and tho it’s not primarily a romance, you will never see another ML who loves his FL as much as Ning Que does his Sang Sang. 

Offering Salted Fish to Master - in some ways, this novel is a mess, but I am recommending it because this is a rare example of "nope he's 100% a villain and murderdude and odd, but he does love the heroine" that the author commits to.

Pihanjin - yet another awesome PLK novel, this is once again, like with Marquis, a ruthless man and a beautiful woman getting a second chance on a second go-around. FL is a lot more wounded this time around though. If you LOVE watching ML grovel and slowly, gradually win FL over, this one is for you.

Princess Agents - a dark tale with an incredibly competent and militarily powerful/ruthless heroine and two terrifying men who love her (but neither is as terrifying as she is.) There is an OTP switch halfway through that shockingly makes sense and it's just SO SO GOOOOOOOD

Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage - this is probably the one “typical” novel on this list, heroine is reborn as her youngest self and gets revenge on those who wronged her last time around. It is really really well-written and heroine is competent, hero is doting and powerful etc. It’s not a trope I tend to love but I do when it’s done THIS well.

Rebirth of the Tyrant’s Pet: Regent Prince is Too Fierce: Borgias cnovel style! Our heroine was empress in last life and put her husband on the throne tho he did not love her. However, he had her executed and had his half-brother carry out the orders and heroine died horrifically. She opens her eyes and she’s a little girl again. The OTP this time around is heroine and half-brother executioner. Why do I love it? Heroine is smart and tough but also this is a rare rebirth novel where heroine does NOT decide to seek revenge for past life wrongs because they haven’t happened yet! In fact, she sees ML abused and stands up for him because he’s a kid and no kid should be mistreated and this go around he hasn’t done anything wrong. She also gets and likes her former life husband. Anyway, this is fakecest galore because she’s supposed to be their half-sister and while she knows (from past life) she is not, they do not and fall for her anyway. ML is especially gonzo, at one point carving chunks of his flesh to save her. He’s feral and unhinged and she’s the one person he worships because she protected him and like - it’s all awesome. (I love secondary ML too.)

Reborn to Love Lord Qiansui - yes, this is a eunuch novel! If you like gender tropes reversals, this one is for you. Heroine is a tough martial artist, hero is a smart as hell and powerful eunuch. A real eunuch. Heroine finds out she owes him her life and decides to protect him. This is a total delight and an awesome love story between two really scarred people. And yes, there is sex - heroine literally reads manuals on pegging :P

Return of the Swallow - so freaking long! But really good. Heroine is neither transmigrator nor reincarnator, just a smart period woman. She is a lost family daughter taken back in. Her father is a minister in a dying empire (father-daughter relationship is one of the best things in this novel), her OTP is enemy general, and the smartness and the awesomeness of this all knows no bounds.

Seven Unfortunate Lifetimes - probably the wackiest JLFX novel I read, this is quite different from Love You Seven Times drama that was adapted from it. Our deity protagonists go through a bunch of lives figuring out they fancy each other. It's light like a souffle but just as delicious.

To Be a Virtuous Wife - some people prefer 8 treasures trousseau but I never warmed up to that one. This one is so good, with smart people (who actually enjoy sex, a ratity) and a perfect mix of plot and romance.

Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator - my very first web novel. A lot lighter than a lot of the ones on this list but a total delight. Heroine transmigrates into a novel as the heroine; she has no interest in drama or chasing true love, she just wants to live a nice life with her nice husband. Too bad for her, her husband has reincarnated into his younger self and remembers how she betrayed him, so is not interested. This one is funny and light and romance doesn’t start till late on but a total delight!

Wishing You Eternal Happiness - this is tied with Dreamer as my favorite het web novel ever though it couldn’t be more different from Dreamer, with its hard-edged and hard-souled protagonists ruthlessly cleaving their way to the world and, eventually, each other, its smart cynical air. Except in one thing - the world of Wishing is just as bloody and dark. Its two protagonists are gentle, deeply wounded souls who may find salvation in each other but even something as basic as safety almost seems out of reach.

Jliafu, our heroine, is neither a modern-day transmigrator, nor some exotic princess or demoness. She is very much a period woman of her time, from a weathy merchant clan, whose beauty is her curse. You can tell the novel’s tone from that utterly bleak opening chapter where she, a favorite concubine of a capricious dying emperor, is ordered to be buried alive with him and is not even given the “grace” of white silk but slowly suffocates in the coffin, scrabbling at the lid. There is no grand threats of vengeance on her part, not dramatic opera events. Just despair and death. The whole introductory chapter is haunted by emotional ghosts - the empress’ unrequited love for the monster on the imperial bed (turning into desire for Jiafu’s suffering after he dies), the emperor slowly dying in his prime after waging too many wars, and his fear of being haunted by Pei Youan, a brilliant if sickly minister who died of illness long ago on one of imperial campaigns. There is no triumph for anyone, only loss.

When she wakes up as still a young woman, all she wants is to escape the same fate. There are no plans for power or revenge, only a desire for survival. And so she latches on asking for help from Pei Youan, the only man in her past go-around who showed any consideration and desire and ability to protect her, though he barely knew her. Pei Youan is probably my favorite het web novel ML. Despite his brains and ability, he drifts through life. In modern terms, he clearly has depression. One of the biggest, best joys of the novel is watching these two very good, very quiet, very wounded people discover happiness and love with each other. I sort of want to cry just thinking about it, tbh.

The Yandere Came During the Night - a bit of fluff that’s oddly delightful. Heroine is reborn as a (fake) sister of ML, she hurts her legs saving him and the “siblings” form a bond that ends up in fakecest delight. They are both smart and efficient and he becomes a sexy marquis etc.

[reinaka42]

Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) Masterpost

Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) is a Vocal synth (Vocaloid and SynthV) music project. It consists of songs themed around different figures throughout Chinese history. The project is a collaboration between different artists and creatives, with music and videos featuring prominent traditional Chinese elements. The project's title translates to "The Records of Magnificence of the Wangchuan" - In Chinese mythology, "Wangchuan" (or River of Forgetting) is a river in the Underworld that can rid one of their past life's memories, similar to the river Lethe.

A mobile game adaptation has also been developed by NetEast. Unfortunately, I haven't played it so I can't give much insight on it. However, I assume that its premise is similar to that of the idea behind the project as a whole: all these historical figures meeting each other in the Underworld after they died. Maybe.

You can find all the songs on Bilibili. The official Weibo can be found here. The game's website, which includes all characters appearing so far in the game, can be found here, and its Weibo can be found here.

(If you prefer YouTube, I've also put together a handy playlist. Please know that most of these videos are reposts though, so please watch the original Bilibili MVs if you can!)

This blog is where I will be posting everything I feel like I need to say about the songs in this project. A lot of it is lifted from my Twitter account but will be in much more detail. Note that I probably won't touch collab songs, or songs that don't focus solely on the project's own characters.

Disclaimer: I do not speak Chinese, nor am I an expert on Chinese history. Therefore, I cannot reliably translate the lyrics to these songs, nor my words should be taken as gospel. I am merely a nerd gushing about my hyperfixation.

Playlist

多情岸 【Duo Qing An】 ➼ B link

洛阳怀 【Luo Yang Huai】 ➼ B link

易水诀 【Yi Shui Jue】 ➼ B link

山河令 【Shan He Ling】 ➼ B link

簪花人间 【Zhan Hua Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

栖凰 【Qi Huang】 ➼ B link

心上秋 【Xin Shang Qiu】 ➼ B link

祖龙吟 【Zu Long Yin】 ➼ B link

如见青山 【Ru Jian Qing Shan】 ➼ B link

竹林间 【Zhu Lin Jian】 ➼ B link

天下局 【Tian Xia Ju】 ➼ B link

青鸟衔风 【Qing Niao Xian Feng】 ➼ B link

木兰行 【Mu Lan Xing】 ➼ B link

好字唯之 【Hao Zi Wei Zhi】 ➼ B link

不可道 【Bu Ke Dao】 ➼ B link

水叙���风 【Shui Xu Hu Feng】 (collab) ➼ B link

是非 【Shi Fei】 ➼ B link

风起甘露 【Feng Qi Gan Lu】 (collab) ➼ B link

谓剑 【Wei Jian】 ➼ B link

万象霜天 【Wan Xiang Shuang Tian】 (New Year event song) ➼ B link

千秋梦 【Qian Qiu Meng】 ➼ B link

易安难安 【Yi An Nan An】 ➼ B link

惊鹊 【Jing Que】 ➼ B link

高歌破阵 【Gao Ge Po Zhen】 (collab) ➼ B link

不赴 【Bu Fu】 ➼ B link

西行 【Xi Xing】 ➼ B link

大航海家 【Da Hang Hai Jia】 ➼ B link

牡丹乱 【Mu Dan Luan】 (collab) ➼ B link

倾国 【Qing Guo】 (collab) ➼ B link

相虎 【Xiang Hu】 ➼ B link

补天裂 【Bu Tian Lie】 ➼ B link

此期盈期 【Ci Qi Ying Qi】 (1st anniversary song) ➼ B link

破云来 【Po Yun Lai】 ➼ B link

归钓吟 【Gui Diao Yin】 ➼ B link

始见千秋 【Shi Jian Qian Qiu】 ➼ B link

临川浮梦 【Lin Chuan Fu Meng】 ➼ B link

将军行 【Jiang Jun Xing】 ➼ B link

妄语人间 【Wang Yu Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

数风流 【Shu Feng Liu】 (2nd anniversary song) ➼ B link

问剑春秋 【Wen Jian Chun Qiu】 ➼ B link

起战令 【Qi Zhan Ling】 ➼ B link

人间应又雪 【Ren Jian Ying You Xue】 ➼ B link

旷古回响 【Kuang Gu Hui Xiang】 ➼ B link

墨隐侠声 【Mo Yin Xia Sheng】 ➼ B link

桃源故人 【Tao Yuan Gu Ren】 (3rd anniversary song) ➼ B link

燕双归 【Yan Shuang Gui】 ➼ B link

拜云台 【Bai Yun Tai】 ➼ B link

思华年 【Si Hua Nian】 ➼ B link

承天 【Cheng Tian】 ➼ B link

*Note: The anniversary songs are probably for the game's anniversaries, as the project itself is more than 5 years old.

Albums

Vol 1: 溯洄 【Su Hui】 Includes character songs from Duo Qing An to Zhu Lin Jian. Features human vocals.

Vol 2: ��浪 【Ta Lang】 Includes character songs from Tian Xia Ju to Yi An Nan An + Shui Xu Hu Feng.

Vol 3: 数风流 【Shu Feng Liu】 Includes character songs from Bu Fu to Yan Shuang Gui, and the two anniversary songs.

Visual character guide:

PRE-QIN | QIN | WESTERN CHU | HAN | THREE KINGDOMS | JIN | NORTH & SOUTHERN DYNASTIES | TANG | FIVE DYNASTIES & TEN KINGDOMS | SONG | YUAN | MING | QING | DREAM

[bizarrequazar]

Cnovels I've Read

I'm in the mood for making a list and @danmeiljie's danmei list has inspired me, so ~enjoy~ if you care. I'm classifying "cnovels" in the broad literal sense of novels written in Chinese by Chinese authors, so this is not limited to just webnovels.

★s are my personal rating, ❤ denote favourites. I'm aware that there's zero consistency in this list between use of Chinese vs English titles, I'm just going by what I usually refer to them as.

Finished

Danmei

Advance Bravely by Chai Jidan ★★ Read Sept-Oct 2022 Comment: Is it good? No, absolutely not. Is it AMUSING? Yes.

Beijing Comrades by Bei Tong ★★★★ Read July 2023

The Easter Egg Game by Bo Mu Bing Lun ★★ Read Dec 2020-May 2021

The Easter Egg Game II by Bo Mu Bing Lun ★★ Read July-Sept 2021

The Easter Egg Game III by Bo Mu Bing Lun ★★★ Read Sept-Oct 2021

Fantasy Farm by Xi Zixu ★★★ Read Dec 2019-Feb 2022

Guardian by Priest ★★★★ Read July 2019-March 2020

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat ★★★★★❤ Read Aug-Dec 2019; currently rereading via Seven Seas tl

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu ★★★★❤ Read June-Nov 2019

Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ★★★★★❤ Read Aug 2018-Feb 2019; currently rereading via Seven Seas tl

Mo Du by Priest ★★★ Read Jan-Nov 2020 Comment: Really liked the first two books, after that I kind of lost interest tbh.

Qi Ye by Priest ★★★❤ Read June 2021

Saye by Wu Zhe ★★★★★ Read Nov 2019-Aug 2020

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ★★★ Read Nov 2018-May 2019; Jan-Dec 2022

Spring Trees and Sunset Clouds by Wei Liang ★★★ Read Dec 2019

Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ★★★★★❤ Read Nov 2018-Mar 2019; currently rereading via Seven Seas tl

Tian Ya Ke by Priest ★★★❤ Read June 2021; currently rereading

The Way of Evil by Priest ★ Read Mar 2020-May 2021 Comment: Very interesting if you look at this as an earlier draft of Mo Du.

Welcome to the Nightmare Game by Bo Mu Bing Lun ★★★★❤ Read July 2019-Nov 2020; Nov 2020-Apr 2021

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II by Bo Mu Bing Lun ★★★★★❤ Read Nov 2020-Apr 2021 Comment: Easily one of the most devastating endings I've ever read (compliment).

Welcome to the Nightmare Game III by Bo Mu Bing Lun ★★★ Read Aug 2021-Jan 2022 Comment: Would be 4 stars if BMBL hadn't split it into two, ie. it doesn't have a proper ending since it's continued in IV.

Yuwu by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat ★★★★ Read Dec 2019-June 2022 Comment: My own enjoyment suffered greatly from the long break I took from it. I'm planning to reread it altogether once the Seven Seas tl is complete.

Baihe

Didn't Know the General was Female by Rong Qing ★★ Read July 2020

Female General and Eldest Princess by Please Don't Laugh ★★★★❤ Read Sept 2019-Jan 2020

The General's Manor Young Concubine Survival Report by Wind's Little Bell ★★ Read August 2019

I'm More Dangerous Than You by Ande ★★ Read May 2023

Jing Wei Qing Shang by Please Don't Laugh ★★★★ Read July 2020-June 2021 Comment: Should have been at least fifty chapters shorter imho.

General

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin ★★★★★ Read April-May 2023

Current / On Hold

Antidote by Wu Zhe

The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin

Di Huang Shu by Xing Ling

Golden Terrace by Cang Wu Bin Bai

Legend of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong

Little Mushroom by Yi Shi Si Zhou

Ruzhui by Please Don't Laugh

Dropped

Sha Po Lang by Priest Comment: Planning to try again at some point. The yifu thing turned me off, but I think I wouldn't be bothered by that now.

The Universe Jumper by Hao Jingfang Comment: Fuck her. 🖕🖕

The Villain's White Lotus Halo by A Big Roll of Toilet Paper

High Priority

In the Dark by Jin Shisi Chai

Welcome to the Nightmare Game IV by Bo Mu Bing Lun