White peony

Author: (Qing) Weng Shanzhu Dili / He Mengmei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Emperor Zhu Houzhao of the Ming Dynasty was a famous and dissolute emperor in Chinese history, known for his debauchery and recklessness. At the age of 13, he ascended the throne under the reign title Zhengde and ruled for 16 years. However, he often handed over power to eunuchs or high-ranking ministers, indulging himself in a life of unrestrained pleasure. Even when exercising authority, he preferred to act as a self-proclaimed general rather than rule as a king, issuing orders under the guise of military command. Throughout his short life, he made multiple tours to the west and south, leaving behind many legendary tales.
The main plot of White Peony revolves around Emperor Zhengde's quest to find the beautiful women he dreamed of—White Peony and Red Chrysanthemum. He travels incognito through the Jiangnan region, leading to a series of legendary political and social stories, including rebellious eunuchs, loyal officials unjustly accused, bandit raids, commoners in distress, the emperor's debauched behavior laid bare, and the fulfillment of romantic relationships between men and women.
Emperor Zhengde's Tour to Jiangnan primarily depicts Emperor Zhengde's journey through the Jiangnan region, while also touching on the rebellions of Zhi Hong and Chen Huai, as well as Liu Jin's coup. Historical figures such as Liang Chu, Wang Shouren, and Li Fengjie are also mentioned in the book. Although these two novels differ in specific content, they both revolve around the theme of Emperor Zhengde's tour to Jiangnan. Therefore, we have combined them into one volume, which perfectly fits into our old fiction series, allowing readers to appreciate and collect them together.