The Lost Memories of Tianwu in the Imperial Capital (K)

Author: Du Ruo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: This novel tells a tragic story of love, power struggles, and fate. The story unfolds in a mystical world recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, where Zisheng, a character based on Gun, who stole the Xirang soil from the Heavenly Palace at the cost of his life to save the people from disaster, is both the father of Da Yu and a Chinese Prometheus; Zhen Hui, though lacking a prototype, becomes entangled in a complicated love affair with these two men who were written into history.
At the age of fifteen, I was sent from the Eastern Mansion to the Imperial Capital as the wife of Zhen Chun, a rebel. In my memories, the spring in the Eastern Mansion was always damp. The day I left, it was drizzling. The leaves of the mountain lotus by the mansion gate glistened under the rain, set against the deep red flowers. I seemed to realize then how exquisite and captivating these flowers were. I thought perhaps it was because I was about to leave that the Eastern Mansion appeared more beautiful than usual. This made me feel somewhat surprised. I had assumed I had no attachment to the Eastern Mansion, though I was born and raised there. From a young age, I knew that one day I would leave the Eastern Mansion. It wasn’t because of any prophetic ability, but simply because I was the daughter of the Eastern Emperor, so when I grew up, I would be married to a prince or lord’s family, just like the other girls from the Zhen family.