
A striking scholar named Iron Beauty, famed for his looks yet as stubborn as forged steel, has spent his youth wrapped in books and quiet contemplation. Though his family urges him toward an arranged marriage, he insists on choosing a partner of his own heart, postponing any union until he feels truly ready. When his sense of filial duty and yearning for purpose finally push him to leave his hometown, he sets out for the capital, hoping to reconcile his inner convictions with the wider world.
Along the dusty road he stumbles into a remote village, where a grieving young man begs for help after his wife was seized by a powerful noble. The scholar’s natural compassion and fierce sense of justice draw him into a dangerous tangle of personal loss and political intrigue. As he weighs the risks of confronting entrenched authority, listeners are invited to follow his early steps toward a quest that challenges loyalty, honor, and the true meaning of courage.
Language
zh
Duration
~2 hours (130K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2008-12-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
Known only by a pen name, this elusive Chinese novelist is remembered for Haoqiu Zhuan (The Fortunate Union), a classic tale of romance, virtue, and wit. The mystery around the writer’s real identity adds an extra layer of fascination to the work.
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