She has been drawn into the life of the phoenix, such fate – “The Emperor Swallow”, but few days later she married the Prime Minister; she possesses beauty that overthrows cities and ruins states but also has a talented and virtuous mind, yet her husband is deeply in love with the Emperor’s doted consort. On their wedding night, his face filled with guilt, says to her: Apart from love, I can give you anything……
Though deep in nobility, her life is not monotonous, to pick up the new number one scholar from within the imperial palace, to rescue the Nu clan’s prince in the back alleys, and with the young general falling off the cliff, with the Emperor engaging in a battle of wits over the inner palace…….
Many men were unable to conquer her beauty and wisdom, yet when trying to win the beauty, they cannot let go of their plundering desires in lust for power. Within the imperial court, there is an underlying turbulence of disputing fronts. On the battlefield, there is the slaughtering of armoured cavalry……the tender grace of a beauty, hearts fuelled with lust for power, which is it that is the burial of such heroes?
Troubled times since the war, they survive in this strife, fighting to dominate this world, seizing the beauty that overthrows cities and ruin states……
The world, because of this beauty, is in chaos; but who is it that this beauty charmingly smiles at?
[Note: It was suggested that ‘The Emperor Swallow’ or Dì Wáng Yàn / 帝王燕 is the fate of a woman who is destined to become the Emperor’s woman (a consort/ imperial concubine), but in actuality it refers to the fate of a woman who will greatly influence the changes within the state affairs of the country]
(Credits: xiaoxiaomei)
[Ebook] [Eng Translation] [Audiobook] [Radiodrama] [Trailer in Eng] [Hồng Nhan Loạn]
Whois the leading character? Is it prime minster’s wife or consort?
What is OE? And why is the ending OE?
The leading female is pm’wife. Lead male is pm. it is oe because the male lead give up th pm position for the female lead. But in the end it is vague if both lead alive or not. But it is said in 播外 that they are alive and open a medicine shop.
Exactly how many is the female lead suitors? XD
The Emperor , the Prime Minister (her husband), General Lin, court official Guan and a foreign land Prince. I like the female lead’s intelligence and courage. I wish General Lin could have a better ending though. Like this book but wished there was more written about their lives after the battle. Ending was abrupt.
The emperor also love her? And seen like there is no happy ending for General Lin.What happened to him.I think he is good.. Oh!I’m going to crazy because I want to know the ending!-_-!
Wait… The Emperor too??! Can someone spoil me how the Emperor come to like her? I mean he already has Yao Ying.. That would make him Lao Che love rival-again!
The “radiodrama till 1” link on tuudou isn’t for this story 🙁 The first one (10 mins) was though.
Nice to see that another fanmade MV was made from this book.
Starring Cecilia Liu as Gui Wan, Crystal Liu as Consort Yao Ying (Ying Fei), Wallace Chung as Prime Minister Lou Che, Hu Ge as General Lin Rui En, Yuan Hong as Nu Prince Ye Li, Li Jie as Guan Xiu Wen, and Nicky Wu as the Emperor
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/LpM_TJphV4A/
thank you JOANNAKUANG for your spoiler 🙂
haha, you’re welcome fantoosa. I purposely left things a bit vague (like the relationship between Gui Wan and the Empress) so that you can still be surprised when you find out.
Spoilers below so don’t read if you want to remain spoiler-free!
Thanks for your spoilers. I’m addicted to this story. I’m on the same ship as you since I prefer the crockpot to the deep fryer.
I agree with you, Lily. Crockpot and deep fryer, great metaphor!
is there another link for the audiobook. i dont know why i cant listen to any book on that website 🙁
Thank you lovely Joannakuang! I’m all for Lou Che and Gui Wan! Always have been since the time Lou Che asked Gui Wan about her breakfast!
And now I’m craving more spoilers <3 When does GW realize her feeling for LC? From chapter 5 so far, it's like GW is indifferent to all the guys. It's as if it's not her problem that all of them fell for her left and right lol
I also like LC possessiveness.. When he glared at Prince Duan xD
I’ve watched the MV, but my cast would be:
Gui Wan : Gao Yuanyuan
Yao Ying : Fan Bing Bing
For the guys I’m still not certain
http://www.tingchina.com/yousheng/20868/play_20868_0.htm
I’ve finished listening to this book. Although i ship Lou Che and Gui Wan, the one i like the most is Lin Rui En. I cried so much when he said that he protected half empire, protected countless of families but he doesnt have a family anymore ( his only sister has died). He doesnt have anyone. How he wished he could live again and meet her ( Gui Wan) again.
After doing whats right for the country in the end he didnt get anything. The most pitiful character.
Can anyone give me a full summary of the novel, please? I tried listening to the audiobook but my Chinese is pretty awful.
After speeding up CoB through bing-translation I must say this book didn’t quite match my expectation
-SPOILERS AHEAD-
1). I think I’ve never read a more despicable character such as the emperor! The way he tried to rape GW just made my blood boil! Awful!
2). At first I was so happy that GW is such a clever girl, but more than once the author made GW be taken advantage of by the awful men that desired her (first the Foreign prince, than the emperor). I can’t believe how “clumsily” she was made herself vulnerable considering how clever and meticulous she’s supposed to be.
3). I can’t stand how GW act “indifferent” toward her suitors. You’d think she’d be more angry. But Nooooo.. Even after being kidnapped and sexually assaulted, she showed no deep emotion/anger towards them. Who does that?
4). I also hate the Empress for dragging GW into the mess. I can’t actually hate Yao Ying, because she knows what she want and even though her action is punishable by death, she stood by her choice, it makes her more relatable than the seeming cold perfect GW.
5). I thought I’d found more romance in the novel, but it seems the story is more political intrigues rather than romance. I keep on hoping to see more GW and LC moments, but it’s so few that I just abandon ship. I can see how LC feels about her, but GW is so indifferent that the little time showing her feeling toward LC, it’s barely enough to make me believe in it. Is it because of her obligation as a wife that she did not stray with the men who chased her? Or is it truly love? When there’s so little evidence of her feeling toward LC?
I’m so sorry for the long rants, but I started loving the early chapters and heroine that I feel really disappointed with how the story turns out. Reading the story, I can’t help myself keep saying “ugh, Gui Wan what are you doing”
Maybe others can shed light to me, was it all my misunderstanding due to crappy bing-translation? Is the story worth the wait to re-read with better translation or did I get the right gist?
-bow-
I’m reading along with the english translation of this and am loving it. It seems like a broad ranging plot that still has great individual story lines. Has this author done similar wide country/court/romance works? Any suggestions for similar types of books?
Hi Peppermint Tea,
At first I was reading the book too….then stopped when I got to Chp 10 as I find GW getting a bit boring for me despite her character being described as clever. Then I waited for the English translation. Have to say till now….Ive hated LC since day 1, to me he is a louse (happens that his name Lou Che, rhymes with this) how can he abandon his wife during their wedding night and went to be with the Consort, again meeting her at the garden during the feast….seems that he has feelings for GW yet ran to her everytime she wags her finger
I have posted at the translation site for this novel that if Im the writer I would write that GW has feelings for her suitors instead of like you said acting so indifferent……..why should she like LC since he still entangled with the consort…….and there are better men out there….
This book would have been better if the writer didnt write off Gen Lin, or have her with the Nu prince….hey this isnt K drama……dont need this dramatic write off….give me a happy ending anytime with a deserving hero and heroine.
Question! Do audio books normally follow the book itself word for word?
What’s the empress name
This is stupid what was the author thinking!!!!! So what if she started out with LC why did you let GW and general get together!!!!! That would of been a better ending what the heck!!!! So pissed off!!!
Well…what can i say here. The story started out great and the plot was promising at the beginning but the climax and the ending was such a spoiler. I keep waiting for the female lead to take action and control the political scene becoz the title given is chaos of beauty. But all i got is a swallow that keep waiting and abandon by the husband. After mesmerized all the important figures, the ending was tragic for the reader though it is a happy one for the lead. I hate a vauge ending….
Agreeing with silhoutte and terra here. I much as I like GW as someone who at least have tons of backup plan and is intelligent, I felt that her intellect wasn’t utilize to the full extent and was waiting for her to show her “chaotic” side more so as the story progresses. The prologue was very interesting and the concept of the Emperor’s Swallow was too, but both failed to deliver to the utmost possibility. The battle between LC and the ZL(emperor) could have extended more on since the story was building on the climax and whatnot.
General Lin… I felt how ironic his death was due to an unfortunate fate. The author seems to put more investment in fleshing out the general’s character compared to the other males, writing his scenes to be poignant (when comparing the other males’ scenes). The emperor is still disgusting for his acts(in my opinion). That ending and epilogue did not help bring closure as much. However, this story is pretty decent.
This story doesn’t really have an open ending. SPOILERS–>Although not all characters get a good ending, the main couple gets a happy ending, confirmed by the epilogue and ending snippet.
I have always been an avid fan of HE stories but this time I chanced across this novel and without reading the synopsis and reviews on SSB dived straight in. Biggest mistake! Even though I could not put the novel down the whole way through I have never experienced such a rollercoaster of emotions in such a short period.
This is the first time I have ever had my heart completely stolen by a male character besides the lead, kudos to you General Lin. Man oh man.
As a hopeless romantic I wasn’t satisfied due to the lack of sweet moments between the main couple towards the end of the story (I guess I’m just spoiled by other HE novels). However, the translations by xiaoxiaomei have great flow and the imagery is very vivid (at least for me) – many thanks! 😀 *Virtual hug*
To sum it up the story had a great magnetic pull for me because of the well-rounded characters and the scheming plots. My final thought is … life is not always smooth but as long as people can stay true to themselves and what they hold dear then the bitterness of life becomes a tad bit sweeter.
(I think this would be a great read for someone who is on vacation, that way it can’t affect the reader’s daily life … I am currently still recovering). Sorry if I sound dramatic haha.