The Emperor’s Strategy / The Tale of Su Ji’s Coffin Shop (Su Ji) 天子谋 (苏记棺材谱) by 青垚 Qing Yao (HE)

In the capital, the young owner of the Su Ji Coffin Shop is Su Li Li (苏离离 – the li is significant in her name because it represents leaving). As spring was just beginning, on one early morning, she by chance saved a woodblock that had met trouble. However, no one knew that she was the daughter of the previous empire’s Grand Tutor (akin to the Imperial Adviser), and the other was the current empire’s Lin Jiang King’s son. They overcome many obstacles, to hide in this small town, to become forgotten by the people, they exchanged their hearts and wanted to never part even till their hairs turned white. However, even before anything could start, Mu Tou who had his own birth secret suddenly disappeared.

In this world of chaos and power struggle, Su Li Li’s identity was discovered by Qi Feng Xiang, his heart is scheming, his actions are cruel, he wants to reign supreme over the lands, he forcibly retains her by his side. But in the midst of using her then distancing from her, his heart gets clouded. But the road to become an Emperor is a lonely road, will he be able to give her the peace she wants, will she be able to give him his empire, and how about Mu Tou who said “If I can fly out, I can also fly back”, where did he fly to and can he fly back?

In this chaos, who is aiming to rule the sky, who is aiming for an ordinary life, who can without hesitation make the emotional attachments, and whose hand will she hold to look back on these memories of upheaval and peace? 

[Ebook] [Audiobook] [Summary] [Scene Translations] [Thiên tử mưu][Drama]

decembi

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  • Whee! I haven't posted a new c-novel in SSB since well... since I left Hong Kong! Largely because I've not read a c-novel good enough to sustain my interest after Once Promised and Lost You Forever (please do not think those novels represent the average standard of c-novels or you will have very little c-novels to read haha).

    So the Emperor's Strategy was the first c-novel that I managed to finish and also love after reading the other 2 epic novels.

    I think Lost You Forever fans might also be intrigued because the two male leads, 江秋镝 (Jiang Qiu Di) alter ego 木头 (Woodblock/Mu Tou) resembles Jing and 祁凤羽 (Qi Feng Yu) resembles a combination of Zhuan Xu and Xiang Liu.

    For full summary and spoilers:
    http://onesecondspring.blogspot.sg/2014/03/the-emperors-strategy-original-title.html

  • You always want to know the right ship but never bother to do research like me:P Haven't you learned your lesson when I told you a fake ship, lol? I know the right ship but let decembi tells you since I know you don't trust me anymore, lol.

  • Hahaha omg peanuts, that is so evil to give someone a fake ship!

    Ok, warning spoilers spoilers.

    [spoiler] The guy that gets the girl is MU TOU [/spoiler]

  • Well, actually I didn't really tell her a fake ship. I just let her assume she has the correct ship. Hence, I am not guilty beyond reasonable doubt:P My case is arguable as technically I didn't tell her anything, lol.

    Thanks for the spoiler but I already know that. I am not sure what I've read is true so I want to verfiy with you. Who does she love more/most? As per a comment I read in baidu, she loves the other guy more but chooses this guy bcos he is good to her. She made a pragmatic choice. Good for her & I'll support her in real life. But, for my novel world, I don't like my leads to compromise which is why I didn't read this book.

  • Hahaha! I guess that's guilty by omission? Haha.

    I would disagree that she compromised.

    Currently as I am, I love both male leads equally. Although this might change as I start my favourite scene translations (haha) and then my real bias start to show.

    Details in the spoiler tab:

    [spoiler] She met Mu Tou first, and he was the first stranger she showed care for and he was the first stranger who cared for her. He made her feel like the young girl she was inside. The two of them shared the same painful history and the understanding of what is important in this world and what is not. Because of their shared tragedy with the loss of their loved ones, they especially cherished the genuine feelings between them. Silently, they already made the promise to spend the rest of their lives together.

    To protect Su Li Li and to avenge his father, Mu Tou went to take up the extremely dangerous mission of assassinating the current emperor. Su Li Li was taken "hostage" by Qi Feng Yu as Mu Tou went on that dangerous mission, and during the time spent with Qi Feng Yu, an equally excellent man, Su Li Li's heart naturally softened and was stirred. I like that. I thought that was realistic and the emotions were written beautifully.

    So, a heart that already loves someone and promised to one, and a heart that starts to stir for another man - she was caught between the two. But, circumstances and the choices made by everyone (sine everyone is a free agent), led to the natural and arguably inevitable choice. To say it's pragmatism alone would be to do a disservice to the beauty of the development of all the feelings between the three leads! Maybe it's pragmatic because ultimately we choose the person who can lead the life we most desire. But, I really like that none of them sacrificed their individual soul and dreams in order to just be with someone else.

    So love is there, but it is not the ultimate goal. Who does she love the most? Haha, I would argue Mu Tou. That is romantic love, companion love, love until their hairs turn white. Qi Feng Yu is passion and softness in a time of intrigue, but not a love that can grow beyond calculations.

    Omg, Peanuts. I wrote a thesis for you. Haha. [/spoiler]

  • oh!! I think I have a ship for this. =X

    [spoiler]If Su Li Li ends up with Mu Tou, I'm guessing Qi Feng Yu has the jiangshan by the end?

    Hehehehe, I enjoy "kidnapping" plots where the leads eventually fall in love.[/spoiler]

  • Hahah! What's your ship?

    [spoiler] Yes, Qi Feng Yu gets his jiangshan in the sense that he becomes the Emperor successfully. Although Mu Tou also kind of gets his jiangshan and meiren! Haha!

    Ooh! Interesting. Kidnapping plots aren't too common from the novels I read. Any recommendation? Is your ship Qi Feng Yu? haha

    [/spoiler]

  • Yay! Hahaha. hui3r, do tell who you like more in the end! Super interested to see which guy gets the most shippers hahaha

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