Autumn at the White Gate

冯玉奇Nov 2025

2.5

Word count: 122K words
Chapters: 13

Summary

Patriotic youth He Ju is fortunate to receive help from three remarkable young women at different times, and each of them develops tender feelings for him as they spend time together. Yet fate is fickle: over several years, amid partings and reunions and shifting circumstances, the group endures many trials. He Ju ultimately pledges himself to Mei Xin, while his cousin Ju Fen and Mei Xin's brother Si Ming gradually fall in love. Just as they look forward to a bright future and prepare to marry, they join an assassination mission aimed at completely overthrowing the old warlord General Jin. The operation goes awry, and He Ju, Ju Fen, and others tragically sacrifice their lives. Their passionate love turns to tragedy, but their loyal souls and ardent blood will always be remembered.

Editor's review

Baimen Qiu is a popular novel by Feng Yuqi that blends romance and revolutionary narrative. Centered on the patriotic youth He Ju, the story follows his rescue by three young women in turbulent times, weaving emotion with gratitude and obligation, until he ultimately pledges himself to Mei Xin, while his cousin Ju Fen gradually falls for Mei Xin's brother Si Ming. The novel does not stop at romantic entanglements but tightly links personal happiness to an assassination mission to overthrow the old warlord, letting passionate love turn to tragedy in heroic sacrifice. It offers both lingering sentiment and the solemn grandeur of loyal souls and patriotic blood. The author excels at unfolding changing human affairs amid partings and reunions; the plot turns naturally, relationships are clear, the young women are distinctly characterized, and He Ju's growth and choices bear the mark of the era. It is suitable as a sample for understanding the fusion of Republican-era popular romance and revolutionary narrative, and for readers who enjoy stories interweaving tragic aesthetics with patriotic feeling. While reading, note how the author handles the rhythmic shifts between the romance line and the action line.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Republican-era popular fiction and romantic narrative
General readers interested in the revolutionary-plus-romance theme
Modern literature enthusiasts who want to understand Feng Yuqi's style
Readers who can accept a tragic ending and patriotic sacrifice

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer light, happy endings and avoid tragedy
Readers sensitive to multi-sided romantic relationships and sacrificial plots
Readers expecting rigorous historical research or documentary works

Reading tips

First read through the whole book to grasp the relationships, then revisit the passages where the three young women rescue He Ju to appreciate the emotional buildup.
Note the shifts in narrative rhythm before and after the assassination mission, and consider how the romance line and revolutionary line drive each other.
After finishing, compare with popular fiction of the same period to see how romance and patriotic narrative are combined differently.

版权信息
第一回情急智生掌颊拯义士
第二回觥筹交错将军心胆寒
第三回冒险相救暂躲温柔乡
第四回爱卿情痴约游白鹭洲
第五回窥艳影蓦地忆秦娥
第六回溅碧血绝处又逢生
第七回祝寿辰有心探故剑
第八回救父老忍泪做新娘
第九回情敌当面讵意是恩人
第十回义结金兰姊妹情爱深
第十一回推己及人两全其美好姻缘
第十二回精神不死儿女英雄竟作古

FAQ

Is the romantic line complex?

Somewhat complex. He Ju is rescued by three young women in succession, and tender feelings develop on both sides; he ultimately pledges himself to Mei Xin, while his cousin Ju Fen gradually falls for Mei Xin's brother Si Ming. Multiple romantic lines intertwine, but the author handles them clearly; just pay attention to the relationships while reading.

Is the ending tragic? Do I need mental preparation?

It concludes tragically. He Ju, Ju Fen, and others sacrifice their lives in the assassination mission, and love and ideals are cut short at once. If you are not used to tragic endings, prepare yourself before reading; but precisely because of this, the work's sense of patriotic tragedy stands out more.

Do I need to know Republican-era history to read this book?

No specialized historical knowledge is required. The story is set against old warlord rule, but its core is the characters' emotions and actions, so general readers can enter directly. Some familiarity with the context of Republican-era popular fiction will make it easier to appreciate the era's intertwining of love and revolution.

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About the author

冯玉奇 Author

Feng Yuqi was a writer of popular fiction in the Republican era. Public information about him is limited: neither his dates of birth and death nor his native place are clearly recorded. Yet the 172 works held in our collection attest to the sheer volume of his output. His writing is driven by plot, and his subjects range across wuxia, modern romance, social fiction, and time-travel and alternate-world fiction. Representative works include Chivalrous Five-Flower Chart, Wen Suchen, National Soul: Blood and Flowers, The Understanding Flower, Sea of Blood and Flowers of Love: Favors and Grudges, Soul Broken at the Slanting Sun: The Strange Man of the Desert Island, and Remnant Light on Green Waves. Most of these appeared in Republican-era popular-literature journals and as standalone volumes. His language is plain and accessible and his narrative pace brisk; he excels at interweaving love and hatred, gratitude and grievance, and chivalrous adventure, while also depicting the ways of the world. His work had a certain influence among urban readers of the time. Today his writings are collected in the Feng Yuqi volume of the Republican Popular Fiction Collection, offering a useful sample for studying the generic ecology of Republican-era popular literature.