Splendid Age

Xianting LuohuaQidian2018

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Word count: 2M words

Summary

After more than a decade of governing the realm as regent for her son, Empress Dowager Li is attacked and killed in the small Buddhist shrine of Xuanning Palace, where she had been confined for ten years. She wakes to find herself five years old again, reborn as Li Xia, a little girl traveling with her family to take up a post in Hengshan County. Yet only a year remains before the Li family is destroyed and wiped out. Drawing on memories of her past life, she first joins forces with her fifth brother, Li Wenshan, laying plans before their father is framed by the family's legal advisor and falsely condemned in a murder case. She then leverages connections among her elders and other high-ranking figures to maneuver among nobles such as the Prince of Qin. The story unfolds from a wrongful-death case in the small county of Hengshan to arms smuggling, disaster relief, and examination fraud, its narrative broadening from domestic intrigue to affairs of state, until Li Xia ultimately acts as regent in her capacity as Princess Consort of Qin.

Editor's review

A mature power-politics web novel by Xianting Luohua, written with cool restraint and densely planted foreshadowing. The female lead overturns schemes layer by layer between household and court using knowledge from her past life, weaving family warmth with political maneuvering. Suited to readers of historical romance who enjoy slow-burn plotting and strong logic. Weaknesses: a slow opening, a large cast, and some threads drawn out too long; readers seeking fast gratification and dense romance may find it less satisfying.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy historical romance with political intrigue
Readers who prefer rebirth plots and slow-burn storytelling
Readers who appreciate female growth and family sagas
Veteran web-novel readers comfortable with long serials

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking fast-paced wish-fulfillment and face-slapping
Readers who prefer modern settings or short sweet romances

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters to grasp Li Xia's past identity and family relationships before entering the Hengshan case
Watch characters like the secretary and Wutong, from whom much of the later intrigue unfolds
Read the long serial in segments, and note shifts in character allegiances as household intrigue turns to court affairs

About the publisher

Qidian

Qidian is a platform whose catalogue brings together online literature, with about 45,000 titles in the library spanning categories such as male-oriented fiction, Eastern fantasy, xianxia and wuxia, science fiction, selected fiction and quality web novels. Representative titles include Reincarnation Paradise, War Soldier Leon, The Fairy Is Fierce (also known as Tai Mang), The Expert Is Right Beside Me, Dragon Herder, You Should Cross the Mountains Like a Hero, The Adventures of a Clever Girl and Summoning Heroes of All Ages in Another World, with themes extending from fantasy and xianxia to science fiction and adventure. Representative authors available in the library include Na Yi Zhi Wen Zi, Chi Gua Zi Qun Zhong, Guan Guan Gong Zi, Chenxing LL, Luan, Chen Mo De Ai, Piao Yi Dao Zhang and Dong Tian Bu Leng. Their works mostly appear as serialized web fiction aimed at readers who prefer long genre fiction. Public information on its founding background and scale is limited, so no inferences are made here; the description is based solely on the library's titles and categories.

FAQ

Is this a wish-fulfillment novel?

It leans toward political scheming and protection, with a steady pace; it is not a fast-paced face-slapping power fantasy.

Is the romance prominent?

Family and court intrigue drive the story, with romance woven in but not dominant.

Do I need to read the author's other works first?

No. This book stands alone; you can start directly with the main text.

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About the author

Xianting Luohua Author

Xianting Luohua is a web-fiction author about whom limited public information is available. Her writing centres on ancient romance and often involves time-travel and alternate-history settings, with thirteen titles listed in the library. From Jun Gui Yi, Sheng Hua, Nong Li Yao Tao and Jin Tong to Wu Jia A Nan and Shen Yi Jia Dao, her book titles carry a classical flavour, and her stories are usually set among ancient noble families and the imperial court, unfolding around marriage, family and character growth, with delicate emotional lines and a narrative pace suited to long-form development. On the book site her works are classified under women's fiction, premium fiction, fine ancient romance and female novels, indicating that they mainly target female readers and combine romance with alternate-world imagination. Titles such as Ming Men Gui Qi: Bao Jun Xiao Xin Dian and Yu Tang Jin Gui follow a similar path, and her overall style is gentle yet dramatically engaging, suited to readers who enjoy ancient emotional drama and ensemble characters.