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Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) #1
Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) Vol. 1
A MURDERED ENVOY, A STOLEN TREASURE
On a snowy night, an envoy sent by the Kingdom of Khotan is ambushed on the road, massacred with his escort. Not a living soul remains, and the attackers vanish--along with a precious jade intended as tribute to the Emperor of Sui. A member of the emperor's secret intelligence agency, the Jiejian Bureau, pursues the the formidable deputy chief, Feng Xiao. His investigation takes him to Liugong City, where top martial artists from across the land gather for a mysterious auction. But a rival intelligence agency, the Zuoyue Bureau, has business in the same city--and they have sent Cui Buqu, an ailing but brilliant man who hides more secrets than even Feng Xiao. Equally proud, the two immediately clash in a battle of wits, but neither can crack the case alone. To solve the mystery before the trail goes cold, they will have to join hands to uncover the truth...however unwillingly.
On a snowy night, an envoy sent by the Kingdom of Khotan is ambushed on the road, massacred with his escort. Not a living soul remains, and the attackers vanish--along with a precious jade intended as tribute to the Emperor of Sui. A member of the emperor's secret intelligence agency, the Jiejian Bureau, pursues the the formidable deputy chief, Feng Xiao. His investigation takes him to Liugong City, where top martial artists from across the land gather for a mysterious auction. But a rival intelligence agency, the Zuoyue Bureau, has business in the same city--and they have sent Cui Buqu, an ailing but brilliant man who hides more secrets than even Feng Xiao. Equally proud, the two immediately clash in a battle of wits, but neither can crack the case alone. To solve the mystery before the trail goes cold, they will have to join hands to uncover the truth...however unwillingly.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2024
228 people are currently reading
4657 people want to read
About the author
Meng Xi Shi
83 books444 followersAssociated Names:
* Meng Xi Shi (English)
* 梦溪石 (Chinese)
* เมิ่งซีสือ (Thai)
* Meng Xi Shi (English)
* 梦溪石 (Chinese)
* เมิ่งซีสือ (Thai)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
September 25, 2025
This was certainly a wild read, but it was also an incredibly entertaining one. I found myself oscillating between frustration and anger at various points throughout the narrative, yet I couldn't help but laugh aloud multiple times.
To be honest, I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, particularly because I wasn't a fan of the author's previous work, *Thousands Autumns*. However, the plot in this novel captivated me from the start. While I managed to guess some elements of the mystery—mostly because they felt quite obvious—the larger resolution left me genuinely impressed. The author's skill in crafting political intrigue was on full display, and I was thrilled to dive into the complexity of it all; thankfully, my love for political plots added to my enjoyment.
Now, let's talk about the humor woven into the story, particularly through the dynamic between the main couple. Feng Xiao has quickly become my favorite character. His personality embodies everything I aspire to be; he’s unbothered by the opinions of others, exudes arrogance and confidence, and takes immense pride in his striking beauty—something that everyone around him acknowledges. Every time he spoke, I found myself eagerly anticipating his next line, as he never failed to deliver something hilarious.
On the other hand, we have Cui Buqu, who, I must admit, often left me feeling exasperated. He is undeniably intelligent and shares that same confidence and arrogance I admired in Feng Xiao, yet something about him just didn't click with me. Nevertheless, he undeniably adds depth and vibrancy to the story, especially in the way he interacts with Feng Xiao. I sincerely hope that as the series progresses, I will come to appreciate his character more.
Their relationship is chaotic yet entertaining. The way they continuously set traps for one another is both absurd and tremendously funny. Their rivalry stands out as one of the healthiest, albeit amusing, I've come across. Yes, they harbor murderous intent at times, but what’s a little chaos among rivals? Also, I can’t help but chuckle at Cui Buqu's constant disappointment that while Feng Xiao is stunningly handsome, he has such a big mouth!
In conclusion, this novel managed to be both humorous and engrossing, and I am genuinely looking forward to diving into the second volume.
To be honest, I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, particularly because I wasn't a fan of the author's previous work, *Thousands Autumns*. However, the plot in this novel captivated me from the start. While I managed to guess some elements of the mystery—mostly because they felt quite obvious—the larger resolution left me genuinely impressed. The author's skill in crafting political intrigue was on full display, and I was thrilled to dive into the complexity of it all; thankfully, my love for political plots added to my enjoyment.
Now, let's talk about the humor woven into the story, particularly through the dynamic between the main couple. Feng Xiao has quickly become my favorite character. His personality embodies everything I aspire to be; he’s unbothered by the opinions of others, exudes arrogance and confidence, and takes immense pride in his striking beauty—something that everyone around him acknowledges. Every time he spoke, I found myself eagerly anticipating his next line, as he never failed to deliver something hilarious.
On the other hand, we have Cui Buqu, who, I must admit, often left me feeling exasperated. He is undeniably intelligent and shares that same confidence and arrogance I admired in Feng Xiao, yet something about him just didn't click with me. Nevertheless, he undeniably adds depth and vibrancy to the story, especially in the way he interacts with Feng Xiao. I sincerely hope that as the series progresses, I will come to appreciate his character more.
Their relationship is chaotic yet entertaining. The way they continuously set traps for one another is both absurd and tremendously funny. Their rivalry stands out as one of the healthiest, albeit amusing, I've come across. Yes, they harbor murderous intent at times, but what’s a little chaos among rivals? Also, I can’t help but chuckle at Cui Buqu's constant disappointment that while Feng Xiao is stunningly handsome, he has such a big mouth!
In conclusion, this novel managed to be both humorous and engrossing, and I am genuinely looking forward to diving into the second volume.
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September 16, 2024This was a fun read with two witty, sassy, and shameless main characters. Less wuxia/xianxia and more murder mystery/investigation which was interesting (although not my favorite). IMO you do not have to read Thousand Autumns first, you will just have some "oh wow" moments when you recognize some names/locations.
Fell in love with Cui Buqu pretty quickly and got mad at Feng Xiao almost immediately 🤣 Love the writing and the story overall so I definitely recommend giving this story a try.
I will absolutely continue with this series hoping to connect more with the characters which was a struggle for me. I feel like maybe it was a case of a great book read at the wrong time.
Fell in love with Cui Buqu pretty quickly and got mad at Feng Xiao almost immediately 🤣 Love the writing and the story overall so I definitely recommend giving this story a try.
I will absolutely continue with this series hoping to connect more with the characters which was a struggle for me. I feel like maybe it was a case of a great book read at the wrong time.
September 16, 2025
very entertaining. considering my previous experience with Meng Xi Shi, i’ll go as far as saying that i am going to like Peerless a lot more than Thousand Autumns. i think Peerless has a very different tone from it. it's is much more humorous, with plenty of banter between two rival leaders of an imperial bureau who are forced to work together to solve crimes, manage foreign affairs, and track down rebellious organizations. whereas Thousand Autumns has a more serious tone, focusing on Shen Qiao’s personal growth and his exploration of the world beyond his sect. i also found myself more engaged in the political aspects of Peerless than in Thousand Autumns, as the latter’s politics were honestly very boring. i looked through some reviews to get a gist of the relationship development and got a little disappointed once again, but i guess Meng Xi Shi barely writing any romance in her stories is just something i have to accept. i just prefer very romantic and devoted couples.
it's hard to say anything of substance regarding the characters yet, for i feel like there's more to both Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, but im liking this dynamic a lot so far. i'll add more to this when i gather more intel :D
it's hard to say anything of substance regarding the characters yet, for i feel like there's more to both Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, but im liking this dynamic a lot so far. i'll add more to this when i gather more intel :D
October 5, 2024
Highly entertaining! Both the narcissistic beauty and the grumpy genius provide countless hilarious moments. I love their bickering and petty competition, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.
September 25, 2025
4 'Peacock and fox' stars
I have to admit I struggled a little at first with this volume. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood but it took me around half the book to get truly invested in the plot and charachters. It might also be that I excpected something more similar to 千秋, however the whole vibe is very different despite being in the same universe. Which is not bad, I just needed to adjust my expectations.
The charachter I first fell for is, of course, Cui Buqu. What a surprise, right, haha. I always sympathize with sick charachters because 'Do you also feel half dead just because weather gets a little funny? Yeah, I feel you'. And if I felt sorry for Shen Qiao being one-leg-in-a-grave half the time, then I don't know what Cui Buqu is doing? My man here is probaly shadowed by Heibai Wuchang 24/7 😅
Also, I don't believe for a second that Cui Buqu is not good-looking. Feng Xiao is just so in love with himself that his perception of beauty is not to be trusted, and maybe Cui Buqu looks average compared to him, but just look at my baby's manhua design - he's so pretty! (When he's not half-dead that is 🫢)
On the other hand, it took me more time to get to like Feng Xiao. Or more correctly, he's still not entirely in my good graces. I can't help myself comparing 千秋 and 无双 so logically speaking if I liked Yan Wushi, I would probably like Feng Xiao... however, not really. I'm counting on Feng Xiao to yet prove himself but so far he's not come even close to Yan Wushi - despite them being the same brand of annoying 😂
He's among top martial artist, so that's that. He can be funny if he's in the mood, he's too smart for his own good, he's obssessed with cleaniness, and he looks absolutely, stunningly beautifull - a fact he reminds everyone around him every three seconds. And yeah, I give him that - he looks like a top model.
Before I started reading this book I knew that Cui Buqu doesn't have any martial arts, and I couldn't quite imagine how the dynamic between these two can be equal. But I was pleasently surprised that this is not an obstacle - Daoist Master Cui is probably able to drive a person to qi deviation using only his sharp tongue. He's definiteley not at disadvantage because od that.
Their dynamic is basically annoying each other untill they mutually fall in love - not that they've become aware of this yet. I can't imagine how these two will be able to eventually come together but so far I'm really enjoying their banter. At least in this regard, they are perfectly suited for each other.
Yesss! I was cheering so much, when that happened. Feng Xiao's ego could certainly take some hits, haha, and I support Cui Buqu in everything he does. My babygirl never did anything wrong!!
As I said, I can't yet imagine how is it possible for these two to end up together but by the end of this vol I became kind of invested in their future interactions and shenanigans (I'm counting on following vols to deliver). Afterall, they already have some very intersting couple-in-the-making scenes.
Of all danmei couples, I really didn't expect of fengcui to have daddy kink, lol. But considering how competitive both of them are, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. And, yes later on, Feng Xiao makes Cui Buqu calls him daddy too - a match made in Heaven!
Fanart by szaszkeh
Writing this review it makes me want to see them lovey-dovey together more and more. I think it's gonna be absolutely hilarious seeing them catch feelings for one another. Just look at these babies unconsciously flirting, haha
I forgot to say I love descriptions of fighting scenes. But that's no wonder, since I already love Meng Xi Shi's writing in QQ.
For the end I have to mention that Qiao Xian, Zhangsun Bodhi and Pei Jingzhe are a great addition and sometimes a very welcome comedic relief. Especially, when Qiao Xian & Zhangsun Bodhi act like strict parents, whenever Cui Buqu doesn't want to take his medicine, and Pei Jingzhe being like a lost little brother to Feng Xiao - don't bother pretending peacock, we know you care about him.
4 'Peacock and fox' stars
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A mountain needen't be high, as long as a famous immortal lived there. The waters needn't be deep, so long as dragons swam within.
I have to admit I struggled a little at first with this volume. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood but it took me around half the book to get truly invested in the plot and charachters. It might also be that I excpected something more similar to 千秋, however the whole vibe is very different despite being in the same universe. Which is not bad, I just needed to adjust my expectations.
The charachter I first fell for is, of course, Cui Buqu. What a surprise, right, haha. I always sympathize with sick charachters because 'Do you also feel half dead just because weather gets a little funny? Yeah, I feel you'. And if I felt sorry for Shen Qiao being one-leg-in-a-grave half the time, then I don't know what Cui Buqu is doing? My man here is probaly shadowed by Heibai Wuchang 24/7 😅
Also, I don't believe for a second that Cui Buqu is not good-looking. Feng Xiao is just so in love with himself that his perception of beauty is not to be trusted, and maybe Cui Buqu looks average compared to him, but just look at my baby's manhua design - he's so pretty! (When he's not half-dead that is 🫢)
On the other hand, it took me more time to get to like Feng Xiao. Or more correctly, he's still not entirely in my good graces. I can't help myself comparing 千秋 and 无双 so logically speaking if I liked Yan Wushi, I would probably like Feng Xiao... however, not really. I'm counting on Feng Xiao to yet prove himself but so far he's not come even close to Yan Wushi - despite them being the same brand of annoying 😂
He's among top martial artist, so that's that. He can be funny if he's in the mood, he's too smart for his own good, he's obssessed with cleaniness, and he looks absolutely, stunningly beautifull - a fact he reminds everyone around him every three seconds. And yeah, I give him that - he looks like a top model.
Before I started reading this book I knew that Cui Buqu doesn't have any martial arts, and I couldn't quite imagine how the dynamic between these two can be equal. But I was pleasently surprised that this is not an obstacle - Daoist Master Cui is probably able to drive a person to qi deviation using only his sharp tongue. He's definiteley not at disadvantage because od that.
"You're not from the Central Plains, so perhaps you don't know these more apt words: brash, brazen, underhanded, unscrupulous, debased, shameless, trecherous, and conniving. Does that about cover it?"
His tone was cool, yet he listed them all in a single breath, growing increasingly sarcastic. [...]
"Never have I found you as adorable and amiable as I do now, Ququ," chirped Feng Xiao happily.
"I beg Feng-langjun not to read anything into it. Just stick to calling me Daoist Master Cui, or I'll break out in hives."
Their dynamic is basically annoying each other untill they mutually fall in love - not that they've become aware of this yet. I can't imagine how these two will be able to eventually come together but so far I'm really enjoying their banter. At least in this regard, they are perfectly suited for each other.
"You're not some young maiden. Why act so shy? What, are they not even allowed to look at you?"
"You're so flashy," Cui Buqu said coldly. "I fear if I'm seen with you I'll end up dead in my bed one night with no one the wiser."
Feng Xiao chuckled and looped an arm around his waist. "Then you can share a bed with me," he said silkily. "I can guarantee you a peaceful night's sleep."
Suddenly Cui Buqu stood and slapped Feng Xiao soundly across the face. The move was so blisteringly fast not even Feng Xiao, the martial arts master, could react in time. He'd taken half the force of the blow before he managed to flinch backward.
Now this is truly awful luck, Feng Xiao thought to himself. Playing with fire and burning myself - that's a first.
Yesss! I was cheering so much, when that happened. Feng Xiao's ego could certainly take some hits, haha, and I support Cui Buqu in everything he does. My babygirl never did anything wrong!!
"I'm not asking for any exotic delicacies. I only want a bowl of fresh vegetable soup. Surely you have that?"
"I apologize. We're a poor houshold; we really have none."
Cui Buqu was speechless. He wanted very much to upturn the bowl of congee over Feng Xiao's head, then take that plate of pickles and smear it all over his punchable face.
As I said, I can't yet imagine how is it possible for these two to end up together but by the end of this vol I became kind of invested in their future interactions and shenanigans (I'm counting on following vols to deliver). Afterall, they already have some very intersting couple-in-the-making scenes.
The hand clutched him fiercely, and Cui Buqu was almost dragged over the edge. He barley managed to stop his downward slide.
"Pull-me-up!"
Feng Xiao's voice was weak. Its softness sounded like more than fear of being overheard; he must have suffered serious injury.
"But now you need me to save you."
"Once we're back, I'll give you your freedom," said Feng Xiao. "You may come and go as you please."
Cui Buqu thought, If I wanted to go, there's already nothing you can do to stop me. "That's worthless. Promise me something and I'll pull you up."
"Anything," Feng Xiao said impatiently. "Just pull me up first!"
"Call me 'Daddy' three times and I'll do it," said Cui Buqu.
Feng Xiao was speechless.
"Daddy..." he said. His voice was feeble, carried away by the wind and snow. It sounded more like a moan.
"I can't hear you."
"Pull me up. I don't have the strenght."
Cui Buqu sneered. "You can say all that when you have no strenght, yet you can't manage a single 'Daddy'?"
Of all danmei couples, I really didn't expect of fengcui to have daddy kink, lol. But considering how competitive both of them are, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. And, yes later on, Feng Xiao makes Cui Buqu calls him daddy too - a match made in Heaven!
Feng Xiao coughed twice. "I'm injured too. Why not come closer? We can huddle for warmth."
Opening his eyes a crack, Cui Buqu frowned as his sluggish thought processed Feng Xiao's words. "Get the fuck over here then," he said.
Feng Xiao was stupefied. He eyed the unmoving Cui Buqu and concluded he probably hadn't the strenght. Feng Xiao was left with no choice but to debase himself and scoot over, pulling the other man into his arms. Deep inside he thought in both anger and sorrow, How did my venerable fucking self fall this far?
"Are you thirsty?" Feng Xiao asked.
Obviously he was. He'd gone a day and a night without water; at this point his throat was practically on fire. But he knew Feng Xiao wouldn't help him for nothing.
Sure enough, Feng Xiao smiled. "Call me 'Daddy" three times, and I'll use my internal energy to melt some snow for you to drink."
Of course he'd take his revenge. He'd only been waiting for the opportune moment. Cui Buqu decided to get it over with. He opened his mouth without hesitation: "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!"
His voice was rough and granting, but he got the words out.
Feng Xiao took a handful of snow and got to work. The snowmelt seeped through his fingers, dripping into Cui Buqu's open mouth.
Fanart by szaszkeh
Writing this review it makes me want to see them lovey-dovey together more and more. I think it's gonna be absolutely hilarious seeing them catch feelings for one another. Just look at these babies unconsciously flirting, haha
"[...] Not to mention I'm far more pleasing to the eye."
Cui Buqu didn't know what to say.
"Look upon me every day, and your mood will improve. If your mind is at peace, your body will heal without the use of medicine. Is this not a great boon?"
After a moment of silence, Cui Buqu said, "Deputy Chief Feng. You really are the best-looking person I've ever met."
Feng Xiao arched a brow and said, "Naturally. Did you only just realize?"
"But you're also the most thick-skinned and shameless person I've ever met," Cui Buqu spoke sincerely.
I forgot to say I love descriptions of fighting scenes. But that's no wonder, since I already love Meng Xi Shi's writing in QQ.
"How did Deputy Chief Feng allow Fo'er to escape?" Cui Buqu asked with raised eyebrows.
Feng Xiao answered in his usual breezy way. Of course it's because I saw you buried beneath the rubble. My hear burned with worry, and all I could think of was saving you. Ququ, it's really too unkind of you to complain. Here, feel my chest! My heart's still pounding away!"
"Hold it. What did you mean by 'We will accompany you? Who's we?
The corners of Cui Buqu's lips turned up. "Me and you. That's the definition of 'we'."
Feng Xiao was finally shocked into silence.
For the end I have to mention that Qiao Xian, Zhangsun Bodhi and Pei Jingzhe are a great addition and sometimes a very welcome comedic relief. Especially, when Qiao Xian & Zhangsun Bodhi act like strict parents, whenever Cui Buqu doesn't want to take his medicine, and Pei Jingzhe being like a lost little brother to Feng Xiao - don't bother pretending peacock, we know you care about him.
4 'Peacock and fox' stars
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September 25, 2025
Oh, my. I'm hooked! 🤩
I loooove Thousand Autumns by the same author, so I've looked forward to this series for a while.
I'm enjoying the chemistry and dynamics of the main couple here so far. 😊
I loooove Thousand Autumns by the same author, so I've looked forward to this series for a while.
I'm enjoying the chemistry and dynamics of the main couple here so far. 😊
August 4, 2025
your honor, they're idiotic geniuses and i love them. this one had a plot that kept me engaged and my god am i excited to continue on with the stories of the two main characters. i compared them to L and Light without the serial killer thing. they are just so fun to watch bicker, i cannot conceive how on earth theyre gonna get together so that'll make the pay off all the more satisfying. this one had the same great writing style as TA without the complicated plot giving me a headache. i pretty much think i understand everything that happened in this. 4.5⭐️
December 4, 2024
Fantastic dynamic! I didn't think I could like other bastard characters besides Yan Wushi, but this series has two asshole main characters? Amazing. And they're flirting while trying to outsmart each ther
October 14, 2024
Begrudging, mutual respect hidden beneath overt hostility lies at the core of this first volume of “Peerless” by Meng Xi Shi. Murder mystery and crime fiction are mixed in with a wuxia adventure in the same setting as the “Thousand Autumns” series by the same author. It is really only the setting that is similar, because so far none of the characters from the previous series have made an appearance in this book and the genre is also very different from the original series, which is straight wuxia. This first volume of the series lays the groundwork for the series for both the main couple and the unfolding of the plot; there is no obvious romance at all in this first volume. The book opens with a murder whose tentacles reach into the politics of the imperial court and which are also enmeshed in the ordinary life of people in the local town.
Feng Xiao is revealed as one of the main characters from the beginning, but Cui Buqu is undercover for the first quarter of the book and really only emerges as Feng Xiao’s equal much later in the book. They are both extremely clever leaders of their respective, imperial agencies, but they have such different personalities. Feng Qiao is portrayed as a beautiful peacock who enjoys waltzing around, encouraging people to admire his beauty and his brains. This behaviour is tempered with snatches of humour, but quite frankly he is clearly a little too convinced of his own brilliance to be likable at this point. It is difficult to tell whether this is a mask that he chooses to wear in order to prevent people from looking too closely at his person. If it is a cover to prevent inner demons from being revealed or as a protection against his soft insides from being hurt, then it would be more understandable. But at this point in the story, it just makes him look a little shallow and self-obsessed, despite his many talents.
Cui Buqu has a personality that underplays his hand. This is partly because his health has been failing him, but also because he prefers to watch from the sidelines rather than declare himself the centre of everyone’s attention. He is a master strategist and his able to plan ahead, because of his great insight into people and academic learning. Although he is physically feeble, his mind is quick and he is able to out-fox both Feng Xiao and their enemies consistently.
The closest that the book comes to any non-professional interaction between the main couple is when they are trapped in a cave off a cliff after they have been attacked by assassins and two foreign, martial artists. Feng Xiao has been injured and Cui Buqu is suffering the effects of the poison that he was given at an earlier point when Feng Xiao was toying with him in the hope that he would reveal some information that he needed. Since they are both physically injured, they huddle together for warmth but their bickering continues. Perhaps this is the beginning of actual respect for each other? After they are saved from the cave, they seem to have a better understanding of each other even though their interaction is still faintly hostile.
Throughout all of this Feng Xiao is flirting shamelessly with Cui Buqu. He is clearly peacocking and the underlying meaning of his words is a game of one-upmanship. At the end of this first volume they are getting ready to travel to the Khaganate together and cooperate in a diplomatic venture, so it will be interesting to see if they can stop sniping at each other and allow something more than surface hostility to develop…
Feng Xiao is revealed as one of the main characters from the beginning, but Cui Buqu is undercover for the first quarter of the book and really only emerges as Feng Xiao’s equal much later in the book. They are both extremely clever leaders of their respective, imperial agencies, but they have such different personalities. Feng Qiao is portrayed as a beautiful peacock who enjoys waltzing around, encouraging people to admire his beauty and his brains. This behaviour is tempered with snatches of humour, but quite frankly he is clearly a little too convinced of his own brilliance to be likable at this point. It is difficult to tell whether this is a mask that he chooses to wear in order to prevent people from looking too closely at his person. If it is a cover to prevent inner demons from being revealed or as a protection against his soft insides from being hurt, then it would be more understandable. But at this point in the story, it just makes him look a little shallow and self-obsessed, despite his many talents.
Cui Buqu has a personality that underplays his hand. This is partly because his health has been failing him, but also because he prefers to watch from the sidelines rather than declare himself the centre of everyone’s attention. He is a master strategist and his able to plan ahead, because of his great insight into people and academic learning. Although he is physically feeble, his mind is quick and he is able to out-fox both Feng Xiao and their enemies consistently.
The closest that the book comes to any non-professional interaction between the main couple is when they are trapped in a cave off a cliff after they have been attacked by assassins and two foreign, martial artists. Feng Xiao has been injured and Cui Buqu is suffering the effects of the poison that he was given at an earlier point when Feng Xiao was toying with him in the hope that he would reveal some information that he needed. Since they are both physically injured, they huddle together for warmth but their bickering continues. Perhaps this is the beginning of actual respect for each other? After they are saved from the cave, they seem to have a better understanding of each other even though their interaction is still faintly hostile.
Throughout all of this Feng Xiao is flirting shamelessly with Cui Buqu. He is clearly peacocking and the underlying meaning of his words is a game of one-upmanship. At the end of this first volume they are getting ready to travel to the Khaganate together and cooperate in a diplomatic venture, so it will be interesting to see if they can stop sniping at each other and allow something more than surface hostility to develop…
May 19, 2025
₊⊹♡ 4.75 stars ⋆˙⟡
it was a really good read!!!
the story was so entertaining and easy to follow, and both main characters were absolutely hilarious 😭😭😭
while i was reading, i literally had to pause and take a break just to process what they were saying and ask myself if they really said that…
(yes, cui buqu, i’m talking about you. this is your fault.)
i also loved the subordinates on both sides and all their interactions 🫶🏻
it was a really good read!!!
the story was so entertaining and easy to follow, and both main characters were absolutely hilarious 😭😭😭
while i was reading, i literally had to pause and take a break just to process what they were saying and ask myself if they really said that…
(yes, cui buqu, i’m talking about you. this is your fault.)
i also loved the subordinates on both sides and all their interactions 🫶🏻
September 22, 2025
4.75 stars
This volume was a great start into the story. The reader meets the protagonists and their surrounding characters and also gets a sense of what the story is about and where it’s supposed to go.
Let’s just say I love Cuī BúQù and I’m terribly annoyed by Fèng Xiāo. I’ll give him that he’s not as bad as Yan Wushi (in Thousand Autumns) but he’s such a peacock (and not in a funny way) that - for now - I can barely stand him. I guess this has to be expected by a Meng Xi Shi novel. Idk why but Yan Wushi was crueler than FX but in a way I found that easier to understand (like he was a totally unreliable person and that made sense after a while). FX seems very capricious to me and that makes him less predictable imo. Anyway, I’m already looking forward to seeing him grovel and he’s probably going to do his best to make CBQ as healthy as possible. Good luck, once you are there, my friend.
From the side characters I was especially entertained by Pei Jingzhe who doesn’t have it easy and Qiao Xian who is recalcitrant around everyone except CBQ. I love that for both of them and I’m looking forward to seeing more of their mentor / mentee dynamic.
If FX had touched me more, I’d have given this book five stars. But as long as I want to slap him this isn’t going to happen. But I’m looking forward to reading the next volume.
This volume was a great start into the story. The reader meets the protagonists and their surrounding characters and also gets a sense of what the story is about and where it’s supposed to go.
Let’s just say I love Cuī BúQù and I’m terribly annoyed by Fèng Xiāo. I’ll give him that he’s not as bad as Yan Wushi (in Thousand Autumns) but he’s such a peacock (and not in a funny way) that - for now - I can barely stand him. I guess this has to be expected by a Meng Xi Shi novel. Idk why but Yan Wushi was crueler than FX but in a way I found that easier to understand (like he was a totally unreliable person and that made sense after a while). FX seems very capricious to me and that makes him less predictable imo. Anyway, I’m already looking forward to seeing him grovel and he’s probably going to do his best to make CBQ as healthy as possible. Good luck, once you are there, my friend.
From the side characters I was especially entertained by Pei Jingzhe who doesn’t have it easy and Qiao Xian who is recalcitrant around everyone except CBQ. I love that for both of them and I’m looking forward to seeing more of their mentor / mentee dynamic.
If FX had touched me more, I’d have given this book five stars. But as long as I want to slap him this isn’t going to happen. But I’m looking forward to reading the next volume.
February 3, 2025
Feng Xiao is not quite at the level of that one magnificent bastard from the other book, but he's doing his best.
August 8, 2024
This was great. It's very political and at times, it's hard to keep track of all of the names and places, but it's ultimately a detective story between two very similar men, who nonetheless each stand out on their own. They also barely tolerate each other, but still have a begrudging respect, knowing that the other is quite possibly the only other person who could ever be their equal. Their banter and manipulations are both clever and hilarious, and more than anything, I'm looking forward to seeing that become something more.
July 1, 2025
Though I had high expectations for this book after reading and thoroughly enjoying Thousand Autumns by the same author, I am happy to say that this first volume of Peerless not only met but exceeded my expectations! I love Meng Xi Shi’s writing style and descriptions. She is a master of creating complex and interesting characters whom you can’t help but love, and Peerless is no exception. I loved Cui Buqu right from the start, and even Feng Xiao, who I initially found to be merely arrogant, and infuriating, had started to grow on me by the end of this volume. If this series follows the same trajectory as Thousand Autumns, then I look forward to seeing these characters develop and grow to become even more interesting in the future.
For me, the dynamic and interactions between Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao took center stage. I absolutely loved their antagonistic, snarky banter and the back and forth as these two highly intelligent and gifted rivals fought to one up each other and gain the upper hand. I am honestly a huge sucker for good banter! I love watching two characters start out as bitter rivals who strongly dislike or even hate each other and then seeing their relationship gradually grow and change into something more over the course of the story. In the case of Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, their banter was also endlessly entertaining and often had me chuckling to myself or even bursting out laughing. I particularly enjoyed the moments where Cui Buqu was able to turn the tables on the incredibly arrogant Feng Xiao, who until now, has apparently never met a worthy rival in his life. His shock and consternation over being bested were just absolutely priceless! My favorite scene was one where the two of them were trapped inside of a cave together. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t read the book, but this was the point where I really started to love these characters.
The story in this first volume was also incredibly intriguing as well. I loved how this was more of a political thriller/murder mystery. This is the first time that I’ve read a danmei with this type of premise, especially in a historical setting. I have to admit that, even though Thousand Autumns did end up growing on me exponentially in later volumes, I really struggled to get through the first one. At one point, I was even strongly considering giving up on it. Fortunately, that absolutely was not the case with Peerless! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. There was never a single moment where I felt bored or lost. I loved how this book started with the murder of an important envoy and then rapidly evolved into a much more complex plot of political intrigue and maneuvering between various powerful nations and people. It was really interesting to see how Cui Buqu in particular was able to unravel this complex set of circumstances to find the true culprit and unveil hidden motives. Though I love how Meng Xi Shi writes action scenes, this was a refreshing change of pace after Thousand Autumns. In this book, the martial arts took a backseat to political intrigue and the ongoing murder investigation. One of the main characters, Cui Buqu, isn’t even a marital artist but a clever and skilled diplomat and strategist.
This book was a lot of fun, and overall, a lot more lighthearted than Thousand Autumns. I don’t know if that will continue to be the case in future volumes, but either way I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens next! I am absolutely in love with that witty, snarky genius, Cui Buqu, and I can’t wait to see how his relationship with Feng Xiao progresses. I’m dying for some more banter between these two! Hopefully, Feng Xiao will also continue to grow on me and also just grow as a person in general.
For me, the dynamic and interactions between Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao took center stage. I absolutely loved their antagonistic, snarky banter and the back and forth as these two highly intelligent and gifted rivals fought to one up each other and gain the upper hand. I am honestly a huge sucker for good banter! I love watching two characters start out as bitter rivals who strongly dislike or even hate each other and then seeing their relationship gradually grow and change into something more over the course of the story. In the case of Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, their banter was also endlessly entertaining and often had me chuckling to myself or even bursting out laughing. I particularly enjoyed the moments where Cui Buqu was able to turn the tables on the incredibly arrogant Feng Xiao, who until now, has apparently never met a worthy rival in his life. His shock and consternation over being bested were just absolutely priceless! My favorite scene was one where the two of them were trapped inside of a cave together. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t read the book, but this was the point where I really started to love these characters.
The story in this first volume was also incredibly intriguing as well. I loved how this was more of a political thriller/murder mystery. This is the first time that I’ve read a danmei with this type of premise, especially in a historical setting. I have to admit that, even though Thousand Autumns did end up growing on me exponentially in later volumes, I really struggled to get through the first one. At one point, I was even strongly considering giving up on it. Fortunately, that absolutely was not the case with Peerless! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. There was never a single moment where I felt bored or lost. I loved how this book started with the murder of an important envoy and then rapidly evolved into a much more complex plot of political intrigue and maneuvering between various powerful nations and people. It was really interesting to see how Cui Buqu in particular was able to unravel this complex set of circumstances to find the true culprit and unveil hidden motives. Though I love how Meng Xi Shi writes action scenes, this was a refreshing change of pace after Thousand Autumns. In this book, the martial arts took a backseat to political intrigue and the ongoing murder investigation. One of the main characters, Cui Buqu, isn’t even a marital artist but a clever and skilled diplomat and strategist.
This book was a lot of fun, and overall, a lot more lighthearted than Thousand Autumns. I don’t know if that will continue to be the case in future volumes, but either way I am very much looking forward to finding out what happens next! I am absolutely in love with that witty, snarky genius, Cui Buqu, and I can’t wait to see how his relationship with Feng Xiao progresses. I’m dying for some more banter between these two! Hopefully, Feng Xiao will also continue to grow on me and also just grow as a person in general.
November 3, 2025
“If you believe your existence is insignificant, no one else will take you seriously either. I’m different from you. I am who I am. Even if I fall ill, even if I’m on the brink of death, even if my limbs are crippled, no one can replace me, Cui Buqu.”
Just Finished Reading: Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) Vol. 1
Diving back into Meng Xi Shi’s vividly crafted world with Peerless: Wu Shuang, and I am here for this ride! Set in the grand backdrop of the Sui dynasty, this novel spins a tale of intrigue and rivalry that's just too good to put down.
Met two absolutely brilliant characters, Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu—leaders of rival intelligence agencies with minds as sharp as their tongues. The sparks fly from their first meeting, setting up a rivalry filled with witty banter and cunning moves. The way they match each other's strategies? Absolutely thrilling!
The setting is richly detailed, pulling you deep into the political and martial landscape of ancient China. It’s not just about the action; it’s the strategic games and the personal dynamics that really shape this story.
Meng Xi Shi's writing? Sharp as ever. Each scene is meticulously crafted, making you feel right at the heart of the imperial intrigue. It's a blend of history, mystery, and that touch of humor in the dialogue that keeps the pages turning.
Can’t wait to see what’s next for Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu as they navigate through this dangerous game of wit and loyalty. If you love a good historical drama with characters that keep you on your toes, definitely check this one out. Here’s to more late-night reading sessions with this series!
Date Read: 20254.08.13
Re-read: 2025.09.04
Just Finished Reading: Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) Vol. 1
Diving back into Meng Xi Shi’s vividly crafted world with Peerless: Wu Shuang, and I am here for this ride! Set in the grand backdrop of the Sui dynasty, this novel spins a tale of intrigue and rivalry that's just too good to put down.
Met two absolutely brilliant characters, Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu—leaders of rival intelligence agencies with minds as sharp as their tongues. The sparks fly from their first meeting, setting up a rivalry filled with witty banter and cunning moves. The way they match each other's strategies? Absolutely thrilling!
The setting is richly detailed, pulling you deep into the political and martial landscape of ancient China. It’s not just about the action; it’s the strategic games and the personal dynamics that really shape this story.
Meng Xi Shi's writing? Sharp as ever. Each scene is meticulously crafted, making you feel right at the heart of the imperial intrigue. It's a blend of history, mystery, and that touch of humor in the dialogue that keeps the pages turning.
Can’t wait to see what’s next for Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu as they navigate through this dangerous game of wit and loyalty. If you love a good historical drama with characters that keep you on your toes, definitely check this one out. Here’s to more late-night reading sessions with this series!
Date Read: 20254.08.13
Re-read: 2025.09.04
November 12, 2025
3.5 stars
This first volume is a solid start for a series. As someone who loves crime danmei novels and witty, snarky characters this is checking the boxes. I do wish there was a bit more character development, or at least more solidifying of the main characters’ personalities. They were a bit difficult to pin down at first, but by the end of the first volume they seemed to settle into their archetypes and become a bit more vibrant. I’m already loving the side characters and the little team Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu have begrudgingly built together.
As I was reading the first half of this volume, I couldn’t help but compare it to Thousand Autumns, and while it is set in the same universe and should have the same vibes overall, there were some copy and paste scenes as well as character types. But as the novel and the crime investigation progresses, Peerless starts to take on its own distinctive shape.
I probably would have rated it higher had it not been so densely packed with extraneous worldbuilding details—but this was the author’s approach to Thousand Autumns as well so I expected a lot of heavy background info. My reading pace really picked up after I switched into my “glaze over it and if it’s important it will come up again” mode.
Onto the next!
This first volume is a solid start for a series. As someone who loves crime danmei novels and witty, snarky characters this is checking the boxes. I do wish there was a bit more character development, or at least more solidifying of the main characters’ personalities. They were a bit difficult to pin down at first, but by the end of the first volume they seemed to settle into their archetypes and become a bit more vibrant. I’m already loving the side characters and the little team Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu have begrudgingly built together.
As I was reading the first half of this volume, I couldn’t help but compare it to Thousand Autumns, and while it is set in the same universe and should have the same vibes overall, there were some copy and paste scenes as well as character types. But as the novel and the crime investigation progresses, Peerless starts to take on its own distinctive shape.
I probably would have rated it higher had it not been so densely packed with extraneous worldbuilding details—but this was the author’s approach to Thousand Autumns as well so I expected a lot of heavy background info. My reading pace really picked up after I switched into my “glaze over it and if it’s important it will come up again” mode.
Onto the next!
August 4, 2024
Peerless starts a new danmei series by Meng Xi Shi. According to the back cover text, it’s set in the same world as their Thousand Autumns series, but in this first volume the connection is mostly the jianghu, as the author calls their martial arts world. Here, jianghu only plays a secondary role though.
The main characters are Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, leaders of rivalling secret agencies of the new dynasty. Feng Xiao is a martial arts expert, beautiful beyond belief, and self-centered in a way that’s both aggravating and amusing. Cui Buqu doesn’t know any martial arts and he’s sickly and weak, but his mind is sharp. He’s on a secret mission on a remote border town, working under cover when Feng Xiao arrives to town to investigate a murder of a foreign emissary.
Feng Xiao immediately suspects Cui Buqu, who seizes the opportunity to hinder Feng Xiao’s investigation. But soon, the two must start working together. There isn’t love lost between the men, but some kind of respect forms in between the endless bantering.
This was a fun start to a series, and very different from Thousand Autumns. The beginning was a tad confusing, as it was told from the points of view of random characters, and it took several chapters before Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu came to fore. The main plot is a murder mystery, although a convoluted and highly illogical, the suspects springing up at random. The men manage to explain everything in the end though. The start of their relationship is rocky, but very entertaining, each holding their own. And the next mystery is already waiting for them. Looking forward to reading it.
The main characters are Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, leaders of rivalling secret agencies of the new dynasty. Feng Xiao is a martial arts expert, beautiful beyond belief, and self-centered in a way that’s both aggravating and amusing. Cui Buqu doesn’t know any martial arts and he’s sickly and weak, but his mind is sharp. He’s on a secret mission on a remote border town, working under cover when Feng Xiao arrives to town to investigate a murder of a foreign emissary.
Feng Xiao immediately suspects Cui Buqu, who seizes the opportunity to hinder Feng Xiao’s investigation. But soon, the two must start working together. There isn’t love lost between the men, but some kind of respect forms in between the endless bantering.
This was a fun start to a series, and very different from Thousand Autumns. The beginning was a tad confusing, as it was told from the points of view of random characters, and it took several chapters before Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu came to fore. The main plot is a murder mystery, although a convoluted and highly illogical, the suspects springing up at random. The men manage to explain everything in the end though. The start of their relationship is rocky, but very entertaining, each holding their own. And the next mystery is already waiting for them. Looking forward to reading it.
April 9, 2025
The rivals to lovers trope is literally my weakness 🫣
December 11, 2025
I originally had to DNF this volume a month ago because my schedule was packed, and the fast-paced introductions of tribes, bureaus, and factions made it hard to keep track in short reading bursts. Even though Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu were already giving me life with their scheming, I couldn't fully enjoy the story. But when I returned and read steadily—just one to two chapters a day—the break actually helped. I kept ruminating about their schemes in my head even during lighter reading, and this time the story clicked: the politics, rivalries, and subtle games of chess became utterly addictive.
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao are a sight to behold together. Watching them scheme, use, and tease each other is an absolute joy. They love edging each other so much! Their dynamic is electric: Cui Buqu, delicate and sickly yet brilliant and relentless, sets everyone’s hearts at ease while orchestrating complex plots. And Feng Xiao, on the other hand, watches, reacts, and admires, most often than not caught off guard by Ququ's brilliance despite being great himself. Moreover, Meng Xi Shi’s writing continues to amaze me with its philosophical depth and Chinese literary undertones. Like: “All came from one, and to one all would return.”...make me pause and reflect while simultaneously being swept into the plot’s intricate web.
This book rewards active thinking. Once I could focus and read consistently, the mysteries, schemes, and clever maneuvering became more than just exciting—they became mesmerizing. Just like Feng Xiao, I can't help but marvel at the fact that despite being ill, Cui Buqu has a hand in everything that's happening. Which is probably also why I can never keep Meng Xi Shi's works off my mind. Her characters, their schemes, and the world she builds linger in your thoughts long after you close the book (highkey missing Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi). Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao are absolute soulmates—their interactions, their mutual admiration, their clever manipulations—it's a joy and a thrill to witness. I'll try to approach this book with patience and full attention, ready to catch every detail and savor every twist.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ . ݁₊ ⊹ 11-23-2025. ݁˖ . ݁⸝⸝
DNF 61% — I really want to finish this interesting series but there's a lot on my plate right now that I don't even have the time to open at least a chapter a day. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu is a sight together and they're so fun to see scheming from and at each other, and the plot is also mind-boggling on its own. But the problem is, it took me at least a week to reach half of the book because of my busy schedule and that doesn't help with the fast introductions of tribes, factions, bureaus, character names, and plots. I can remember them if I read their name on the page but it dampens my reading mood when I can't rapidly make opinions of my own just because my brain is loading with who's who, what's what, and where's where. I don't want to finish this just because I have already started. And I cut my reading on here because Ququ is introducing another faction and history that is part of the whole picture that is brewing. I would like to enjoy this in a more smooth way and it saddens me to stop here but I'm sure I won't appreciate everything that's happening if I force myself to read them right now. I thought I could enjoy this in a slow way but it seems that I can't help but worry about forgetting the small details. Definitely next time!
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao are a sight to behold together. Watching them scheme, use, and tease each other is an absolute joy. They love edging each other so much! Their dynamic is electric: Cui Buqu, delicate and sickly yet brilliant and relentless, sets everyone’s hearts at ease while orchestrating complex plots. And Feng Xiao, on the other hand, watches, reacts, and admires, most often than not caught off guard by Ququ's brilliance despite being great himself. Moreover, Meng Xi Shi’s writing continues to amaze me with its philosophical depth and Chinese literary undertones. Like: “All came from one, and to one all would return.”...make me pause and reflect while simultaneously being swept into the plot’s intricate web.
This book rewards active thinking. Once I could focus and read consistently, the mysteries, schemes, and clever maneuvering became more than just exciting—they became mesmerizing. Just like Feng Xiao, I can't help but marvel at the fact that despite being ill, Cui Buqu has a hand in everything that's happening. Which is probably also why I can never keep Meng Xi Shi's works off my mind. Her characters, their schemes, and the world she builds linger in your thoughts long after you close the book (highkey missing Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi). Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao are absolute soulmates—their interactions, their mutual admiration, their clever manipulations—it's a joy and a thrill to witness. I'll try to approach this book with patience and full attention, ready to catch every detail and savor every twist.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ . ݁₊ ⊹ 11-23-2025. ݁˖ . ݁⸝⸝
DNF 61% — I really want to finish this interesting series but there's a lot on my plate right now that I don't even have the time to open at least a chapter a day. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu is a sight together and they're so fun to see scheming from and at each other, and the plot is also mind-boggling on its own. But the problem is, it took me at least a week to reach half of the book because of my busy schedule and that doesn't help with the fast introductions of tribes, factions, bureaus, character names, and plots. I can remember them if I read their name on the page but it dampens my reading mood when I can't rapidly make opinions of my own just because my brain is loading with who's who, what's what, and where's where. I don't want to finish this just because I have already started. And I cut my reading on here because Ququ is introducing another faction and history that is part of the whole picture that is brewing. I would like to enjoy this in a more smooth way and it saddens me to stop here but I'm sure I won't appreciate everything that's happening if I force myself to read them right now. I thought I could enjoy this in a slow way but it seems that I can't help but worry about forgetting the small details. Definitely next time!
October 1, 2025
I enjoyed Thousand Autumns a lot so I'm not surprised that I also enjoyed Peerless. Actually, I warmed up to the Cui Buqu faster than I did with Shen Qiao, although the two of them are similarly dogged and stubborn. I do think Cui Buqu's lack of shame is more easily understandable for me though.
The politics are still as strong as ever and we see the diplomatic side of the board (whereas Thousand Autumns happens on the jianghu side): this series is about 2 different bureaus handling cases and other matters that might lead to civil unrest. The mystery itself is not particularly complex, but the politics behind said mystery is pretty much the meat of the novel.
Feng Xiao is annoying and perfect and beautiful, and it's such a delight seeing him suffer. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu bickering and making asses of themselves in public is my new favourite thing.
The politics are still as strong as ever and we see the diplomatic side of the board (whereas Thousand Autumns happens on the jianghu side): this series is about 2 different bureaus handling cases and other matters that might lead to civil unrest. The mystery itself is not particularly complex, but the politics behind said mystery is pretty much the meat of the novel.
Feng Xiao is annoying and perfect and beautiful, and it's such a delight seeing him suffer. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu bickering and making asses of themselves in public is my new favourite thing.
August 6, 2024
If you believe your existence is insignificant, no one else will take you seriously either. I’m different from you. I am who I am.
Even if I fall ill, even if I’m on the brink of death, even if my limbs are crippled, no one can replace me, Cui Buqu.
it’s only the first volume and i already have a favorite character………cui buqu really is just that mystifying.
set in the same world as “thousand autumns”, it’s only natural for me to think of “peerless” as a continuation of a series i grew to love. the difference is that this story has shifted so that we see through the eyes of new characters whose roles prove more enlightening for the future of the Sui dynasty. and it’s actually really interesting, too, because after reading QQ’s extras, yan wushi & shen qiao’s own musings predicted for far more to come for the central plains.
feng xiao and cui buqu’s povs already have me completely obsessed—hence the 5-star rating—but it’s the shift in focus from the jianghu where the grandmasters of martial arts reside to the center of the empire that really gripped me. while feng xiao holds a renowned reputation not just for his peerless beauty but also his unmatched martial arts skills, cui buqu shows a different set of skills that already tip the scales very heavily towards his goals—even snaring feng xiao into his traps.
he’s already become a huge favorite character of mine in all his wit and observations; seeing him acknowledge his physical weaknesses due to a chronic illness that ails him only made me admire him more. and it’s that ailment that for all in the jianghu will signal him to be someone hardly worth noticing.
but despite being set in the same world, this is not the “thousand autumns” that we’ve become familiar with—this is a very different story. and it’s in this same story where prominent QQ characters like yan wushi knew very well that an empire’s longevity is guaranteed much more than just in its martial arts prowess. learning how to navigate political snags between territories and uncover dubious mysteries is work we will be getting to see most in depth with feng xiao & cui buqu’s respective agencies, and it’s all so exciting!! cui buqu is most capable in this respect, and some of the supporting cast marvel in how much he shows that that weakness of his makes a perfect weapon in this game of chess.
This kind of man—even if his life could be extinguished at any moment, he burned so brightly that no one could ignore him.
the mystery dived into this first volume is only the beginning of a much larger deception at work, and to have both of these characters’ wit and charm narrating it makes me happy. there’s something about meng xi shi’s writing that has become really comforting, and by uncovering this other work of hers, i already am kinda obsessed with it :’) so much so that i legitimately have been considering to already re-read it….
the dynamic between feng xiao & cui buqi is exactly what i’ve been promised by long-time fans of this series—every conversation they have is filled with barbed insults and sweet nothings, and it just makes their chemistry feel that much stronger. and again!! the story has only just begun!! they’re both subjects under the famed emperor and empress, respectively, but instead of the harmony & love that’s so bountiful between this empire’s reigning leaders, we have two chiefs who will never pass up an opportunity to trip over the other.
i can’t wait to see how that contempt will soon grow into a nameless yearning. it feels like feng xiao is already falling down that well, but it’s still very early, so i will just see!!
content warnings:
major: descriptions of violence, chronic illness, after-effects of a lethal poisoning, and blood
moderate: murder, and injury/injury detail
Even if I fall ill, even if I’m on the brink of death, even if my limbs are crippled, no one can replace me, Cui Buqu.
it’s only the first volume and i already have a favorite character………cui buqu really is just that mystifying.
set in the same world as “thousand autumns”, it’s only natural for me to think of “peerless” as a continuation of a series i grew to love. the difference is that this story has shifted so that we see through the eyes of new characters whose roles prove more enlightening for the future of the Sui dynasty. and it’s actually really interesting, too, because after reading QQ’s extras, yan wushi & shen qiao’s own musings predicted for far more to come for the central plains.
feng xiao and cui buqu’s povs already have me completely obsessed—hence the 5-star rating—but it’s the shift in focus from the jianghu where the grandmasters of martial arts reside to the center of the empire that really gripped me. while feng xiao holds a renowned reputation not just for his peerless beauty but also his unmatched martial arts skills, cui buqu shows a different set of skills that already tip the scales very heavily towards his goals—even snaring feng xiao into his traps.
he’s already become a huge favorite character of mine in all his wit and observations; seeing him acknowledge his physical weaknesses due to a chronic illness that ails him only made me admire him more. and it’s that ailment that for all in the jianghu will signal him to be someone hardly worth noticing.
but despite being set in the same world, this is not the “thousand autumns” that we’ve become familiar with—this is a very different story. and it’s in this same story where prominent QQ characters like yan wushi knew very well that an empire’s longevity is guaranteed much more than just in its martial arts prowess. learning how to navigate political snags between territories and uncover dubious mysteries is work we will be getting to see most in depth with feng xiao & cui buqu’s respective agencies, and it’s all so exciting!! cui buqu is most capable in this respect, and some of the supporting cast marvel in how much he shows that that weakness of his makes a perfect weapon in this game of chess.
This kind of man—even if his life could be extinguished at any moment, he burned so brightly that no one could ignore him.
the mystery dived into this first volume is only the beginning of a much larger deception at work, and to have both of these characters’ wit and charm narrating it makes me happy. there’s something about meng xi shi’s writing that has become really comforting, and by uncovering this other work of hers, i already am kinda obsessed with it :’) so much so that i legitimately have been considering to already re-read it….
the dynamic between feng xiao & cui buqi is exactly what i’ve been promised by long-time fans of this series—every conversation they have is filled with barbed insults and sweet nothings, and it just makes their chemistry feel that much stronger. and again!! the story has only just begun!! they’re both subjects under the famed emperor and empress, respectively, but instead of the harmony & love that’s so bountiful between this empire’s reigning leaders, we have two chiefs who will never pass up an opportunity to trip over the other.
i can’t wait to see how that contempt will soon grow into a nameless yearning. it feels like feng xiao is already falling down that well, but it’s still very early, so i will just see!!
content warnings:
major: descriptions of violence, chronic illness, after-effects of a lethal poisoning, and blood
moderate: murder, and injury/injury detail
August 21, 2024
Well, this was ok.
The first 100 pages of this novel are really slow. So many place names and characters are introduced I struggled to keep up. I felt like I was waiting for the main characters to arrive.
The murder mystery was fine.
I adored Cui Buqu (ML) and his subordinates at the Zuoyue Bureau. I wished we had spent more time following them. Because I absolutely hated Feng Xiao (MC). He is an arrogant a***hole.
I know I won't be able to find the later romance between the two believable because of Feng Xiao's behaviour in this book. This is meant to be enemies/rivals to lovers but they bickered and were manipulating each other so much that I can't see how they will ever have a healthy relationship.
I can't see myself reading vol 2 as there was too much politics that went over my head. One of the main reasons I read danmei is for the romance so I just don't think the series is for me.
The first 100 pages of this novel are really slow. So many place names and characters are introduced I struggled to keep up. I felt like I was waiting for the main characters to arrive.
The murder mystery was fine.
I adored Cui Buqu (ML) and his subordinates at the Zuoyue Bureau. I wished we had spent more time following them. Because I absolutely hated Feng Xiao (MC). He is an arrogant a***hole.
I know I won't be able to find the later romance between the two believable because of Feng Xiao's behaviour in this book. This is meant to be enemies/rivals to lovers but they bickered and were manipulating each other so much that I can't see how they will ever have a healthy relationship.
I can't see myself reading vol 2 as there was too much politics that went over my head. One of the main reasons I read danmei is for the romance so I just don't think the series is for me.
August 29, 2024
❤️ Peerless - Meng Xi Shi ❤️
I finished this danmei a while ago BUT let me tell ya that it has been a WHILE since a danmei got me hooked from the very start and the banter between the two mc's is everything 🙌🏻 Cannot wait to read all of the other volumes 🥰
I finished this danmei a while ago BUT let me tell ya that it has been a WHILE since a danmei got me hooked from the very start and the banter between the two mc's is everything 🙌🏻 Cannot wait to read all of the other volumes 🥰
February 22, 2025
Top tier banter this is how you do rivals
October 29, 2025
Work rivals Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu are both used to being the smartest man in the room, able to bend others around them to their will with a mixture of wits, charm, manipulation, and intimidation. When they cross paths during a murder investigation, they each met an opponent worthy of their attention for the first time. On paper, they should be in the same side- each works for the Great Sui Empire in the central plains of ancient China- but they take every single opportunity to sabotage each other's efforts and cloud each other's investigations. The first 130 pages or so of this book are somewhat rough, especially to a reader unfamiliar with the wuxia genre or with reading translated Seven Seas books. Nearly every early chapter opens with a different POV, often from a bystander or side character who does not appear again in the story, and POVs sometimes shift multiple times per page. This also isn't the kind of murder mystery which the reader can solve, as big chunks of exposition are dropped in mid-way through. However, once the story brings Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu into forced proximity and lets them loose to snipe at each other, their characters immediately start to strike sparks off each other, and the humor and character work begin to shine. By the end of the book I was hooked and I plan to keep reading, though it took a very strong personal recommendation from a friend to get me through first third.
November 28, 2025
𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙡𝙡, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙄’𝙢 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙, 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙚, 𝘾𝙪𝙞 𝘽𝙪𝙦𝙪.
that’s my GOAT!!!!
omfg, i ADORE Peerless. it has so much charm, wit, and emotion. the slowburn rivals to lovers relationship between Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao is so heartwarming.
the chronic illness rep is just… as close to perfect as it can get. IN MY OPINION, that is. for example, i hated the “rep” in Fourth Wing, but some people really liked it (though i do not understand why).
Cui Buqu’s illness does not feel like a barrier for him to overcome and it does not feel like an afterthought. it’s just another facet of him. he’s a great detective, but he also gets sick as fuck. he is not portrayed as delicate due to his illness, but rather determined. it doesn’t add to his attractiveness, it actually seems to make him LESS attractive in the eyes of other characters. (if you’ve read bad chronic illness rep before, you know what i’m talking about 😭)
this is the full package for me.
𖦹 slowburn (over multiple books)
𖦹 rival detective agencies
𖦹 strong & kind side female character
𖦹 actually really funny
𖦹 court politics & wars brewing
that’s my GOAT!!!!
omfg, i ADORE Peerless. it has so much charm, wit, and emotion. the slowburn rivals to lovers relationship between Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao is so heartwarming.
the chronic illness rep is just… as close to perfect as it can get. IN MY OPINION, that is. for example, i hated the “rep” in Fourth Wing, but some people really liked it (though i do not understand why).
Cui Buqu’s illness does not feel like a barrier for him to overcome and it does not feel like an afterthought. it’s just another facet of him. he’s a great detective, but he also gets sick as fuck. he is not portrayed as delicate due to his illness, but rather determined. it doesn’t add to his attractiveness, it actually seems to make him LESS attractive in the eyes of other characters. (if you’ve read bad chronic illness rep before, you know what i’m talking about 😭)
this is the full package for me.
𖦹 slowburn (over multiple books)
𖦹 rival detective agencies
𖦹 strong & kind side female character
𖦹 actually really funny
𖦹 court politics & wars brewing
August 26, 2024
Sherlock Holmes meets Wuxia in this spinoff to the popular Danmei novel Thousand Autumns!
I originally picked up this novel because I loved Thousand Autumns and wasn’t ready to give it up yet, but I quickly fell in love with the sassy, witty, and sarcastic male leads!
Feng Xiao is the clever head of the Jiejian Bureau, an investigative organization set up by the new Emperor to carry our his orders. Cui Buqu is the enigmatic leader of the Zuoye Bureau, organized under the Empress to be the foil of thr Jiejian Bureau. Their paths cross in a small border town when an ambassador from one of the neighboring countries is murdered and the jade gift brought for the emperor is stolen. Working together Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu must solve the murder, find the missing jade, escape from numerous assassins, and negotiate with the new delegate for an alliance before war breaks out; that is, if they don’t kill each other first.
Not going to lie, the banter here was top notch. Although Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu have created a giant chess match between the each other for the whole book it is interspersed with flirting, witty one liners, and the boys one-upping each other at every turn. The romance is obviously going to be a slow burn but I find that those are usually more satisfying by the end. The rivalry is not only fun and well portrayed but makes you anticipate each encounter as you try to guess whose next move will be superior. Feng Xiao is obviously used to using his looks to get his way whereas Cui Buqu relies more on his intimidation and manipulation of people around him. They make excellent foils and Im eager to see their relationship grow.
I am excited to continue with the series and hope that the little Easter Eggs from Thousand Autumns continue to pop up in future volumes!
I originally picked up this novel because I loved Thousand Autumns and wasn’t ready to give it up yet, but I quickly fell in love with the sassy, witty, and sarcastic male leads!
Feng Xiao is the clever head of the Jiejian Bureau, an investigative organization set up by the new Emperor to carry our his orders. Cui Buqu is the enigmatic leader of the Zuoye Bureau, organized under the Empress to be the foil of thr Jiejian Bureau. Their paths cross in a small border town when an ambassador from one of the neighboring countries is murdered and the jade gift brought for the emperor is stolen. Working together Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu must solve the murder, find the missing jade, escape from numerous assassins, and negotiate with the new delegate for an alliance before war breaks out; that is, if they don’t kill each other first.
Not going to lie, the banter here was top notch. Although Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu have created a giant chess match between the each other for the whole book it is interspersed with flirting, witty one liners, and the boys one-upping each other at every turn. The romance is obviously going to be a slow burn but I find that those are usually more satisfying by the end. The rivalry is not only fun and well portrayed but makes you anticipate each encounter as you try to guess whose next move will be superior. Feng Xiao is obviously used to using his looks to get his way whereas Cui Buqu relies more on his intimidation and manipulation of people around him. They make excellent foils and Im eager to see their relationship grow.
I am excited to continue with the series and hope that the little Easter Eggs from Thousand Autumns continue to pop up in future volumes!
August 7, 2024
This was a fantastic start to this series. I loved Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao as characters. They're both absolutely wild and match each other's freak perfectly. I loved their back and forth and their attempts to foil one another while working on their case. It felt like the director of the FBI and the director of the CIA both claiming jurisdiction on the same case and then having to work together to solve it. It was incredibly silly while also being complex and interesting. It is all the more fun if you've read Thousand Autumns since it is the same universe but some years in the future (I believe). Absolutely can't wait to see these two obliterating each other's reputations some more in the next book.
August 7, 2024
I liked this one quite a bit better than Thousand Autumns, since it's main focus is a mystery. The main characters attempting to outwit and outdo each other is hilarious and I'm excited to see where it goes
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