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Ballad of Sword and Wine #7
Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu (Novel) Vol. 7
UNDER SIEGE
Having at last consolidated the six prefectures of Zhongbo under his rule, Shen Zechuan stands between two looming threats: the Biansha Horsemen to the east, and the imperial court of Qudu to the west. Although Qudu remains paralyzed by internal strife, Shen Zechuan knows it’s only a matter of time before the fledgling emperor and her supporter, Xue Xiuzhuo, turn their eyes to him.
To the north, while Hassen continues to hammer Libei’s generals with relentless attacks, Xiao Chiye suspects his real target lies along the vulnerable border of Zhongbo. If he’s right, Shen Zechuan will be cut off and surrounded before reinforcements arrive.
Yet when Hassen’s attack comes, it is with a brutality no one anticipated. Forced to make a desperate stand, Shen Zechuan must hold the walls until Xiao Chiye arrives—or the city falls.
Having at last consolidated the six prefectures of Zhongbo under his rule, Shen Zechuan stands between two looming threats: the Biansha Horsemen to the east, and the imperial court of Qudu to the west. Although Qudu remains paralyzed by internal strife, Shen Zechuan knows it’s only a matter of time before the fledgling emperor and her supporter, Xue Xiuzhuo, turn their eyes to him.
To the north, while Hassen continues to hammer Libei’s generals with relentless attacks, Xiao Chiye suspects his real target lies along the vulnerable border of Zhongbo. If he’s right, Shen Zechuan will be cut off and surrounded before reinforcements arrive.
Yet when Hassen’s attack comes, it is with a brutality no one anticipated. Forced to make a desperate stand, Shen Zechuan must hold the walls until Xiao Chiye arrives—or the city falls.
470 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2026
76 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 26, 2026
what other rating could i give a qjj volume? 😵💫😵💫 but, this one was especially great. rtc.
September 24, 2025
im tattooing yao wenyu's name on my face and then k!lling myself
April 30, 2026
"One day, I will capture the deer the Li Clan lost, and in turn, Ce’an will hold me captive. The sun and the moon have orbited for tens of thousands of years without destroying each other. This is the stability for which the world yearns. We are that equilibrium.”
the way cezhou talk about one another will never not bring me to my knees
the way cezhou talk about one another will never not bring me to my knees
November 11, 2025
I think this is the best danmei ever written.
the story was so strong and interesting
it kept me at the edge of my seat from start to finish.
the chemistry between the characters was amazing
the fact that they both are on the same level of strength and intelligence made their chemistry even stronger.
pace of the story was just right
it wasn't too slow or rushed
it had some really heartbreaking moments but it didn't trauma dump just to be dramatic
everything was for the sake of the story.
and portrayal of women was wonderful
in a world where it is cruel to women and they are treated as a second class citizen,
these women do not sit still and look pretty.
they take action and stand their ground.
and the smut?
omg THE BEST smut I've ever read.
nothing too explicit
no disgusting details
no r@pe or @ssualt
just strong chemistry and tender love
its was so hot I loved it
the story was so strong and interesting
it kept me at the edge of my seat from start to finish.
the chemistry between the characters was amazing
the fact that they both are on the same level of strength and intelligence made their chemistry even stronger.
pace of the story was just right
it wasn't too slow or rushed
it had some really heartbreaking moments but it didn't trauma dump just to be dramatic
everything was for the sake of the story.
and portrayal of women was wonderful
in a world where it is cruel to women and they are treated as a second class citizen,
these women do not sit still and look pretty.
they take action and stand their ground.
and the smut?
omg THE BEST smut I've ever read.
nothing too explicit
no disgusting details
no r@pe or @ssualt
just strong chemistry and tender love
its was so hot I loved it
January 15, 2026
5 star twist with a 4 star ending
May 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The political intrigue was absolutely off the charts in this one, and I loved it even more because of that.
Usually, I find myself a bit confused whenever a new QJJ volume comes out, but this time everything was still fresh in my mind, which made the experience even better.
I can’t wait for the final volume. 🥲
The political intrigue was absolutely off the charts in this one, and I loved it even more because of that.
Usually, I find myself a bit confused whenever a new QJJ volume comes out, but this time everything was still fresh in my mind, which made the experience even better.
I can’t wait for the final volume. 🥲
April 23, 2026
Really really good as always. So much murder though oh my god. Like from the characters you expect AND everyone else. It took 70% of the book to get an illustration of the main couple because all the rest were just murder
April 29, 2026
i just love love LOVE how consistently strong lanzhou is through this whole series whether it be through the pen or the sword or his scheming. he's never a damsel like he's got claws all the time and UGH i appreciate that so much 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
April 26, 2026
god, so many beautiful passages in this one. xiao chiye & shen zechuan do spend a good chunk of the book apart again but GOD it just makes their scenes together hit like a goddamn train. im really intrigued to see how especially the more political plotline in qudu unfolds cause i feel like it could go a ton of different ways. AAAAAAA i love this danmei so much its insane
May 1, 2026
Me when Qiao Tianya and Yao Wenyu interact 🙈😛🥰
May 3, 2026
me, everytime I finish a qjj volume: damn that was a masterpiece
but this one was REALLY amazing. The battle was so intense, oh my god. You know when you're reading laying down and then there's a shift in the narrative and you just have to sit up because it's THAT important? that was me the whole time they were fighting.
and the couple scenes had me screaming!! so much!! cezhou are such a power couple ;; I adore them. you can really feel how much they love and support each other and it's just make me cry. I'm so glad they have each other.
the scene with qi zhuyin and hua xiangyi going on a date (they can say whatever, it was a date!!) was so cute, I kept giggling and kicking my feet. I also loved the lipstick scene (xiao chiye trying to find a difference in the color was adorable), and when qi zhuyin says the "I'm fond of girls"!!
ALSO qiao tianya and yao wenyu made me so emotional help. If you count them maybe they didn't have that many scenes but all of them were SO good I kept closing the book to scream and going back to read just to close it again and repeat the cycle I just can't get enought of them I love them so much.
I can't believe next volume is the last one ;; I'm not ready to say goodbye.
but this one was REALLY amazing. The battle was so intense, oh my god. You know when you're reading laying down and then there's a shift in the narrative and you just have to sit up because it's THAT important? that was me the whole time they were fighting.
and the couple scenes had me screaming!! so much!! cezhou are such a power couple ;; I adore them. you can really feel how much they love and support each other and it's just make me cry. I'm so glad they have each other.
the scene with qi zhuyin and hua xiangyi going on a date (they can say whatever, it was a date!!) was so cute, I kept giggling and kicking my feet. I also loved the lipstick scene (xiao chiye trying to find a difference in the color was adorable), and when qi zhuyin says the "I'm fond of girls"!!
ALSO qiao tianya and yao wenyu made me so emotional help. If you count them maybe they didn't have that many scenes but all of them were SO good I kept closing the book to scream and going back to read just to close it again and repeat the cycle I just can't get enought of them I love them so much.
I can't believe next volume is the last one ;; I'm not ready to say goodbye.
Review of advance copy received from Altro
Un altro volume che si merita 5 stelle.
Nella prima parte del libro l'azione è spostata sulla capitale e finalmente molti dei personaggi che mi stanno a cuore hanno avuto occasione di brillare senza che i due protagonisti li mettessero in ombra. Ho particolarmente apprezzato la rappresentazione femminile: queste tre donne le avevamo già viste nei volumi precedenti lottare contro i pregiudizi del loro tempo, ma finalmente in questo volume riescono a ottenere quello che hanno semplicemente voluto. Mi ha fatto tantissimo piacere vedere questa loro rivalsa verso una società che le ha sempre ostacolate e viste indegne delle cariche che ricoprivano.
Che dire della seconda metà della storia? Me la sono divorata in un'unica sera perchè non riuscivo a staccarmi dalle pagine. L'autrice è stata davvero brava nel descrivere l'assedio, sia dal punto di vista militare, che da quello umano. Riuscivo a vedere vividamente la disperazione dei sudditi, il loro terrore per un secondo massacro e la rabbia per non riuscire a scappare. Anche qui alcuni personaggi secondari hanno avuto la loro tanto agognata gloria e le loro emozioni le ho sentite come le mie. La parte che mi ha dato più soddisfazione però è stata quando Xiao Chiye si è vendicato, uccidendo il bandito che lo aveva umiliato nei volumi precedenti
Nella prima parte del libro l'azione è spostata sulla capitale e finalmente molti dei personaggi che mi stanno a cuore hanno avuto occasione di brillare senza che i due protagonisti li mettessero in ombra. Ho particolarmente apprezzato la rappresentazione femminile: queste tre donne le avevamo già viste nei volumi precedenti lottare contro i pregiudizi del loro tempo, ma finalmente in questo volume riescono a ottenere quello che hanno semplicemente voluto. Mi ha fatto tantissimo piacere vedere questa loro rivalsa verso una società che le ha sempre ostacolate e viste indegne delle cariche che ricoprivano.
Che dire della seconda metà della storia? Me la sono divorata in un'unica sera perchè non riuscivo a staccarmi dalle pagine. L'autrice è stata davvero brava nel descrivere l'assedio, sia dal punto di vista militare, che da quello umano. Riuscivo a vedere vividamente la disperazione dei sudditi, il loro terrore per un secondo massacro e la rabbia per non riuscire a scappare. Anche qui alcuni personaggi secondari hanno avuto la loro tanto agognata gloria e le loro emozioni le ho sentite come le mie. La parte che mi ha dato più soddisfazione però è stata quando Xiao Chiye si è vendicato, uccidendo il bandito che lo aveva umiliato nei volumi precedenti
April 23, 2026
“Living was difficult, but in the process, he discovered yet more reasons to do so. He lived for Ji Mu, for Qi huilian, for Zhongbo, for all of the nobodies in this tempestuous storm.
oh lanzhou you are forever the male character everever.
chapter 234 SO GOATED.
and the whole 68 pages of the battle at duanzhou,, STANDING OVATION EVERYONE BOWED. t79 u are a genius. qi zhuyin and hua xiangyi in this book uiuuhhgg my girls
(i have to be that one woke friend and say that this cover sure is stunning, but i do NOT like that yuanzhuo is standing… like you could’ve easily done something with his wheelchair)
oh lanzhou you are forever the male character everever.
chapter 234 SO GOATED.
and the whole 68 pages of the battle at duanzhou,, STANDING OVATION EVERYONE BOWED. t79 u are a genius. qi zhuyin and hua xiangyi in this book uiuuhhgg my girls
(i have to be that one woke friend and say that this cover sure is stunning, but i do NOT like that yuanzhuo is standing… like you could’ve easily done something with his wheelchair)
May 1, 2026
“His loose hair fanned out over the bedding. Unable to curl up, he lay gingerly on his uninjured side, revealing a sliver of his side profile. The upturned corner of his eye possessed none of its usual seductive allure. He looked as if he were merely sleeping. Xiao Chiye touched the corner of his eye, but he didn’t stir. Shen Zechuan only dared be so unguarded when Xiao Chiye was by his side. He looked very small like this, completely enveloped by Xiao Chiye’s larger figure.
Xiao Chiye could hardly draw breath. Everything in his chest hurt. He leaned over and kissed Lanzhou’s temple. Even the movement of his fingertips was ever so light, as if caressing a baby fox cub yet to shed its winter down.”
Xiao Chiye could hardly draw breath. Everything in his chest hurt. He leaned over and kissed Lanzhou’s temple. Even the movement of his fingertips was ever so light, as if caressing a baby fox cub yet to shed its winter down.”
April 28, 2026
love you qjj love you tang jiuqing thank you for breathing life into qjj characters. what more can i say.
there were several scenes that got me hooked in this volume, and duanzhou’s battle & li jianting’s scenes are among them. i loved li jianting’s parts, ESPECIALLY when she uttered to the empress dowager, “i’m neither a man nor a woman, i’m merely li jianting,” that line earned a 30 minutes long standing ovation in my room
there were several scenes that got me hooked in this volume, and duanzhou’s battle & li jianting’s scenes are among them. i loved li jianting’s parts, ESPECIALLY when she uttered to the empress dowager, “i’m neither a man nor a woman, i’m merely li jianting,” that line earned a 30 minutes long standing ovation in my room
May 2, 2026
It's always a pleasure to read a new volume of this danmei. I love the relationship between the two main characters as always. Li Jianting is such a good female character, I feel like it's so rare to see a danmei author speak out on issues women face and it's so done so tastefully. And the side characters are all so good. I'm genuinely invested.
May 3, 2026
The court politics, the Shen Zechuan vs Hassen and Hassen vs Xiao Chiye battles, Li Jianting's character development, Yao Wenyu and Qiao Tianya, everything about this novel is just spectacular. With each volume I just can't wrap my head around how TJQ is doing this. I would love to live inside her mind
Review of advance copy received from Sonstiges
4.5 stars 🌟
I was surprised that it was such a fluent read after the sixth book felt a bit slow. We had many twists and turns and the card pack got reshuffled several times.
Not enough Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan moments, but those we had were amazing!
8 pages character guide - 'nuff said!
I was surprised that it was such a fluent read after the sixth book felt a bit slow. We had many twists and turns and the card pack got reshuffled several times.
Not enough Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan moments, but those we had were amazing!
8 pages character guide - 'nuff said!
April 22, 2026
A tense and at times heart-stopping read of palace intrigue and national survival warfare. A new, ruthless enemy rises and takes shape even as others fall. I cannot wait for the finale.
April 24, 2026
NO CEZHOUSEX IN THIS BOOK RAHHHH IT WAS POLITICWLLY PLOT HEAVY BUT I LOVE THEM ALSO XIAO XUN IS A SWEETIPIE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2026
تاریخ یادم نمیاد
احتمالا اواخر فروردین تا اوایل اردیبهشت ۰۵ دگ💁🏻♀️
احتمالا اواخر فروردین تا اوایل اردیبهشت ۰۵ دگ💁🏻♀️
May 3, 2026
An excellent installment!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews