What do you think?
Ballad of Sword and Wine #8
Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu (Novel) Vol. 8
FALL OF AN EMPIRE
Fresh from victory at Duanzhou, Xiao Chiye leads the Libei Armored Cavalry deep into the eastern desert, hoping to deliver a killing blow to Amur and his Biansha Horsemen. Xiao Chiye will gamble everything on this final strike—but even as he forges ahead, Amur’s Scorpions lurk in the heart of the empire, poised to strike at everything Xiao Chiye has left behind, including his beloved.
Shen Zechuan, far from defenseless, prepares his Zhongbo troops to confront the capital of Qudu and its girl emperor, Li Jianting. But the coming battle will test more than military might. Shen Zechuan understands better than anyone that the real war will be won or lost in the hearts of the people. Can the nation ever kneel to the son of Shen Wei, the empire’s most reviled traitor?
This triumphant series finale contains an exclusive new chapter from Tang Jiu Qing!
Fresh from victory at Duanzhou, Xiao Chiye leads the Libei Armored Cavalry deep into the eastern desert, hoping to deliver a killing blow to Amur and his Biansha Horsemen. Xiao Chiye will gamble everything on this final strike—but even as he forges ahead, Amur’s Scorpions lurk in the heart of the empire, poised to strike at everything Xiao Chiye has left behind, including his beloved.
Shen Zechuan, far from defenseless, prepares his Zhongbo troops to confront the capital of Qudu and its girl emperor, Li Jianting. But the coming battle will test more than military might. Shen Zechuan understands better than anyone that the real war will be won or lost in the hearts of the people. Can the nation ever kneel to the son of Shen Wei, the empire’s most reviled traitor?
This triumphant series finale contains an exclusive new chapter from Tang Jiu Qing!
448 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 9, 2026
After 2 years of eagerly awaiting each pending release in this series, we finally arrive at the culmination of every political alliance, battle campaign and endless conversation about grain trade lol.
What can I say? Absolutely 10/10, no notes. I am a void of emotional desolation and I cried multiple times throughout this. And yet my heart is also so full with the love and family that these characters found along the way and everything they overcame.
Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan’s journey from enemies, to lovers, to one of the most deeply devoted and loyal power couples has been imprinted deep into my heart and soul and I will always love them.
7Seas including the character map for the first time in the final volume did feel a bit diabolical. Literally would have been helpful to have in every single volume prior to this one lol. But I will forgive them because the art in this series has been exceptional. Easy contender for my favourite danmei series (although I maintain, potentially a challenging entry point for people new to the genre ❤️)
(Please be mindful of posting spoilers in the comments, although its kind of hard this far into a series 😂)
Consider following my instagram
What can I say? Absolutely 10/10, no notes. I am a void of emotional desolation and I cried multiple times throughout this. And yet my heart is also so full with the love and family that these characters found along the way and everything they overcame.
Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan’s journey from enemies, to lovers, to one of the most deeply devoted and loyal power couples has been imprinted deep into my heart and soul and I will always love them.
7Seas including the character map for the first time in the final volume did feel a bit diabolical. Literally would have been helpful to have in every single volume prior to this one lol. But I will forgive them because the art in this series has been exceptional. Easy contender for my favourite danmei series (although I maintain, potentially a challenging entry point for people new to the genre ❤️)
(Please be mindful of posting spoilers in the comments, although its kind of hard this far into a series 😂)
Consider following my instagram
August 17, 2026
If you’re reading this you already know how special this story is ❤️ Really no words to express how much I love Cezhou. I consider QJJ the perfect novel with (almost) everything I love: amazing side characters, detailed intricate politics x military strategy, epic world building, top tier romance, and of course plot twists & betrayals. I’ll never forget racing to finish Lianyin’s FTL on cangji.net because I knew she was taking it down if/when it got picked up for licensing (finished it in June 2023 and it got announced September 2023). I know I’m just one of many who call this their favorite danmei and are thrilled to finally have a completed official translation three years later 🥰. So happy to see how loved it has become!
Now, where are all the fanfics of Qiao Tianya and Yao Wenyu?!?!
Really don’t know how to write proper review that would do this novel justice so I’ll let others do that 🫣
Now, where are all the fanfics of Qiao Tianya and Yao Wenyu?!?!
Really don’t know how to write proper review that would do this novel justice so I’ll let others do that 🫣
Read
August 10, 2026what a perfect conclusion! i have no complaints - everything was just perfect. everything and everyone that had ever been introduced were accounted for and given their time to shine. perfect ending for the main characters and everyone else. even for those that met tragic ends, it all worked out in the grand scheme of things and was the most fitting ends for their character arcs. and now we have it… the conclusion of this beloved danmei which promised something huge with its very first pages and actually delivered on every single promise. the experience of reading this for the first time will be missed.
just as he always did, xiao chiye interlaced his fingers with shen zechuan’s as they drifted off to sleep together, a place where, every night, the dreams were sweet.
just as he always did, xiao chiye interlaced his fingers with shen zechuan’s as they drifted off to sleep together, a place where, every night, the dreams were sweet.
September 4, 2026
do they know i’m insane….
August 25, 2026
I cannot imagine a better wrap up for this story... everything about QJJ is perfect.
This has officially become my favorite story of all time (not that we are surprised): cezhou arre my everything and all the characters are very dear to me.
What a ride this was... I will miss them quite a lot.
This has officially become my favorite story of all time (not that we are surprised): cezhou arre my everything and all the characters are very dear to me.
What a ride this was... I will miss them quite a lot.
Review of advance copy
By far this novel has one of the best wrap up in a novel, ever!
The way everything wrapped up so nicely is what made this S Tier! I was blown tf away! I'm so excited for the extra i haven't read!
However! To end a certain part like that is diabolical and broke my heart!!! T97! I will never forgive you!
Read: August 2024
The way everything wrapped up so nicely is what made this S Tier! I was blown tf away! I'm so excited for the extra i haven't read!
However! To end a certain part like that is diabolical and broke my heart!!! T97! I will never forgive you!
Read: August 2024
August 25, 2026
“I was a sinner from the first time I stood before this gate. You’ve never been able to predict whether I’d live or die. If I can endure being reviled by all before today, I can shoulder the perpetual infamy in days to come.”
I was only a few pages in and we were already dipped in sugar! Too darn sweet! After waiting through all that suffering, I was so happy getting these little moments between Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. Their relationship has been one of my favorite things about this entire series, and I swear, every time they get a soft moment together, I just melt. There is so much going on in this volume, but I still felt like their relationship was at the heart of it all. I also have to talk about Xue Xiuzhuo because… what an interesting character! I wouldn’t call him a villain, even though he is absolutely an antagonist. Aside from what he did to Yao Wenyu, I could actually understand where a lot of his choices were coming from. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the sake of Qudu made him such a complicated character for me. I didn’t always agree with him, obviously, but I found myself thinking about his decisions instead of simply hating him. And Goodness, the women in this series! I love seeing how much power they had and how much influence they had over what was happening. So many things were in Qi Zhuyin’s hands, and I was living for it. And Hua Xiangyi being the piece Xue Xiuzhuo didn’t account for? I loved that. It felt so satisfying watching things unfold and realizing that even someone who had planned so much couldn’t possibly account for everything. This is just really good storytelling.
The fights were so good too! I was completely invested whenever things got intense, but honestly, it was the emotional stuff that destroyed me. Li Jianting’s story is also so sad. I don’t even know how else to say it. There were so many moments where I just sat there feeling miserable because these characters have been through so much. I was sobbing ugly through it all. Like, actual tears, not cute little emotional tears. I was gone! What made it worse was knowing how much time I’ve spent with these characters across all eight volumes. I’ve watched them make mistakes, lose people, find each other, fight for what they believe in, and keep going even when everything around them was falling apart. So when everything started coming together in this final volume, it really got to me. There were definitely moments where I wished certain parts had been given a little more time because there is so much happening toward the end. There are political conflicts, military conflicts, old relationships, betrayals, alliances, and so many characters trying to figure out what comes next. Sometimes I wanted to slow everything down and just sit with a moment a little longer. But I still loved seeing all these threads finally come together. And the way the main story ended? Sooo goooood!! I was sitting there like, okay, my heart hurts, but this is exactly where we needed to go.
I’m honestly having such a hard time putting my feelings about this series into words because this was such a wonderful story. It’s beautiful, but it also feels so bittersweet (I won’t say why). I’m so happy that I finally finished all eight volumes, but at the same time, I’m genuinely sad that it’s over. I didn’t expect finishing the last volume to make me feel this emotional. I feel like I’ve been on this whole journey with these characters, and now suddenly I’m supposed to just move on? Absolutely not. This is easily one of the best danmei series I’ve ever read, and I already know it’s going to stay one of my favorites. There were so many characters and so many things happening throughout the series, but somehow I became attached to so many of them. And of course, Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye have my whole heart. I’m definitely going to r-eread this series next year. But next time, I’m reading Vol. 1 through Vol. 8 continuously, and I’m taking my time with it. I don’t want to rush through it again. I want to enjoy every little moment and let myself sit with the story. I’m so glad I finally finished it, but wow, I’m also so sad that I have to say goodbye. What a ride.
Date Read: 2026.08.24
I was only a few pages in and we were already dipped in sugar! Too darn sweet! After waiting through all that suffering, I was so happy getting these little moments between Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. Their relationship has been one of my favorite things about this entire series, and I swear, every time they get a soft moment together, I just melt. There is so much going on in this volume, but I still felt like their relationship was at the heart of it all. I also have to talk about Xue Xiuzhuo because… what an interesting character! I wouldn’t call him a villain, even though he is absolutely an antagonist. Aside from what he did to Yao Wenyu, I could actually understand where a lot of his choices were coming from. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the sake of Qudu made him such a complicated character for me. I didn’t always agree with him, obviously, but I found myself thinking about his decisions instead of simply hating him. And Goodness, the women in this series! I love seeing how much power they had and how much influence they had over what was happening. So many things were in Qi Zhuyin’s hands, and I was living for it. And Hua Xiangyi being the piece Xue Xiuzhuo didn’t account for? I loved that. It felt so satisfying watching things unfold and realizing that even someone who had planned so much couldn’t possibly account for everything. This is just really good storytelling.
The fights were so good too! I was completely invested whenever things got intense, but honestly, it was the emotional stuff that destroyed me. Li Jianting’s story is also so sad. I don’t even know how else to say it. There were so many moments where I just sat there feeling miserable because these characters have been through so much. I was sobbing ugly through it all. Like, actual tears, not cute little emotional tears. I was gone! What made it worse was knowing how much time I’ve spent with these characters across all eight volumes. I’ve watched them make mistakes, lose people, find each other, fight for what they believe in, and keep going even when everything around them was falling apart. So when everything started coming together in this final volume, it really got to me. There were definitely moments where I wished certain parts had been given a little more time because there is so much happening toward the end. There are political conflicts, military conflicts, old relationships, betrayals, alliances, and so many characters trying to figure out what comes next. Sometimes I wanted to slow everything down and just sit with a moment a little longer. But I still loved seeing all these threads finally come together. And the way the main story ended? Sooo goooood!! I was sitting there like, okay, my heart hurts, but this is exactly where we needed to go.
I’m honestly having such a hard time putting my feelings about this series into words because this was such a wonderful story. It’s beautiful, but it also feels so bittersweet (I won’t say why). I’m so happy that I finally finished all eight volumes, but at the same time, I’m genuinely sad that it’s over. I didn’t expect finishing the last volume to make me feel this emotional. I feel like I’ve been on this whole journey with these characters, and now suddenly I’m supposed to just move on? Absolutely not. This is easily one of the best danmei series I’ve ever read, and I already know it’s going to stay one of my favorites. There were so many characters and so many things happening throughout the series, but somehow I became attached to so many of them. And of course, Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye have my whole heart. I’m definitely going to r-eread this series next year. But next time, I’m reading Vol. 1 through Vol. 8 continuously, and I’m taking my time with it. I don’t want to rush through it again. I want to enjoy every little moment and let myself sit with the story. I’m so glad I finally finished it, but wow, I’m also so sad that I have to say goodbye. What a ride.
Date Read: 2026.08.24
August 31, 2026
lanzhou can pee on my face, i wont even mind.
that is to say, great book - it doesnt get better than cezhou.
that is to say, great book - it doesnt get better than cezhou.
August 17, 2026
not to sound like a cheesy old white lady but i feel like this series has fundamentally changed me as person
August 30, 2026
4.25⭐️
I don’t know how to review this actually. By default, I love whatever I’ve read of qjj no exceptions and the same can be said of the finale. I’m happy, sad and already missing cezhou. I love them so much, both as characters and as a couple, I’m glad they got their happy ending and I loved reading their journey to get there. They mean the absolute world to me and reading the extras was so healing, I had an amazing time.
This volume while being (in my opinion) a solid conclusion had its weak points, mostly the pacing, it was quite slow initially but everything suddenly accelerated towards the end and it made certain character arcs feel a bit rushed. Overall I’m very satisfied with the ending.
While I love the main characters of qjj I love the side characters as well, especially the side couples. Marshall Qi and third lady Hua were so lovely to read and Songyu ripped my heart to shreds even though I already knew how they were going to end. The political manoeuvring in this volume was amazing on all sides and while most of the antagonists met their ends t97’s writing is brilliant so you can empathise with nearly every character. I felt sad for Li Jiangting and Xue Xiuzhou in the end too.
All eight volumes of Ballad of Sword and Wine were worth it and I definitely will be rereading someday.
I don’t know how to review this actually. By default, I love whatever I’ve read of qjj no exceptions and the same can be said of the finale. I’m happy, sad and already missing cezhou. I love them so much, both as characters and as a couple, I’m glad they got their happy ending and I loved reading their journey to get there. They mean the absolute world to me and reading the extras was so healing, I had an amazing time.
This volume while being (in my opinion) a solid conclusion had its weak points, mostly the pacing, it was quite slow initially but everything suddenly accelerated towards the end and it made certain character arcs feel a bit rushed. Overall I’m very satisfied with the ending.
While I love the main characters of qjj I love the side characters as well, especially the side couples. Marshall Qi and third lady Hua were so lovely to read and Songyu ripped my heart to shreds even though I already knew how they were going to end. The political manoeuvring in this volume was amazing on all sides and while most of the antagonists met their ends t97’s writing is brilliant so you can empathise with nearly every character. I felt sad for Li Jiangting and Xue Xiuzhou in the end too.
All eight volumes of Ballad of Sword and Wine were worth it and I definitely will be rereading someday.
August 24, 2026
i fear nobody will ever yearn as much as xiao chiye and shen zechuan yearn for each other les amo les amo les amo nunca una historia ha estado tan bien escrita
"i know some people will leave, and those who disappear into the heavy snow will never come back... except for ce'an."
"i know some people will leave, and those who disappear into the heavy snow will never come back... except for ce'an."
August 10, 2026
I need to come back for the review of this one because I inhaled it in a day, and as a slow reader that’s not normal for me. It was…DJSKFKGKKF. QJJ is a masterpiece.
August 27, 2026
4/5 for this volume but 5/5 for the novel as a whole.
i'm in love with pretty much everything about qiang jin jiu - the outcast-rising-to-the-top storyline, the intricate political drama, the intense battle scenes (and the equally intense grain economics), the antagonists, the passionate romance, how both shen lanzhou and xiao chiye are on their own paths and support each other's goals. this last volume was such a fitting ending to the story (and the fact that i felt sorry for all the antagonists is a testament to the writing). i'm gonna miss my family so much.
(also my fave extra is auspicious snow).
i'm in love with pretty much everything about qiang jin jiu - the outcast-rising-to-the-top storyline, the intricate political drama, the intense battle scenes (and the equally intense grain economics), the antagonists, the passionate romance, how both shen lanzhou and xiao chiye are on their own paths and support each other's goals. this last volume was such a fitting ending to the story (and the fact that i felt sorry for all the antagonists is a testament to the writing). i'm gonna miss my family so much.
(also my fave extra is auspicious snow).
March 30, 2026
я тільки що дочитала свій новий улюблений роман 💔
~
весь мій біль і мої сльози належать яо венью та цяо тянья.
~
весь мій біль і мої сльози належать яо венью та цяо тянья.
August 31, 2026
Overall I really liked this series, altough I enjoyed the first half more than the second one. The second half was still great, but not as good as the first half in my opinion.
I loved the rapid developments in the earlier volumes, be it in the devlopment of Xiao Ce'ans and Shen Lanzhous relationship from enemies to lovers or the overall political scheme. I loved how both our protagonists started at the bottom and then gradually had to fight their way to the top through schemes, alliances but also by starting to rely on one another.
And then halfway through the story they both suffered some setbacks in their own way. And this, I think was done greatly, I just didn't really like how "easily" they recovered from it. I felt that halfway through the story, all the schemes and relationships were already established and there wasn't that much that still felt earned, at least not in the way that it did at the start of the story. Same with the relationship between Cezhou. I absolutely loved seeing their wholesome and domestic relationship but eventually it did become a bit boring to me. And yes, I could tell that the author tried to put more attention to side characters towards the end, but I feel like none of them were fleshed out enough to "replace" the enjoyment that I got from seeing the relationship between Cezhou develop.
Nonetheless, I still think it's overall a really great series. For me, the first half of the series was just so amazing that it was hard for the second half to live up to it.
I loved the rapid developments in the earlier volumes, be it in the devlopment of Xiao Ce'ans and Shen Lanzhous relationship from enemies to lovers or the overall political scheme. I loved how both our protagonists started at the bottom and then gradually had to fight their way to the top through schemes, alliances but also by starting to rely on one another.
And then halfway through the story they both suffered some setbacks in their own way. And this, I think was done greatly, I just didn't really like how "easily" they recovered from it. I felt that halfway through the story, all the schemes and relationships were already established and there wasn't that much that still felt earned, at least not in the way that it did at the start of the story. Same with the relationship between Cezhou. I absolutely loved seeing their wholesome and domestic relationship but eventually it did become a bit boring to me. And yes, I could tell that the author tried to put more attention to side characters towards the end, but I feel like none of them were fleshed out enough to "replace" the enjoyment that I got from seeing the relationship between Cezhou develop.
Nonetheless, I still think it's overall a really great series. For me, the first half of the series was just so amazing that it was hard for the second half to live up to it.
August 14, 2026
this was the first time I was able to read the extras and I adore that cezhou had the most rushed and chaotic wedding ever because they didn't care about the pomp--they just wanted to be together!! they really did change their entire world with the power of their love for one another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2026
I can't believe it's just over... i would have loved to read at least 3 more books of this
August 12, 2026
Laughed, cried, poured one out for Qiao Tianya and Yao Wenyu. Time to reread the whole series.
August 17, 2026
"Who will you dream of?" Shen Zechuan lifted a finger, his eyes closed as he mumbled blearily, "You."
Xiao Chiye chuckled, the sound cutting through the drone of the insects outside. Just as he always did, Xiao Chiye interlaced his fingers with Shen Zechuan's as they drifted off to sleep together, a place where, every night, the dreams were sweet.
qjj è stata una storia super importante per me e, per quanto mi rattristi sapere di esserne giunta alla conclusione, sono davvero felice di aver cominciato e amato questa storia dall’inizio alla fine!! mi mancheranno tantissimo i Cezhou con i loro momenti soft e romantici (e kinky as fuck) loro davvero i miei genitori!!🥺🩷
5⭐️
Xiao Chiye chuckled, the sound cutting through the drone of the insects outside. Just as he always did, Xiao Chiye interlaced his fingers with Shen Zechuan's as they drifted off to sleep together, a place where, every night, the dreams were sweet.
qjj è stata una storia super importante per me e, per quanto mi rattristi sapere di esserne giunta alla conclusione, sono davvero felice di aver cominciato e amato questa storia dall’inizio alla fine!! mi mancheranno tantissimo i Cezhou con i loro momenti soft e romantici (e kinky as fuck) loro davvero i miei genitori!!🥺🩷
5⭐️
August 24, 2026
There are not enough words in the English language to describe how I feel about this book, and series as a whole.
September 7, 2026
cheered for cezhou and wept for songyu
i can’t believe it’s over…
i can’t believe it’s over…
August 26, 2026
This was perfection.
There is nothing more I could have wished for to conclude Lanzhou’s and Ce’an’s story.
Everything has been building up to this ending from the very beginning and it really shows how much thought the author has put into the plot, all the scheming and twists, but especially into every single character and their connections with one another.
I love how we followed Xiao Ce’an, the boy who was so driven by the desire to conquer the whole world, to end up only desiring and yearning for his Lanzhou. While Shen Lanzhou, whose only intention in the beginning had been to survive (and to take revenge) ended up the most powerful man of the nation. Nothing compares to these two <3.
Yao Wenyu’s and Qiao Tianya’s fate really broke me, since both of them - Yao Wenyu especially - have really grown on me. Their ending was truly heart wrecking and left a bittersweet aftertaste to this wonderful story. But even those painful moments and losses were handled in such a moving and touching way that it completed the story.
This series truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
There is nothing more I could have wished for to conclude Lanzhou’s and Ce’an’s story.
Everything has been building up to this ending from the very beginning and it really shows how much thought the author has put into the plot, all the scheming and twists, but especially into every single character and their connections with one another.
I love how we followed Xiao Ce’an, the boy who was so driven by the desire to conquer the whole world, to end up only desiring and yearning for his Lanzhou. While Shen Lanzhou, whose only intention in the beginning had been to survive (and to take revenge) ended up the most powerful man of the nation. Nothing compares to these two <3.
Yao Wenyu’s and Qiao Tianya’s fate really broke me, since both of them - Yao Wenyu especially - have really grown on me. Their ending was truly heart wrecking and left a bittersweet aftertaste to this wonderful story. But even those painful moments and losses were handled in such a moving and touching way that it completed the story.
This series truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2026
No puedo creer que ya acabó ;-; que maravillosa aventura. Sean eternos Xiao Chiye y Shen Zechuan
Una joyita en el mundo del danmei, complejo, lleno de giros, acción, política, romance, personajes complejos y una narración asombrosa. Tang jiu Qing le dió en el clavo (y aprovecho de recomendar Nan Chan, que es asombroso igual)
Una joyita en el mundo del danmei, complejo, lleno de giros, acción, política, romance, personajes complejos y una narración asombrosa. Tang jiu Qing le dió en el clavo (y aprovecho de recomendar Nan Chan, que es asombroso igual)
September 5, 2026
It’s so hard to say goodbye to this amazing story and Cezhou.
May 6, 2026
4 / 5 stars - Though, if I'm being honest it's more of a 3.75, but I can't bear to give it below a 4...
Okay, it wasn't bad. It was fine. I think it checked off all the boxes and everything was addressed... A decent ending but not a magnificent one. And I don't think it will detract from my enjoyment of the series overall, but I just wish it had been more thrilling of a finale. Kind of underwhelming. I think the previous volume was much stronger, it almost feels like that was the real climax of the series.
Don't get me wrong - I like having a strong cast of side characters whose actions are meaningful, but it it was almost too much. It kind of felt like *only* the side characters were driving the plot, not, you know, the main characters of the series. I recognize that my own personal preferences are influencing my critique here - I love Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, and I care about them a lot more than everyone else. But at the same time, from a more objective standpoint, this is the last arc of the book and the main characters barely had a presence. I would consider this a flaw.
-- rant section --
just to rant a little, Lanzhou barely did ANYTHING and I'm kinddddddd of upset about it. I REALLY wanted one last brilliant move from him, and while he did make some impactful decisions, he didn't get a moment to truly shine like he had been able to in other installments. Can I say something? He felt like a side character in his own book. There! I said it. It's like t97 didn't know what to do with him anymore. Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye... he had, something to do? Obviously it wasn't going to be as exciting as him vs. Hasen, but it was just so unexciting and there was no tension to it at all.
I do like the spotlight that characters like Yao Wenyu and Li Jianting got, but personally it's hard to fully enjoy it tbh when the MCs didn't feel present.
I also feel like we could have gotten some story between the final battles and the end of the book... I'm going to stop thinking about it.
---
It's still a great story overall, and I love cezhou with all my heart 🥰
---
edit: Ok I'm starting to feel really sad that the story is over. I've read the extras, too, so it really is over 🥲. I loved going on Lanzhou and Ce'an's journey from being trapped in their respective cages in Qudu to thriving at the top of the world. They've accomplished so much, and I loved seeing them both strive toward their own goals and work together to achieve them. The best power couple of all time. I loved how even when they were apart, they always yearned for each other and had undying loyalty and faith in one another.
This story has an intricate plot with charismatic main characters, supported by a very strong cast of side characters. Overall, I think the world building and politics were well done. When I typically read these kinds of stories, one metric that I use for determining if there's enough complexity in the politics is, "how much am I using the map?". And oh boy, I was hella using it. There were so many factors at play - the interests of the different factions and clans, the impending threats from the east, THE GRAIN - and I think t97 did a great job at weaving them all together.
I'll definitely have to re-read the series someday. There's definitely details that I probably didn't catch the first time around, and I think regardless that the re-readability of this series is very high.
I think that QJJ is going to have a spot as one of my favorite danmei. It's been a wonderful experience reading this series over the past couple months, and I loved my time with cezhou so much.
Okay, it wasn't bad. It was fine. I think it checked off all the boxes and everything was addressed... A decent ending but not a magnificent one. And I don't think it will detract from my enjoyment of the series overall, but I just wish it had been more thrilling of a finale. Kind of underwhelming. I think the previous volume was much stronger, it almost feels like that was the real climax of the series.
Don't get me wrong - I like having a strong cast of side characters whose actions are meaningful, but it it was almost too much. It kind of felt like *only* the side characters were driving the plot, not, you know, the main characters of the series. I recognize that my own personal preferences are influencing my critique here - I love Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, and I care about them a lot more than everyone else. But at the same time, from a more objective standpoint, this is the last arc of the book and the main characters barely had a presence. I would consider this a flaw.
-- rant section --
just to rant a little, Lanzhou barely did ANYTHING and I'm kinddddddd of upset about it. I REALLY wanted one last brilliant move from him, and while he did make some impactful decisions, he didn't get a moment to truly shine like he had been able to in other installments. Can I say something? He felt like a side character in his own book. There! I said it. It's like t97 didn't know what to do with him anymore. Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye... he had, something to do? Obviously it wasn't going to be as exciting as him vs. Hasen, but it was just so unexciting and there was no tension to it at all.
I do like the spotlight that characters like Yao Wenyu and Li Jianting got, but personally it's hard to fully enjoy it tbh when the MCs didn't feel present.
I also feel like we could have gotten some story between the final battles and the end of the book... I'm going to stop thinking about it.
---
It's still a great story overall, and I love cezhou with all my heart 🥰
---
edit: Ok I'm starting to feel really sad that the story is over. I've read the extras, too, so it really is over 🥲. I loved going on Lanzhou and Ce'an's journey from being trapped in their respective cages in Qudu to thriving at the top of the world. They've accomplished so much, and I loved seeing them both strive toward their own goals and work together to achieve them. The best power couple of all time. I loved how even when they were apart, they always yearned for each other and had undying loyalty and faith in one another.
This story has an intricate plot with charismatic main characters, supported by a very strong cast of side characters. Overall, I think the world building and politics were well done. When I typically read these kinds of stories, one metric that I use for determining if there's enough complexity in the politics is, "how much am I using the map?". And oh boy, I was hella using it. There were so many factors at play - the interests of the different factions and clans, the impending threats from the east, THE GRAIN - and I think t97 did a great job at weaving them all together.
I'll definitely have to re-read the series someday. There's definitely details that I probably didn't catch the first time around, and I think regardless that the re-readability of this series is very high.
I think that QJJ is going to have a spot as one of my favorite danmei. It's been a wonderful experience reading this series over the past couple months, and I loved my time with cezhou so much.
May 7, 2026
[5] ✦
August 27, 2026
3.25 for the entire novel.
QJJ is the perfect danmei for those who enjoy court intrigue and plot twists, but for a more character-driven reader, the books got somewhat tiresome towards the end. The story starts out with a gripping atmosphere, the main pair's developing relationship is enchanting, and there are side characters who deserve their moments in the spotlight as well, but the character list could use some serious trimming. I eventually stopped even trying to keep track of everyone as the story kept introducing new characters, many of which ended up feeling like unmemorable plot devices because of their limited appearances.
Overall, QJJ was a bit of a disappointment after a strong start. It was difficult to stay emotionally invested due to the sheer volume of exposition, political scheming and war strategies taking up so much of the page count. Not a bad novel by any means, but personally I ended up not enjoying it as much as I had hoped.
QJJ is the perfect danmei for those who enjoy court intrigue and plot twists, but for a more character-driven reader, the books got somewhat tiresome towards the end. The story starts out with a gripping atmosphere, the main pair's developing relationship is enchanting, and there are side characters who deserve their moments in the spotlight as well, but the character list could use some serious trimming. I eventually stopped even trying to keep track of everyone as the story kept introducing new characters, many of which ended up feeling like unmemorable plot devices because of their limited appearances.
Overall, QJJ was a bit of a disappointment after a strong start. It was difficult to stay emotionally invested due to the sheer volume of exposition, political scheming and war strategies taking up so much of the page count. Not a bad novel by any means, but personally I ended up not enjoying it as much as I had hoped.
September 7, 2026
"The moment he unfolded it, several tiny paper-folded wolves fluttered out." Pg. 108
I didn't write a review for Vol.7, but going into Vol.8 I still have nothing but good things to say despite some smaller, minor complaints. You can absolutely love a series thoroughly and still have some complaints, so I will make that clear, as this series I hold very near and dear. Over the last two years this has been the thing that has kept me going, constantly feeding off of every interaction Cezhou has like its water for my crops. Watching them grow up, and then conquer the obstacles before them just to get their wishes granted in the end - it has been a wonderful ride. I'm a little emotional its finally over.
If 7S decided to do up hardcover copies of this, I would absolutely buy them without question. And imo, I do feel like this series is deserving of the HC treatment.
Below I will list out the pros and cons, but be warned there may be slight spoilers. So read at your own discretion. I can't think of too many cons, so some of them might be "probable" more than anything.
Pros:
- Character Map; I think my favorite thing 7S included in this was the map of Alliances for the characters. I agree with a friend on this: I truly wish they would've included this earlier on in the series. Between this and the careful list of characters in the back, it made remembering who was what and what was going on much easier to straighten out - though at times I did need to resort to google.
- Characterization; Despite being politically heavy, I still feel this series was handled very well. All the characters are so lively, their banter delightful, and their personalities fleshed out. Even the antagonist don't seem all that much like antagonist. Everyone feels human, because that's exactly what they are. This is a story of war, corruption of power, and love, so naturally this is how it should feel.
- LGBTQ+; This is a danmei, so naturally there is queer love. I wanted to include this not just because its mlm, but this series has had some of the funniest coming out scenes I've ever read to date. There are multiple queer relationships in this, and they've all been beautifully handled. I still think back to Xiao Chiye coming out to his dad a few books back, and I think on it quite fondly. Xiao Chiye certainly has some poor luck when it comes to this, but it always works out in his favor. Other tasteful bonuses include: the power lesbian couple (Qi Zhuyin and her LI) and Qiao Tianya and his LI. I had Qiao Tianya's relationship spoiled for me some two years back when I first started reading the series, so I won't touch on it, but goddamn do I wish they got something more because they deserved happiness too. In the end, it made sense, but that pain is going to stick for a while with me.
- The Overall Writing and Translation; I never read any of the fan translations to this, nor can I read the original source. However, I believe this translation was handled quite well. It flowed very smooth. There were some parts that were slow to build, but then the next thing you knew there was a landslide sweeping you through to the end. The entire series was like this in the best way possible, and never did it feel like there were any parts that were unnecessary. Everything felt like a satisfying puzzle being put together that brought us to a beautiful ending.
- Cezhou; Look. I've got standards when it comes to relationships in prose, and the way that Xiao Chiye practically worships Shen Zechuan has not only set my bar, but had me hooked. They were the reason I kept reading, because every interaction they had made my heart flutter, giggle, and kick my feet. The constant devotion and tenderness, the mischief, the longing. Everything about what they had felt so real and soft. Xiao Chiye, you really are a henpecked husband. Let your wife bully you some more.
- THE ART; the overall art and illustrations for this have absolutely watered my crops. It's all so beautiful.
Cons, probably:
- Politically heavy; I'm sure I've said this a few times, and because it is politically heavy with a large cast, despite how well that gets handled, I can absolutely understand why that steers some people away. I personally do not like politically heavy things, yet the characters and their interactions are what pulled me in, so I honestly didn't mind all the on goings. I would still suggest giving the first volume a try. :)
- Time Skips???; There are a lot of time skips throughout the series. It's not a huge deal breaker, but for some it might be as it could lead to some confusion as far as pacing goes or with regards to characters' ages or even the animals surrounding them. Despite this, I felt like they were handled well because there was never anything unnecessary included, nor was there lagging with the progression of the story. The worst of it, it could leave readers with some questions about if something more happened. For that, I say take to ao3 and let your imagination run wild.
- Character Deaths; This is a war-heavy story, so just like with Gundam, be prepared for characters you might like to die at some point. That's all I'll say on that.
- Large Cast; As mentioned a few times before, this series does have a large cast, and because of that a lot of minor characters you may like might not get the interactions you'd like. This is normal, but as a reminder, this story revolves around Cezhou.
Overall:
I can't think of many cons with this, but as far as the plot goes I was hoping for something more with some of the side characters and the young empress there towards the end, and I was a little bit disappointed with Qi Zhuyin's under-usage at times with regards to some political points. But with regards to the journey Cezhou went on to bring about their dreams and happiness, it was a journey worth experiencing. This series stays very close to my heart, and I hope everyone can give it a chance. I feel like Xiao Chiye is a LI many folks should experience, and I love that Shen Zechuan was no pushover despite his disabilities and illness. To see this powercouple grow, I really am sad the story is over. :) But what an absolute story of struggle, growth, and devotion this ended up being.
"All the thousands upon thousands of words Shen Zechuan had to say dissolved into a single phrase: Miss you." Pg.109
I didn't write a review for Vol.7, but going into Vol.8 I still have nothing but good things to say despite some smaller, minor complaints. You can absolutely love a series thoroughly and still have some complaints, so I will make that clear, as this series I hold very near and dear. Over the last two years this has been the thing that has kept me going, constantly feeding off of every interaction Cezhou has like its water for my crops. Watching them grow up, and then conquer the obstacles before them just to get their wishes granted in the end - it has been a wonderful ride. I'm a little emotional its finally over.
If 7S decided to do up hardcover copies of this, I would absolutely buy them without question. And imo, I do feel like this series is deserving of the HC treatment.
Below I will list out the pros and cons, but be warned there may be slight spoilers. So read at your own discretion. I can't think of too many cons, so some of them might be "probable" more than anything.
Pros:
- Character Map; I think my favorite thing 7S included in this was the map of Alliances for the characters. I agree with a friend on this: I truly wish they would've included this earlier on in the series. Between this and the careful list of characters in the back, it made remembering who was what and what was going on much easier to straighten out - though at times I did need to resort to google.
- Characterization; Despite being politically heavy, I still feel this series was handled very well. All the characters are so lively, their banter delightful, and their personalities fleshed out. Even the antagonist don't seem all that much like antagonist. Everyone feels human, because that's exactly what they are. This is a story of war, corruption of power, and love, so naturally this is how it should feel.
- LGBTQ+; This is a danmei, so naturally there is queer love. I wanted to include this not just because its mlm, but this series has had some of the funniest coming out scenes I've ever read to date. There are multiple queer relationships in this, and they've all been beautifully handled. I still think back to Xiao Chiye coming out to his dad a few books back, and I think on it quite fondly. Xiao Chiye certainly has some poor luck when it comes to this, but it always works out in his favor. Other tasteful bonuses include: the power lesbian couple (Qi Zhuyin and her LI) and Qiao Tianya and his LI. I had Qiao Tianya's relationship spoiled for me some two years back when I first started reading the series, so I won't touch on it, but goddamn do I wish they got something more because they deserved happiness too. In the end, it made sense, but that pain is going to stick for a while with me.
- The Overall Writing and Translation; I never read any of the fan translations to this, nor can I read the original source. However, I believe this translation was handled quite well. It flowed very smooth. There were some parts that were slow to build, but then the next thing you knew there was a landslide sweeping you through to the end. The entire series was like this in the best way possible, and never did it feel like there were any parts that were unnecessary. Everything felt like a satisfying puzzle being put together that brought us to a beautiful ending.
- Cezhou; Look. I've got standards when it comes to relationships in prose, and the way that Xiao Chiye practically worships Shen Zechuan has not only set my bar, but had me hooked. They were the reason I kept reading, because every interaction they had made my heart flutter, giggle, and kick my feet. The constant devotion and tenderness, the mischief, the longing. Everything about what they had felt so real and soft. Xiao Chiye, you really are a henpecked husband. Let your wife bully you some more.
- THE ART; the overall art and illustrations for this have absolutely watered my crops. It's all so beautiful.
Cons, probably:
- Politically heavy; I'm sure I've said this a few times, and because it is politically heavy with a large cast, despite how well that gets handled, I can absolutely understand why that steers some people away. I personally do not like politically heavy things, yet the characters and their interactions are what pulled me in, so I honestly didn't mind all the on goings. I would still suggest giving the first volume a try. :)
- Time Skips???; There are a lot of time skips throughout the series. It's not a huge deal breaker, but for some it might be as it could lead to some confusion as far as pacing goes or with regards to characters' ages or even the animals surrounding them. Despite this, I felt like they were handled well because there was never anything unnecessary included, nor was there lagging with the progression of the story. The worst of it, it could leave readers with some questions about if something more happened. For that, I say take to ao3 and let your imagination run wild.
- Character Deaths; This is a war-heavy story, so just like with Gundam, be prepared for characters you might like to die at some point. That's all I'll say on that.
- Large Cast; As mentioned a few times before, this series does have a large cast, and because of that a lot of minor characters you may like might not get the interactions you'd like. This is normal, but as a reminder, this story revolves around Cezhou.
Overall:
I can't think of many cons with this, but as far as the plot goes I was hoping for something more with some of the side characters and the young empress there towards the end, and I was a little bit disappointed with Qi Zhuyin's under-usage at times with regards to some political points. But with regards to the journey Cezhou went on to bring about their dreams and happiness, it was a journey worth experiencing. This series stays very close to my heart, and I hope everyone can give it a chance. I feel like Xiao Chiye is a LI many folks should experience, and I love that Shen Zechuan was no pushover despite his disabilities and illness. To see this powercouple grow, I really am sad the story is over. :) But what an absolute story of struggle, growth, and devotion this ended up being.
"All the thousands upon thousands of words Shen Zechuan had to say dissolved into a single phrase: Miss you." Pg.109
Read
September 7, 2026é meio difícil dar tchau pra uma história que eu criei tanto apego, mas fico feliz que cheguei ao fim com o mesmo entusiasmo de quando eu iniciei essa leitura e já guardo comigo todos os momentos e páginas que passei com essas centenas de personagens que fizeram uma história tão bonita de amor como essa acontecer. e de amor, sim! porque qjj é grãos e politicagem porque o amor de cezhou existe. e ele é o mais bonito de todos. como um fim, eu acredito que ele aproveitou bastante seu tempo pra ir ficando mais caótico conforme os capítulos passavam. tiveram plot lines que eu nem imaginava que aconteceriam, porque sempre enxerguei qjj mais como uma jornada do que algo pro meu shock value, então não tinha expectativas fora da curva pro final dela. me emocionei com o fim que os antagonistas tiveram, quebrei meu coração com o de aliados que eu amava e, acima de tudo, fiquei MUITO orgulhosa de cezhou e do que eles conquistaram. de como se mantiveram eles mesmos, do jeitinho fora da curva e rebeldes (com causa) que eles são até mesmo no ÚLTIMO momento... ver onde todo mundo foi parar nos extras foi o que realmente completou pra mim essa experiência. e é impressionante como a t97 me fez continuar imaginando e me importando com o que aconteceria depois, pra além dos extras, de tanta informação relevante que ela conseguiu fornecer que abria margem pra essa imaginação voar. talento absurdooooo pra escrita. eu de verdade viveria capítulos infinitos com essas pessoas e com cezhou
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews