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无双 Peerless
开皇三年，上承北朝，下开盛唐的大隋刚刚拉开序幕，隋帝杨坚设解剑府，为布谋摄密，一统天下而准备。
风雪之夜，于阗国前来朝贡的车队中途被劫杀，无一活口，解剑府二府主凤霄，奉帝命亲往调查。
边陲六工城中，各方势力风云际会，高人强者狭路相逢。
向来无往不利的凤二府主，却在一个病鬼道士身上碰了壁。
不斗不知道，一斗才发现，这病痨鬼的马甲居然比自己还多。
古代悬疑破案文，庙堂之高，江湖之远，你要的都有。
cp：身体很残分分钟都可能挂掉的智商担当颜控受vs武力值爆表很爱演戏的自恋洁癖攻
半架空，不考据。
"Peerless"
In the third year of the Kaihuang era, as the Great Sui began to unfold between the fall of the Northern Dynasties and the rise of the glorious Tang Dynasty, Emperor Yang Jian created the House of Blades – an intelligence agency for strategies and conspiracies – in preparation to unify the world.
On a snowy night, a convoy of tribute from the Kingdom of Khotan was raided. Not one soul survived the attack. Feng Xiao, Second Commandant of the House of Blades, was ordered by the Emperor to investigate the matter in person.
On the distant border, a storm brewed as major forces gathered from all sides in Liugong town. The strong rubbed shoulders with the strong; the skilled crossed paths with the skilled.
Here, the ever-successful Second Commandant Feng ran into a wall for the first time – all because of a feeble Taoist priest with ailing health.
Some things would never be known if no fights were ever picked. Only through their skirmishes did Feng Xiao realise that this sick bastard seemed to have way more aliases and personas than he himself ever did.
(-novelupdates.com)
风雪之夜，于阗国前来朝贡的车队中途被劫杀，无一活口，解剑府二府主凤霄，奉帝命亲往调查。
边陲六工城中，各方势力风云际会，高人强者狭路相逢。
向来无往不利的凤二府主，却在一个病鬼道士身上碰了壁。
不斗不知道，一斗才发现，这病痨鬼的马甲居然比自己还多。
古代悬疑破案文，庙堂之高，江湖之远，你要的都有。
cp：身体很残分分钟都可能挂掉的智商担当颜控受vs武力值爆表很爱演戏的自恋洁癖攻
半架空，不考据。
"Peerless"
In the third year of the Kaihuang era, as the Great Sui began to unfold between the fall of the Northern Dynasties and the rise of the glorious Tang Dynasty, Emperor Yang Jian created the House of Blades – an intelligence agency for strategies and conspiracies – in preparation to unify the world.
On a snowy night, a convoy of tribute from the Kingdom of Khotan was raided. Not one soul survived the attack. Feng Xiao, Second Commandant of the House of Blades, was ordered by the Emperor to investigate the matter in person.
On the distant border, a storm brewed as major forces gathered from all sides in Liugong town. The strong rubbed shoulders with the strong; the skilled crossed paths with the skilled.
Here, the ever-successful Second Commandant Feng ran into a wall for the first time – all because of a feeble Taoist priest with ailing health.
Some things would never be known if no fights were ever picked. Only through their skirmishes did Feng Xiao realise that this sick bastard seemed to have way more aliases and personas than he himself ever did.
(-novelupdates.com)
587 pages, Webnovel
First published December 15, 2018
79 people are currently reading
1372 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 109 reviews
April 5, 2025
i have a soft spot for this kind of dynamic in danmei :D Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao are very similar. their relationship can be described as "moron plus moron"—both leading bureau divisions, both ruthless, calculating, and almost annoyingly brilliant. but while they share a mind for strategy, they’re polar opposites in ways that matter. Feng Xiao is one of the strongest martial artists in the world, while Cui Buqu’s health is so precarious that everyone expects him to drop dead by next monday.
Meng Xi Shi pulls off her signature move which is writing absolute morons that STAY morons. i’ve only read two of her novels, but just think of Yan Wushi! the man is an asshole, but one thing that makes him incredibly attractive is that he is always unapologetically true to himself. the main reason he's so desperate to break Shen Qiao is because he has this ironclad conviction that anyone who puts ethics and morality first is actually just putting on a facade, and they always have some kind of selfish intentions inside. it's not hard to pressure him and destroy all of that. and because he’s so convinced of this, watching someone like Shen Qiao walk around being a genuinely good person must feel like having a mosquito buzz in his ear.
Feng Xiao, on the other hand, doesn’t have a grand philosophical stance on human nature. his guiding principle is much simpler—Feng Xiao is, in every possible way, peerless. he has spent his entire life in cheerful, unshakable certainty that he is the most beautiful, the most competent, and the most intelligent boy in any given room. that’s what makes Meng Xi Shi’s selfish characters so fun! Feng Xiao’s ego is truly magnificent in size, but never in a way that makes him stupid. he’s smug, but not delusional, arrogant, yet perfectly willing to acknowledge Cui Buqu’s intelligence—because, after all, what’s the point of being the best if you don’t recognize worthy competition? he can mastermind intricate plots, but at his core, he’s also an incredibly open book. sure, his personality might be...an acquired taste, but at least he never pretends to be anything other than exactly what he is.
and then there’s Cui Buqu, and let me tell you—this man is one of the most fascinating protagonists i’ve ever come across. from the moment he’s introduced, he’s already LOCKED IN, having successfully convinced an entire city that he’s a kind-hearted, generous, and deeply compassionate Taoist priest. adorable, really. well, only if you ignore the fact that, when it comes to sheer ruthlessness, he makes Feng Xiao look like a rookie. this is a man so frail he could probably lose a fight to a particularly aggressive breeze, yet somehow he steamrolls over everyone in his path. just when you think you’ve figured him out, another layer appears, and then another, and then another, right up until the final pages of the novel. naturally, this makes the slow burn of his relationship with Feng Xiao all the more delicious. and despite both of them being the absolute gremlins in charge of their respective divisions, their subordinates love them. which is almost more terrifying than their enemies fearing them. Cui Buqu’s better qualities unfold gradually, while Feng Xiao, though far more upfront, is demanding, dramatic, and frankly a little high-maintenance. it is precisely communication with Cui Buqu that also changes him for the better, not in a character development way, but in a way that makes him more himself, just with sharper wit and an even stronger conviction that he’s the best thing to ever happen to this world.
what i find both charming and unusual is that no matter how much we get to know them, no matter how much they open up, they both never lose what makes them absolute assholes. Cui Buqu’s still a cunning and ruthless cockroach, and Feng Xiao is that dazzling peacock who remains the center of his own universe. beneath all the cunning and ruthlessness, Cui Buqu turns out to be incredibly tender and awe-struck towards Feng Xiao, and Feng Xiao always has a place for Cui Buqu at the center of his world, whom he admires no less than himself. and in the end, they are both peerless (˶ᵔᵕᵔ˶)
Meng Xi Shi pulls off her signature move which is writing absolute morons that STAY morons. i’ve only read two of her novels, but just think of Yan Wushi! the man is an asshole, but one thing that makes him incredibly attractive is that he is always unapologetically true to himself. the main reason he's so desperate to break Shen Qiao is because he has this ironclad conviction that anyone who puts ethics and morality first is actually just putting on a facade, and they always have some kind of selfish intentions inside. it's not hard to pressure him and destroy all of that. and because he’s so convinced of this, watching someone like Shen Qiao walk around being a genuinely good person must feel like having a mosquito buzz in his ear.
Feng Xiao, on the other hand, doesn’t have a grand philosophical stance on human nature. his guiding principle is much simpler—Feng Xiao is, in every possible way, peerless. he has spent his entire life in cheerful, unshakable certainty that he is the most beautiful, the most competent, and the most intelligent boy in any given room. that’s what makes Meng Xi Shi’s selfish characters so fun! Feng Xiao’s ego is truly magnificent in size, but never in a way that makes him stupid. he’s smug, but not delusional, arrogant, yet perfectly willing to acknowledge Cui Buqu’s intelligence—because, after all, what’s the point of being the best if you don’t recognize worthy competition? he can mastermind intricate plots, but at his core, he’s also an incredibly open book. sure, his personality might be...an acquired taste, but at least he never pretends to be anything other than exactly what he is.
and then there’s Cui Buqu, and let me tell you—this man is one of the most fascinating protagonists i’ve ever come across. from the moment he’s introduced, he’s already LOCKED IN, having successfully convinced an entire city that he’s a kind-hearted, generous, and deeply compassionate Taoist priest. adorable, really. well, only if you ignore the fact that, when it comes to sheer ruthlessness, he makes Feng Xiao look like a rookie. this is a man so frail he could probably lose a fight to a particularly aggressive breeze, yet somehow he steamrolls over everyone in his path. just when you think you’ve figured him out, another layer appears, and then another, and then another, right up until the final pages of the novel. naturally, this makes the slow burn of his relationship with Feng Xiao all the more delicious. and despite both of them being the absolute gremlins in charge of their respective divisions, their subordinates love them. which is almost more terrifying than their enemies fearing them. Cui Buqu’s better qualities unfold gradually, while Feng Xiao, though far more upfront, is demanding, dramatic, and frankly a little high-maintenance. it is precisely communication with Cui Buqu that also changes him for the better, not in a character development way, but in a way that makes him more himself, just with sharper wit and an even stronger conviction that he’s the best thing to ever happen to this world.
what i find both charming and unusual is that no matter how much we get to know them, no matter how much they open up, they both never lose what makes them absolute assholes. Cui Buqu’s still a cunning and ruthless cockroach, and Feng Xiao is that dazzling peacock who remains the center of his own universe. beneath all the cunning and ruthlessness, Cui Buqu turns out to be incredibly tender and awe-struck towards Feng Xiao, and Feng Xiao always has a place for Cui Buqu at the center of his world, whom he admires no less than himself. and in the end, they are both peerless (˶ᵔᵕᵔ˶)
February 27, 2022
Completed untill book 2 and I have nothing but praise for it honestly. Due to the busy schedule and mostly cuz I'm not supposed to read on my phone, I'm going a small hiatus with this one till a month or two. Will surely come back soon to this.
April 8, 2022
i'm too lazy to write a proper review. scattered thoughts: this was such a fun ride -- lots of good tropey stuff and it is more 'genre-y' than 千秋 Qian Qiu , which seemed very experimental and read more like a character study (i loved it though).
just a note that there is the usual portrayal of non-Han Chinese ethnic groups as barbarians and savages skilled in dark magic, poison, curses...
this author also really likes politics and it was hard to keep track of and stay interested with the many side characters that appeared in the last arc. one of the villains was brought in really late (felt a bit abrupt -- lack of build-up) and i felt that the last bit would have been stronger if she had been incorporated into the story more frequently.
anyway, this was so fun!
just a note that there is the usual portrayal of non-Han Chinese ethnic groups as barbarians and savages skilled in dark magic, poison, curses...
this author also really likes politics and it was hard to keep track of and stay interested with the many side characters that appeared in the last arc. one of the villains was brought in really late (felt a bit abrupt -- lack of build-up) and i felt that the last bit would have been stronger if she had been incorporated into the story more frequently.
anyway, this was so fun!
September 19, 2024
*sobbing in fengcui* i love them ;;
but the novel itself, 3.5*, not even nearly as good as Thousand Autumns.
but the novel itself, 3.5*, not even nearly as good as Thousand Autumns.
Read
November 22, 2025(Not rating the whole FTL as I only switched to this version for the last couple of arcs)
3.5 stars
Overall, I wanted to enjoy Peerless more than I did. I walked in with high expectations, and wasn’t disappointed per se, but large chunks of reading time with this series felt more like a chore.
There was so much I really enjoyed and appreciate about this novel—the characters, especially the mains, are phenomenal and dynamic. I grew to care deeply for Cui Buqu and learned to appreciate Feng Xiao’s obnoxious self-obsession 🙃 I wish the side characters had a bit more screen-time, especially as Pei Jingzhe and Qiao Xian (two of my favorites) practically disappear from the final arcs.
Although I slightly prefer Thousand Autumns to this novel, I had a similar reading experience in feeling bogged down and sometimes overwhelmed with vast worldbuilding details, particularly background details that add a little to the ongoing plot, but are ultimately not worth remembering in the long run and sometimes even detracted from keeping focus on larger plot. This author’s writing is ambitious as hell and I admire that, but something about the writing and narrative style just doesn’t click for me.
All that said, I’d still read more from Meng Xi Shi, and I do intend to reread both TA and Peerless at some point in the future, just to give these my best go at understanding how the author weaves their backstories and plot together. Meng Xi Shi is a master of subtlety, especially when it comes to character development, and so much is written in between the lines of these novels that would definitely benefit from a good reread.
3.5 stars
Overall, I wanted to enjoy Peerless more than I did. I walked in with high expectations, and wasn’t disappointed per se, but large chunks of reading time with this series felt more like a chore.
There was so much I really enjoyed and appreciate about this novel—the characters, especially the mains, are phenomenal and dynamic. I grew to care deeply for Cui Buqu and learned to appreciate Feng Xiao’s obnoxious self-obsession 🙃 I wish the side characters had a bit more screen-time, especially as Pei Jingzhe and Qiao Xian (two of my favorites) practically disappear from the final arcs.
Although I slightly prefer Thousand Autumns to this novel, I had a similar reading experience in feeling bogged down and sometimes overwhelmed with vast worldbuilding details, particularly background details that add a little to the ongoing plot, but are ultimately not worth remembering in the long run and sometimes even detracted from keeping focus on larger plot. This author’s writing is ambitious as hell and I admire that, but something about the writing and narrative style just doesn’t click for me.
All that said, I’d still read more from Meng Xi Shi, and I do intend to reread both TA and Peerless at some point in the future, just to give these my best go at understanding how the author weaves their backstories and plot together. Meng Xi Shi is a master of subtlety, especially when it comes to character development, and so much is written in between the lines of these novels that would definitely benefit from a good reread.
March 6, 2025
Fengcui is truly my favorite bickering couple, and I love how they stay true to themselves until the end. That said, I’d love to read more fluff! Unfortunately, even in the extras there’s not much of it.
The last two arcs are my least favorite—they’re just downright boring sometimes. Luckily the main couple never fails to entertain me with their squabble and antics.
The last two arcs are my least favorite—they’re just downright boring sometimes. Luckily the main couple never fails to entertain me with their squabble and antics.
March 22, 2021
3.5 stars
my second mxs novel after thousand autumns, and it's confirmed, mxs is a keeper!
okay i'm gonna be upfront, from the enjoyment i derived out of the main pair fengcui, the rating would have been like 10 stars lol, the way i HOWLED with laughter at their bickering!!!!!!!
mxs once again writing to my ID and delivering on all the troupes i'm weak for, we've got the rivals to lovers troupe, crossdressing, pretending to be a couple in the name of spying, etc etc.... i love peacock feng xiao and sickly mastermind cui buqu, their banter is out of this world, their chemistry sizzling hot, i could have read like thousands of chapters of them going around town sniping at each other LOL
in terms of plot, it doesn't do anything really ground breaking, it's very genre-y, but mxs knows what she likes and does it well, the politicking was well done, her wuxia fight scenes, as always, are immaculate, and her COMEDY. seriously, mxs is SO FUNNY, i can't even begin to describe, entertainment value 10/10
not as good as thousand autumns (but what can be as good as thousand autumns, really?), i think the novel could be improved upon with better tying in character development trajectories and plotlines.... but at the same token, i think sometimes mxs thinks hmmm i could develop this scene/character/relationship more OR i could throw in more funny scenarios shenanigans, and you know what? that's valid of her LOL.
Can't wait for my next mxs read!!!
my second mxs novel after thousand autumns, and it's confirmed, mxs is a keeper!
okay i'm gonna be upfront, from the enjoyment i derived out of the main pair fengcui, the rating would have been like 10 stars lol, the way i HOWLED with laughter at their bickering!!!!!!!
mxs once again writing to my ID and delivering on all the troupes i'm weak for, we've got the rivals to lovers troupe, crossdressing, pretending to be a couple in the name of spying, etc etc.... i love peacock feng xiao and sickly mastermind cui buqu, their banter is out of this world, their chemistry sizzling hot, i could have read like thousands of chapters of them going around town sniping at each other LOL
in terms of plot, it doesn't do anything really ground breaking, it's very genre-y, but mxs knows what she likes and does it well, the politicking was well done, her wuxia fight scenes, as always, are immaculate, and her COMEDY. seriously, mxs is SO FUNNY, i can't even begin to describe, entertainment value 10/10
not as good as thousand autumns (but what can be as good as thousand autumns, really?), i think the novel could be improved upon with better tying in character development trajectories and plotlines.... but at the same token, i think sometimes mxs thinks hmmm i could develop this scene/character/relationship more OR i could throw in more funny scenarios shenanigans, and you know what? that's valid of her LOL.
Can't wait for my next mxs read!!!
May 28, 2025
₊⊹♡ 5 stars ⋆˙⟡
such a good and entertaining series!!
the storyline was easy to follow, mainly because of all the comical scenes, interesting characters, and the hilarious dynamic between the main couple 😭
i loved that the plot focused on murders and cases to solve, with cultivation being more of a secondary element, still present, but not overwhelming.
the last two arcs were definitely more complex to follow compared to the first ones, which were absolutely fantastic, i honestly have nothing to criticize about them.
about the characters,
Cui Buqu was absolutely my favorite. his backstory made me cry, and especially towards the end of the last book, you couldn’t help but feel empathy for him.
i loved how he would never say what he feels for Feng Xiao out loud, instead, he expresses it through his actions. small gestures are his love language, and we love that (it honestly reminded me of Lan Zhan 😭).
Feng Xiao was just SO hilarious, i laughed at literally every sentence he said.
⚠️ volume 5 spoiler ahead ⚠️ i was SHOCKED when he went bald. I had to pause for a second to picture it….. i don’t think I’ll ever recover from that trauma (jk we love bald characters🫶🏻)
i also got really attached to both of their subordinates, especially Pei. HE’S SUCH A FUN CHARACTER, I REALLY LOVE HIM 😭😭😭😭😭😭
overall, i’d definitely recommend this to anyone new to the genre, i think it’s a great starting point!
except maybe for the many thousand autumns references, since it’s set in the same universe. to understand everything fully, i’d recommend reading thousand autumns first, especially because several characters and places appear in both series, and knowing a bit of thousand autumns really helps make the story clearer 🫶🏻
such a good and entertaining series!!
the storyline was easy to follow, mainly because of all the comical scenes, interesting characters, and the hilarious dynamic between the main couple 😭
i loved that the plot focused on murders and cases to solve, with cultivation being more of a secondary element, still present, but not overwhelming.
the last two arcs were definitely more complex to follow compared to the first ones, which were absolutely fantastic, i honestly have nothing to criticize about them.
about the characters,
Cui Buqu was absolutely my favorite. his backstory made me cry, and especially towards the end of the last book, you couldn’t help but feel empathy for him.
i loved how he would never say what he feels for Feng Xiao out loud, instead, he expresses it through his actions. small gestures are his love language, and we love that (it honestly reminded me of Lan Zhan 😭).
Feng Xiao was just SO hilarious, i laughed at literally every sentence he said.
⚠️ volume 5 spoiler ahead ⚠️ i was SHOCKED when he went bald. I had to pause for a second to picture it….. i don’t think I’ll ever recover from that trauma (jk we love bald characters🫶🏻)
i also got really attached to both of their subordinates, especially Pei. HE’S SUCH A FUN CHARACTER, I REALLY LOVE HIM 😭😭😭😭😭😭
overall, i’d definitely recommend this to anyone new to the genre, i think it’s a great starting point!
except maybe for the many thousand autumns references, since it’s set in the same universe. to understand everything fully, i’d recommend reading thousand autumns first, especially because several characters and places appear in both series, and knowing a bit of thousand autumns really helps make the story clearer 🫶🏻
May 21, 2024
Another excellent novel from Meng Xi Shi, who’s a master in building unique, outstanding characters. You may not remember the plot or the details from her books in a year or two, but you will never forget her characters.
I heard Seven Seas is going to publish this book in the coming months. If you love Thousand Autumns, grab this book as soon as it’s out.
I heard Seven Seas is going to publish this book in the coming months. If you love Thousand Autumns, grab this book as soon as it’s out.
October 6, 2024
damn they're gay asf
September 12, 2022
I had put off reading this because I thought there was no way it could live up to its predecessor, Qian Qiu Thousand Autumns which is one of my all-time favorites. I'm glad a friend gave me the nudge to finally read it, because if I'm being completely honest... in same ways I like Wushuang more, which is really saying something.
This is set after Thousand Autumns, and some characters and factions are mentioned (mild spoiler: Feng Xiao is a member of the demonic Fajin Sect, and Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi are name-dropped on occasion), but this can be read without reading Thousand Autumns first. However, I think to really get the most out of the world that Meng Xishi set up it's better to go ahead and take the time to check out Thousand Autumns before reading this one.
While I did enjoy the plot, it honestly takes a back seat to the main characters, Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu. Both men are very different, yet similar. Feng Xiao is peerlessly handsome and incredibly skilled in martial arts and he knows it and isn't afraid to make sure you know he knows it. Cui Buqu on the other hand is cold-hearted, sly, and chronically ill and living on borrowed time while burning the candle at both ends. Both men lead investigative organizations that were set up to balance each other out, power-wise, and start off as equally intelligent and driven rivals, and try to find ways to make the other trip up and embarrass themselves while getting themselves and their organization ahead. Along the way, they come to realize that there isn't anyone else in the world quite like the other one- as annoying as they may be - and that they might actually (ugh) love the other... but they're still professionally rivals and never stop trying to "pit" the other as the translation I read put it. I would subtitle this book "setting traps to embarrass your beloved as a love language".
I want to write more later, but I also just wanted to say that I really loved the way Cui Buqu's chronic illness is handled. Unlike a lot of other novels in this genre with a disabled protagonist, there is very little convenient healing of his illness when the plot needed him to essentially not be disabled. I also liked that it didn't go the direction I thought it was going to, and he ends the novel still being chronically ill.
4.5 rounded up
This is set after Thousand Autumns, and some characters and factions are mentioned (mild spoiler: Feng Xiao is a member of the demonic Fajin Sect, and Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi are name-dropped on occasion), but this can be read without reading Thousand Autumns first. However, I think to really get the most out of the world that Meng Xishi set up it's better to go ahead and take the time to check out Thousand Autumns before reading this one.
While I did enjoy the plot, it honestly takes a back seat to the main characters, Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu. Both men are very different, yet similar. Feng Xiao is peerlessly handsome and incredibly skilled in martial arts and he knows it and isn't afraid to make sure you know he knows it. Cui Buqu on the other hand is cold-hearted, sly, and chronically ill and living on borrowed time while burning the candle at both ends. Both men lead investigative organizations that were set up to balance each other out, power-wise, and start off as equally intelligent and driven rivals, and try to find ways to make the other trip up and embarrass themselves while getting themselves and their organization ahead. Along the way, they come to realize that there isn't anyone else in the world quite like the other one- as annoying as they may be - and that they might actually (ugh) love the other... but they're still professionally rivals and never stop trying to "pit" the other as the translation I read put it. I would subtitle this book "setting traps to embarrass your beloved as a love language".
I want to write more later, but I also just wanted to say that I really loved the way Cui Buqu's chronic illness is handled. Unlike a lot of other novels in this genre with a disabled protagonist, there is very little convenient healing of his illness when the plot needed him to essentially not be disabled. I also liked that it didn't go the direction I thought it was going to, and he ends the novel still being chronically ill.
4.5 rounded up
January 28, 2024
I'm obsessed. Like, for real, if you're even barely interested in the wuxia or historical danmei genre, I cannot recommend this novel enough.
"Peerless" has pretty much everything I love in a story. Although it is a long novel, it never ever gets tiring; with exceptionally captivating main characters, lots of action, angst and comedic moments, it is way more "palatable" than its predecessor, Thousand Autumns (more on that later).
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao have what has now become one of my favorite dynamics between two mcs in a danmei. They are endlessly entertaining and the ultimate soulmates - both of them are a menace, especially to each other - and the development of their relationship is a joy to follow through, unless you dislike slow burn and are fond of grandiose confessions of love, because these two are too stubborn for that *cue the clown music*. It's also worth mentioning that Cui Buqu, the protagonist, is chronically ill, and the representation of his illness is one of Meng Xi Shi's main achievements this time.
This is, in its' core, a detective story, and every single case throughout the 7 (or 8?) arcs is entertaining and serves a purpose to the main plot. If you like a good mystery, Peerless won't dissapoint you. The secondary characters are also 10/10, including the main villain. Cui Buqu is a genius, Feng Xiao is smart and an elite martial artist, and together they are insufferable- I mean, they are the perfect duo for solving mysteries.
Now, as for how this novel compares to Thousand Autumns, they don't have much in common aside from existing in the same universe. Here we have less cultivation talk and considerably less detailed action scenes. The protagonists also interact way more (as in almost every chapter, and believe me, it does not get boring), and the comedic element is way more present, without the focus on honor, descent from glory, betrayal and the principles of daoism. Both stories are great, but Peerless is easier to follow and, in my personal experience, more engrossing - Feng Xiao has a big role in that aspect, he is too good of a ML and unapologetically shameless.
I'm missing my clowns (FenCui) already and wish I could experience this story for the first time again :')
"Peerless" has pretty much everything I love in a story. Although it is a long novel, it never ever gets tiring; with exceptionally captivating main characters, lots of action, angst and comedic moments, it is way more "palatable" than its predecessor, Thousand Autumns (more on that later).
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao have what has now become one of my favorite dynamics between two mcs in a danmei. They are endlessly entertaining and the ultimate soulmates - both of them are a menace, especially to each other - and the development of their relationship is a joy to follow through, unless you dislike slow burn and are fond of grandiose confessions of love, because these two are too stubborn for that *cue the clown music*. It's also worth mentioning that Cui Buqu, the protagonist, is chronically ill, and the representation of his illness is one of Meng Xi Shi's main achievements this time.
This is, in its' core, a detective story, and every single case throughout the 7 (or 8?) arcs is entertaining and serves a purpose to the main plot. If you like a good mystery, Peerless won't dissapoint you. The secondary characters are also 10/10, including the main villain. Cui Buqu is a genius, Feng Xiao is smart and an elite martial artist, and together they are insufferable- I mean, they are the perfect duo for solving mysteries.
Now, as for how this novel compares to Thousand Autumns, they don't have much in common aside from existing in the same universe. Here we have less cultivation talk and considerably less detailed action scenes. The protagonists also interact way more (as in almost every chapter, and believe me, it does not get boring), and the comedic element is way more present, without the focus on honor, descent from glory, betrayal and the principles of daoism. Both stories are great, but Peerless is easier to follow and, in my personal experience, more engrossing - Feng Xiao has a big role in that aspect, he is too good of a ML and unapologetically shameless.
I'm missing my clowns (FenCui) already and wish I could experience this story for the first time again :')
May 16, 2021
“To place my life in your hands, even if my end is death, it is something I’ll never regret.”
My goodness.
The sentence above truly sums up the relationship between Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu. Until the end of the book, I wasn't sure who was the MC and ML because both of them had almost equal amount of "screen time" but mostly, I think it's because both of them were both powerful individuals in their own rights so there wasn't any that was better than the other. And I *loved* the fact that they were both equals because they could dig pits for each other and make fun of each other, all without feeling like there were any condescending feelings from one another.
Their rivals-to-lovers dynamics were just so satisfying to me as they jabbed at each other but also learned to fully trust each other and found a lifelong companion in each other. FX and CBQ were also multi-dimensional characters that had quirks, weaknesses and the ability to grow in terms of character development.
I've just been talking about the MC and ML's relationship but really, what I enjoyed reading about the most was the politics and scheming as FX, CBQ and their teams were forced into a dangerous journey that involved many other powerful forces hiding in the dark. There were so many layers behind the plot and the author really did their best to unravel the layers piece by piece until we got to the heart of the matter. It was exciting and I couldn't help myself from binge reading this book because I couldn't wait to find out what was going on and who was the true masterminds of everything.
There were quite a few arcs in the novel and in every one of them, there was something new to discover as we followed FX, CBQ and their trusted aides in digging deeper and unrooting all the conspirators that were part of a much bigger plan to overthrow the throne. The side characters all lent their strengths to making the novel more memorable because they were all different kinds of people with various backgrounds and it was very fun to see them go from being rivals to being a seamless team.
My goodness.
The sentence above truly sums up the relationship between Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu. Until the end of the book, I wasn't sure who was the MC and ML because both of them had almost equal amount of "screen time" but mostly, I think it's because both of them were both powerful individuals in their own rights so there wasn't any that was better than the other. And I *loved* the fact that they were both equals because they could dig pits for each other and make fun of each other, all without feeling like there were any condescending feelings from one another.
Their rivals-to-lovers dynamics were just so satisfying to me as they jabbed at each other but also learned to fully trust each other and found a lifelong companion in each other. FX and CBQ were also multi-dimensional characters that had quirks, weaknesses and the ability to grow in terms of character development.
I've just been talking about the MC and ML's relationship but really, what I enjoyed reading about the most was the politics and scheming as FX, CBQ and their teams were forced into a dangerous journey that involved many other powerful forces hiding in the dark. There were so many layers behind the plot and the author really did their best to unravel the layers piece by piece until we got to the heart of the matter. It was exciting and I couldn't help myself from binge reading this book because I couldn't wait to find out what was going on and who was the true masterminds of everything.
There were quite a few arcs in the novel and in every one of them, there was something new to discover as we followed FX, CBQ and their trusted aides in digging deeper and unrooting all the conspirators that were part of a much bigger plan to overthrow the throne. The side characters all lent their strengths to making the novel more memorable because they were all different kinds of people with various backgrounds and it was very fun to see them go from being rivals to being a seamless team.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 27, 2024Feng Xiao is the second in command of the Emperor's Jiejian Bureau, a secret service type agency. He's a top tier warrior, stunningly handsome, and very aware of it. The Empress has her own counterpart agency led by the very sickly but brilliant Cui Buqu, a master strategist with a sharp tongue.
Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu's paths overlap when there is a murder to be solved. Despite their constant needling and attempts to one-up each other, their complementary skills and personalities work well - and they end up teaming up on another case too, this time going undercover as a couple.
This is set in the same world as Thousand Autumns, though it's not necessary to have read that to understand this book and in fact they are quite different in feel. Thousand Autumns is a wuxia story with a romance plot, while Peerless is a mystery story about solving crimes while falling in love with your rival! I liked Thousand Autumns - I really really liked Peerless.
The two main characters have such great banter, each of the mystery arcs was so interesting, and there's a great cast of supporting characters. I think the last arc is overstuffed and not as successful as the previous ones, but the journey there was so good.
Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu's paths overlap when there is a murder to be solved. Despite their constant needling and attempts to one-up each other, their complementary skills and personalities work well - and they end up teaming up on another case too, this time going undercover as a couple.
This is set in the same world as Thousand Autumns, though it's not necessary to have read that to understand this book and in fact they are quite different in feel. Thousand Autumns is a wuxia story with a romance plot, while Peerless is a mystery story about solving crimes while falling in love with your rival! I liked Thousand Autumns - I really really liked Peerless.
The two main characters have such great banter, each of the mystery arcs was so interesting, and there's a great cast of supporting characters. I think the last arc is overstuffed and not as successful as the previous ones, but the journey there was so good.
December 27, 2022
Intense, though the ending was abrupt. Can't find English translated bonus chapters anywhere :')
July 17, 2022
Meng Xi Shi has mastered the art of characterisation.
Just like Thousand Autumns, Peerless has strong leading characters. Feng Xiao is frivolous on the surface, with grandmaster level martial arts. He is obsessed with himself and despite his misleading ethereal features is quite conniving. Cui Buqu suffers from bodily ailments and is always sick. He is not a martial artist, not a looker and not your typical leading man. And yet, he can overturn an empire with his strategies.
Both of them constantly bicker and dig pits for each other. Which is, pretty much, the highlight of Peerless. However, the book leaves you wanting more.
The political plot is circuitous and oftentimes confusing. In my opinion, the book gets interesting only after the third arc. The first two arcs are tedious. Which means that, 25% into the book is when the plot draws you in. That’s too much of a waiting time in my opinion. Had I not read Thousand Autumns before this, I’d have abandoned Peerless. But because I am aware of Meng Xi Shi’s style and ability to turn a story on its head, I kept going.
The political intrigue is not as intriguing as I would have liked and the book is laced with bits of sexism here and there. Although, I must admit that unlike a lot of danmei writers, Meng Xi Shi writes strong women characters.
The love story is the slowest of burns which I’m beginning to think is the author’s style. Eerily similar to Thousand Autumns, Feng Xiao like Yan Wushi, is quick to admit his feelings and Cui Buqu like Shen Qiao is loathe to admit his.
Although Shen Qiao was absolutely justified in making Yan Wushi suffer, in the case of Peerless, the lack of admittance of feelings seems unwarranted to the degree of being annoying.
Overall 3.75/5. Enjoyable book but doesn’t hold a candle to thousand Autumns.
Just like Thousand Autumns, Peerless has strong leading characters. Feng Xiao is frivolous on the surface, with grandmaster level martial arts. He is obsessed with himself and despite his misleading ethereal features is quite conniving. Cui Buqu suffers from bodily ailments and is always sick. He is not a martial artist, not a looker and not your typical leading man. And yet, he can overturn an empire with his strategies.
Both of them constantly bicker and dig pits for each other. Which is, pretty much, the highlight of Peerless. However, the book leaves you wanting more.
The political plot is circuitous and oftentimes confusing. In my opinion, the book gets interesting only after the third arc. The first two arcs are tedious. Which means that, 25% into the book is when the plot draws you in. That’s too much of a waiting time in my opinion. Had I not read Thousand Autumns before this, I’d have abandoned Peerless. But because I am aware of Meng Xi Shi’s style and ability to turn a story on its head, I kept going.
The political intrigue is not as intriguing as I would have liked and the book is laced with bits of sexism here and there. Although, I must admit that unlike a lot of danmei writers, Meng Xi Shi writes strong women characters.
The love story is the slowest of burns which I’m beginning to think is the author’s style. Eerily similar to Thousand Autumns, Feng Xiao like Yan Wushi, is quick to admit his feelings and Cui Buqu like Shen Qiao is loathe to admit his.
Although Shen Qiao was absolutely justified in making Yan Wushi suffer, in the case of Peerless, the lack of admittance of feelings seems unwarranted to the degree of being annoying.
Overall 3.75/5. Enjoyable book but doesn’t hold a candle to thousand Autumns.
December 23, 2024
3.5/5
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao's interactions are gold. Love their constant rivalry and their constant sabotaging of each other's plans is hilarious. One of the best danmei couples out there. The plot, on the other hand, felt quite rushed in places and the climax a little un-earned. For a political novels, I wished there was more layering of plot lines and not just introducing new villains with each arc
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao's interactions are gold. Love their constant rivalry and their constant sabotaging of each other's plans is hilarious. One of the best danmei couples out there. The plot, on the other hand, felt quite rushed in places and the climax a little un-earned. For a political novels, I wished there was more layering of plot lines and not just introducing new villains with each arc
December 13, 2020
Two equally smart people playing Sherlock in ancient China, fighting against a secret organization which silently sent the kingdom into chaos.
Ah the banters were really amusing :)
I've read three works of the author and safe to say it's her best.
Ah the banters were really amusing :)
I've read three works of the author and safe to say it's her best.
February 3, 2022
My second book by this author (Thousand Autumns was the first), and overall I like her style. I've noticed her stories tend to be very story heavy with a lot of shameless one-sided flirting but light on the fluff.
The story in Peerless is split into 7 pretty distinct arcs, with some plot threads interwoven between them. I liked some arcs better than others, but overall the story was pretty good. We follow the two main characters, Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, as they lead their respective bureaus to investigate different incidents together.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
The first arc was an introduction to the world and the characters. Feng Xiao investigates the death of the Khotan ambassador as the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, an organization established by the Emperor. Partway through the investigation, he arrests and poisons a Daoist priest called Cui Buqu who he finds suspicious, not realizing that CBQ is actually the mysterious commander behind the Zuoyue Bureau, a group with powers equal to the Jiejian Bureau but reporting to the Empress.
The second arc introduces the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, a secretive organization whose ultimate goal is to take down the current Emperor. They only play a small role in this second arc, which is around a three-way power struggle in a border town called Qiemo, but it's a small foreshadowing of what's to come in the future arcs. After meeting in the first arc, FX and CBQ are traveling together to carry out some tasks and then decide to involve themselves in the power struggle when they end up in the middle of it. Them pretending to be married and FX cross dressing as the wife lead to some hilarious moments. Here they still don't trust each other that much, but you can tell they mutually respect each other's talents.
The third arc is very story driven, as FX and CBQ finally reach their destination of Gokturk and meet Khan Apa to try and forge an alliance between their two nations. This arc was one of my favorites, as there were some interesting plot twists and we continue to learn more about the Thirteen Pavilions. And of course, we can't forget about our FengCui couple, who have some hilarious scenes pretending to be a gay couple (I think this was their first kiss?) to gain the Gokturk's First Prince's trust XP
The fourth arc was my personal favorite, as we finally learn about CBQ's tragic history and why he was born with a weak and frail body. It felt good to see him get back at his family, and not even for anything he made up or blew out of proportion, but for actual stupid actions they took, like trying to pin a murder on someone else or colluding with outside forces against the current empire. Here's a nice scene from this arc where CBQ explains why he chose such an odd name for himself:
Feng Xiao, “So, you renamed yourself Cui Buqu, meaning that you would never return to the Cui family for life?”
Cui Buqu shook his head. He balled his fists and coughed in a low voice, “Maiden Yu’s original intentions for me was to be the offspring of Cui Er. The reason I used the surname Cui was to honour her wish. As for Buqu, every one of them wanted me dead, they were waiting for the time I would die—“A profound smile appeared on his lips, “Yet no one can make me choose that path. I chose to live. Even if living with illnesses hurt, even if my life was torture, this determination still burns.”
The fifth arc was very riveting and action-packed, from FX trying to infiltrate the Thirteen Pavilions and convincing them of his loyalty by backstabbing CBQ (literally), to finding out the identities of several key members of the Thirteen Pavilions, to some epic fights while getting trapped in the array, there was a LOT going on. I was shocked to see that even CBQ's old master was one of the members... here is where the FengCui romance actually kinda starts, when CBQ makes his way into the array to search for FX when there was no benefit for him to do so.
Arc 6 was okay, probably one of my least favorites, as I didn't think the story was as interesting. It was about corrupt officials claiming grain distributions for their own instead of passing it onto the people who need it. It felt like FX and CBQ were stuck in a very precarious situation with strong enemies against them and not many allies nearby, but luckily they were able to bluff and reason their way out of it. I had so much respect for CBQ's schemes and quick thinking on his feet after this arc.
The last arc was surprisingly my least favorite, probably because it involved the use of gu, these parasitical worms that crawl into their victim's bodies through an injury and cause them to go crazy and see hallucinations. It was kinda gross to read about them, not gonna lie. Also, the person behind the gu, a Gokturk prince, and his sidekick, who was a very accomplished martial artist at the same level as FX, kinda came out of nowhere. I thought the ultimate bad guy was going to be Xiao Lu, the head of the Thirteen Pavilions, so I didn't like that the Gokturk prince got added to the mix. The ending itself felt quite rushed, and the climactic fight against Xiao Lu was nowhere as epic as I thought it would be. Instead, he and CBQ temporarily form an alliance against the schemes of the Gokturk prince, and Xiao Lu dies a sad, lonely death instead, with only CBQ as company.
The romance was very light, though given the nature of the MC and ML that's not too surprising. CBQ was too busy pitting FX, and FX was too busy admiring himself in the mirror XP Here's a pretty typical exchange between them:
Cui Buqu coldly laughed: “Although one might say that I would never take a fancy on common mortals, that even if Second Commander Feng has fallen for me, I might not even bat an eye at you. However, with your manner of concealing your intentions in such a way, aren’t you disgracing your status and air as a top martial artist?”
Feng Xiao chuckled. “Who says I fell for you? How would I fall for an ailing invalid? Stop immersing yourself in your fantasy. Could it be that you have fallen for me?”
Cui Buqu sneered. “You think I would fall for a bald tailed peacock with a polished exterior who harbors a disappointment on the inside?”
They met each other’s gazes and tore away at the same time, no longer paying the other any attention.
Feng Xiao said in his heart: Hmph, refusing to speak your heart!
Cui Buqu gave a cold laugh inwardly: Refusing to speak your mind!
The story in Peerless is split into 7 pretty distinct arcs, with some plot threads interwoven between them. I liked some arcs better than others, but overall the story was pretty good. We follow the two main characters, Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, as they lead their respective bureaus to investigate different incidents together.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
The first arc was an introduction to the world and the characters. Feng Xiao investigates the death of the Khotan ambassador as the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, an organization established by the Emperor. Partway through the investigation, he arrests and poisons a Daoist priest called Cui Buqu who he finds suspicious, not realizing that CBQ is actually the mysterious commander behind the Zuoyue Bureau, a group with powers equal to the Jiejian Bureau but reporting to the Empress.
The second arc introduces the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, a secretive organization whose ultimate goal is to take down the current Emperor. They only play a small role in this second arc, which is around a three-way power struggle in a border town called Qiemo, but it's a small foreshadowing of what's to come in the future arcs. After meeting in the first arc, FX and CBQ are traveling together to carry out some tasks and then decide to involve themselves in the power struggle when they end up in the middle of it. Them pretending to be married and FX cross dressing as the wife lead to some hilarious moments. Here they still don't trust each other that much, but you can tell they mutually respect each other's talents.
The third arc is very story driven, as FX and CBQ finally reach their destination of Gokturk and meet Khan Apa to try and forge an alliance between their two nations. This arc was one of my favorites, as there were some interesting plot twists and we continue to learn more about the Thirteen Pavilions. And of course, we can't forget about our FengCui couple, who have some hilarious scenes pretending to be a gay couple (I think this was their first kiss?) to gain the Gokturk's First Prince's trust XP
The fourth arc was my personal favorite, as we finally learn about CBQ's tragic history and why he was born with a weak and frail body. It felt good to see him get back at his family, and not even for anything he made up or blew out of proportion, but for actual stupid actions they took, like trying to pin a murder on someone else or colluding with outside forces against the current empire. Here's a nice scene from this arc where CBQ explains why he chose such an odd name for himself:
Feng Xiao, “So, you renamed yourself Cui Buqu, meaning that you would never return to the Cui family for life?”
Cui Buqu shook his head. He balled his fists and coughed in a low voice, “Maiden Yu’s original intentions for me was to be the offspring of Cui Er. The reason I used the surname Cui was to honour her wish. As for Buqu, every one of them wanted me dead, they were waiting for the time I would die—“A profound smile appeared on his lips, “Yet no one can make me choose that path. I chose to live. Even if living with illnesses hurt, even if my life was torture, this determination still burns.”
The fifth arc was very riveting and action-packed, from FX trying to infiltrate the Thirteen Pavilions and convincing them of his loyalty by backstabbing CBQ (literally), to finding out the identities of several key members of the Thirteen Pavilions, to some epic fights while getting trapped in the array, there was a LOT going on. I was shocked to see that even CBQ's old master was one of the members... here is where the FengCui romance actually kinda starts, when CBQ makes his way into the array to search for FX when there was no benefit for him to do so.
Arc 6 was okay, probably one of my least favorites, as I didn't think the story was as interesting. It was about corrupt officials claiming grain distributions for their own instead of passing it onto the people who need it. It felt like FX and CBQ were stuck in a very precarious situation with strong enemies against them and not many allies nearby, but luckily they were able to bluff and reason their way out of it. I had so much respect for CBQ's schemes and quick thinking on his feet after this arc.
The last arc was surprisingly my least favorite, probably because it involved the use of gu, these parasitical worms that crawl into their victim's bodies through an injury and cause them to go crazy and see hallucinations. It was kinda gross to read about them, not gonna lie. Also, the person behind the gu, a Gokturk prince, and his sidekick, who was a very accomplished martial artist at the same level as FX, kinda came out of nowhere. I thought the ultimate bad guy was going to be Xiao Lu, the head of the Thirteen Pavilions, so I didn't like that the Gokturk prince got added to the mix. The ending itself felt quite rushed, and the climactic fight against Xiao Lu was nowhere as epic as I thought it would be. Instead, he and CBQ temporarily form an alliance against the schemes of the Gokturk prince, and Xiao Lu dies a sad, lonely death instead, with only CBQ as company.
The romance was very light, though given the nature of the MC and ML that's not too surprising. CBQ was too busy pitting FX, and FX was too busy admiring himself in the mirror XP Here's a pretty typical exchange between them:
Cui Buqu coldly laughed: “Although one might say that I would never take a fancy on common mortals, that even if Second Commander Feng has fallen for me, I might not even bat an eye at you. However, with your manner of concealing your intentions in such a way, aren’t you disgracing your status and air as a top martial artist?”
Feng Xiao chuckled. “Who says I fell for you? How would I fall for an ailing invalid? Stop immersing yourself in your fantasy. Could it be that you have fallen for me?”
Cui Buqu sneered. “You think I would fall for a bald tailed peacock with a polished exterior who harbors a disappointment on the inside?”
They met each other’s gazes and tore away at the same time, no longer paying the other any attention.
Feng Xiao said in his heart: Hmph, refusing to speak your heart!
Cui Buqu gave a cold laugh inwardly: Refusing to speak your mind!
August 13, 2023
i'm obsessed with this book and im kissing the scheming bastards Feng-Er and Ququ directly on the mouth ough
can't wait for this book to get licensed to get my hand on the copies ,, definitely requires at least two more re-reads
i know MXS is more popular with her book Thousand Autumns but god- Peerless is so so underrated!! i can't wait for ppl to see how amazing FenCui's dynamic is!!
i think the best thing about it is the fact that its a quick read, as in you get pulled into the stories immediately and love the characters on first sight!
also- what can i say..... it feels like FengCui caters to me personally with all the banter and their clever mouths and let's not mention the horny chin grabbing- there is literally not one explicite scene in the whole series but hell if some scenes didn't make me sweat
anyway 12/10, superb writing MXS is literally so clever with coming up with all these cases for the characters to solve and all of their clever comebacks.
cant wait to read more by her <3
can't wait for this book to get licensed to get my hand on the copies ,, definitely requires at least two more re-reads
i know MXS is more popular with her book Thousand Autumns but god- Peerless is so so underrated!! i can't wait for ppl to see how amazing FenCui's dynamic is!!
i think the best thing about it is the fact that its a quick read, as in you get pulled into the stories immediately and love the characters on first sight!
also- what can i say..... it feels like FengCui caters to me personally with all the banter and their clever mouths and let's not mention the horny chin grabbing- there is literally not one explicite scene in the whole series but hell if some scenes didn't make me sweat
anyway 12/10, superb writing MXS is literally so clever with coming up with all these cases for the characters to solve and all of their clever comebacks.
cant wait to read more by her <3
October 13, 2024
These two are absolute clowns. At first, I mainly just loved Cui Buqu, but a fondness for Feng Xiao slowly crept up on me. They're a lot of fun to read about, and really suited to each other in a "please stay together and don't inflict yourselves on anyone else" kind of way. I also like the side characters, particularly Qiao Xian and Pei Jingzhe, also Guan Shanhai.
I will say that the political plot didn't really hold my attention. I took literal months to read this book - in part because I started grad school and got busy, but also in part because I just wasn't ever that invested in the main storyline, only the shenanigans that the two leads got up to because of it. Compared to Thousand Autumns, which is set in the same universe, I much prefer the plot of that one. But this is still a good read from a good writer.
I will say that the political plot didn't really hold my attention. I took literal months to read this book - in part because I started grad school and got busy, but also in part because I just wasn't ever that invested in the main storyline, only the shenanigans that the two leads got up to because of it. Compared to Thousand Autumns, which is set in the same universe, I much prefer the plot of that one. But this is still a good read from a good writer.
November 12, 2025
Peerless ha sido un Danmei cuanto menos curioso. Siento que es un buen sucesor de QianQiu pero sin caer en repeticiones absurdas.
Los dos protagonistas me parecen muy carismáticos, no tanto con YW y SQ, pero su dinámica me ha parecido igual de interesante.
Lo único que siento que flojea un poco la historia es el final. Se descubrieron todas las conspiraciones que había contra el imperio, pero sin embargo siento que no se resolvió correctamente y fue un poco apresurado. Igualmente no puedo restar mucho porque el resto de la obra es muy profundo y de verdad consigues discernir el desarrollo de personajes.
Terminaré más tarde los extras pero la obra principal como tal me ha gustado mucho
Los dos protagonistas me parecen muy carismáticos, no tanto con YW y SQ, pero su dinámica me ha parecido igual de interesante.
Lo único que siento que flojea un poco la historia es el final. Se descubrieron todas las conspiraciones que había contra el imperio, pero sin embargo siento que no se resolvió correctamente y fue un poco apresurado. Igualmente no puedo restar mucho porque el resto de la obra es muy profundo y de verdad consigues discernir el desarrollo de personajes.
Terminaré más tarde los extras pero la obra principal como tal me ha gustado mucho
June 20, 2021
*breathes in* omg this was so fun to read aaaaaaah!!!! Sub plots (lot of murders! Coz you know royal political intrigue) connecting to the MAIN PLOT and the main characters unravel them and protect the throne , and at the same time bicker and scheme AGAINST each other, a classic enemies to lovers trope, aaaaaaaaaaah so good! + It's slow burn... Like slow slow burn, I was almost spitting blood by then of the book becoz they kept dancing around each other. Like shut up and admit it already!!!!
There are minor plot holes but they don't really come between enjoying the book so :D 5 stars!
There are minor plot holes but they don't really come between enjoying the book so :D 5 stars!
March 22, 2021
Well. I really enjoyed this story. The cases were interesting, the side characters good, and I absolutely loved the constant bickering of the two male leads. I enjoyed the fact that Cui Buqu really was constantly pitting Feng Xiao and it developed from Feng Xiao finding it interesting to finding him adorable when he did it. These two really didn't want to change anything about each other (well, actually, I suspect that Cui Buqu genuinely would love it if Feng Xiao just shut up for awhile) and they didn't really soften or temper themselves when they fell in love. Though, like with pretty much every one of these novels I've ever read, as the ML, Feng Xiao was pretty damned accommodating of Cui Buqu. Still, I really did love their relationship with each other.
I only have two complaints; one is that it ended incredibly abruptly. Like, the climax peaked and just as you were stepping over, the book was done. There were a lot of loose ends left dangling and I would've appreciated just a bit more to polish it off. Yes, one can infer a lot of the problems were dealt with because they knew they were problems but I would've liked to actually see it. Secondly, and this one is really just a personal preference, but I wanted some more sugar. Both of these problems could probably be solved when the extras are finally translated and I can read them but I hate relying on extras to give me the closure I want. Partially because half the time, with the extras, the author decides to do something with the pairing that I end up strongly objecting to and it puts a sour taste in my mouth. Partially because wrapping up your loose ends should be part of your main story, not something tacked on after the fact.
Anyway, good story, fun pairing, definitely recommend.
I only have two complaints; one is that it ended incredibly abruptly. Like, the climax peaked and just as you were stepping over, the book was done. There were a lot of loose ends left dangling and I would've appreciated just a bit more to polish it off. Yes, one can infer a lot of the problems were dealt with because they knew they were problems but I would've liked to actually see it. Secondly, and this one is really just a personal preference, but I wanted some more sugar. Both of these problems could probably be solved when the extras are finally translated and I can read them but I hate relying on extras to give me the closure I want. Partially because half the time, with the extras, the author decides to do something with the pairing that I end up strongly objecting to and it puts a sour taste in my mouth. Partially because wrapping up your loose ends should be part of your main story, not something tacked on after the fact.
Anyway, good story, fun pairing, definitely recommend.
February 24, 2022
I don't think I've ever liked a mc more than these two like talk about being perfect for each other omg and the whole story was so interesting as well..... Definitely gonna be among my favourite along with svsss
December 21, 2024
3.5*
Too much politics for my taste, but I loved the way the main characters were bickering and constantly scheming against each other.
Too much politics for my taste, but I loved the way the main characters were bickering and constantly scheming against each other.
March 8, 2025
『 How about begging them using my peerless elegance? 』
I give this novel a 15/10. There aren't enough stars.. Just a word: peerless 😭
If you think you've seen smart or shameless people aplenty, I'm afraid you haven't seen anything at all.
We follow our two main characters, commanders of two investigation bureaus, one under the Empress and one under the Emperor [Kaihuang era, Sui Dynasty].
Cui Buqu, Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau (Empress)
I can't even start. First thing to greet you, he will plot a sketch against you and pit you until satisfied all with a straight, expressionless and sickly face. This is the first time I've seen a character so epic (wanting to whistle when he arrives) even though he has a body that probably won't even live till tomorrow. He doesn't know martial arts or anything, and only survives with that insane intelligence.
Feng Xiao, Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau (Emperor)
....
let me give you a quote (the one on top was his)
fx: "...Surely you just don't know how to fight, but you're jealous of my peerless beauty and graceful looks, sigh, it's not like it's my fault that I was born handsome, what can I do about it..."
He will leave you crying istg
"...(Feng Xiao), who would give anything to spend the rest of his life with a portrait of himself.." I DIED
He is gifted and equally shameless, but at the same time admires Cui Buqu's talents like he's the last treasure left in the world. Has saved Cui Buqu's life multiple times, in fact, is the reason he's even alive so far.
The story is mainly about the various cases that lead to the final outcome: people planning the fall of the Sui Emperor. The way they all manage to uncover every bug and expose them, and every time they intelligently preplan their strategies (especially when you are revealed about the behind the scenes work done by Cui Buqu) will leave you HEAVILY impressed.
Finally, Meng-jie's peerless fight scene writing 😭
Although a bit less in the first half than Qian Qiu (because it's heavy in mystery, and honestly the best parts of the novel), the second half gave us the action scenes. I jump up in excitement whenever I can sense an upcoming fight, it's too exciting 😭😭
I literally have nothing else to say, I'll probably paste the entire novel here, PLEASE READ IT!!
GO READ WUSHUANG
Thank you Meng Xi Shi for writing novels like these. I am forever indebted to you ❤️
😭
『 Why would such a perfect, peerless, and flawless person like him fall for a sickly invalid who might not even see the sun of tomorrow? 』
I give this novel a 15/10. There aren't enough stars.. Just a word: peerless 😭
If you think you've seen smart or shameless people aplenty, I'm afraid you haven't seen anything at all.
We follow our two main characters, commanders of two investigation bureaus, one under the Empress and one under the Emperor [Kaihuang era, Sui Dynasty].
Cui Buqu, Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau (Empress)
I can't even start. First thing to greet you, he will plot a sketch against you and pit you until satisfied all with a straight, expressionless and sickly face. This is the first time I've seen a character so epic (wanting to whistle when he arrives) even though he has a body that probably won't even live till tomorrow. He doesn't know martial arts or anything, and only survives with that insane intelligence.
Feng Xiao, Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau (Emperor)
....
let me give you a quote (the one on top was his)
fx: "...Surely you just don't know how to fight, but you're jealous of my peerless beauty and graceful looks, sigh, it's not like it's my fault that I was born handsome, what can I do about it..."
He will leave you crying istg
"...(Feng Xiao), who would give anything to spend the rest of his life with a portrait of himself.." I DIED
He is gifted and equally shameless, but at the same time admires Cui Buqu's talents like he's the last treasure left in the world. Has saved Cui Buqu's life multiple times, in fact, is the reason he's even alive so far.
The story is mainly about the various cases that lead to the final outcome: people planning the fall of the Sui Emperor. The way they all manage to uncover every bug and expose them, and every time they intelligently preplan their strategies (especially when you are revealed about the behind the scenes work done by Cui Buqu) will leave you HEAVILY impressed.
Finally, Meng-jie's peerless fight scene writing 😭
Although a bit less in the first half than Qian Qiu (because it's heavy in mystery, and honestly the best parts of the novel), the second half gave us the action scenes. I jump up in excitement whenever I can sense an upcoming fight, it's too exciting 😭😭
I literally have nothing else to say, I'll probably paste the entire novel here, PLEASE READ IT!!
GO READ WUSHUANG
Thank you Meng Xi Shi for writing novels like these. I am forever indebted to you ❤️
😭
『 Why would such a perfect, peerless, and flawless person like him fall for a sickly invalid who might not even see the sun of tomorrow? 』
March 14, 2020
Currently up to ch 112. Review also posted on novel updates.
Wushuang is a book that is very fast paced, with highly developed main characters and story that is equally interesting as them.
Side characters are a high bonus, they have really well dynamic with their leaders and are well developed.
The comedy is peak gold, there are many parts that will make you laugh, but will also make you cry.
In a way, this is half serious, half funny book, but mostly accented on cases that Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao have to deal with, and in the meantime discover what they mean to each other, beside ruining the reputation between themselves. Their relationship is honestly so amazing, because while they both have their own quirks and morals, they don't strive to change each other so they would fit into the mold for their relationship to work. Besides that, reading of how Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao went from enemies, to associates, to close acquaintances, and finally to friends and more, is really interesting journey.
Translation is amazing, wording is wonderful and really brings the quality of MXS's writing.
This is a sequel to Qianqiu (Thousand Autumns) and certain character fates will be revealed, so if you don't want spoilers for Qianqiu, head there first, and some things will be clearer in Wushuang.
To repeat, there is no need to read QQ at all, as Wushuang can stand on it's own perfectly, but the sect relationships and sect leaders are the people you might have already met in the Qianqiu.
Wushuang is a book that is very fast paced, with highly developed main characters and story that is equally interesting as them.
Side characters are a high bonus, they have really well dynamic with their leaders and are well developed.
The comedy is peak gold, there are many parts that will make you laugh, but will also make you cry.
In a way, this is half serious, half funny book, but mostly accented on cases that Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao have to deal with, and in the meantime discover what they mean to each other, beside ruining the reputation between themselves. Their relationship is honestly so amazing, because while they both have their own quirks and morals, they don't strive to change each other so they would fit into the mold for their relationship to work. Besides that, reading of how Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao went from enemies, to associates, to close acquaintances, and finally to friends and more, is really interesting journey.
Translation is amazing, wording is wonderful and really brings the quality of MXS's writing.
This is a sequel to Qianqiu (Thousand Autumns) and certain character fates will be revealed, so if you don't want spoilers for Qianqiu, head there first, and some things will be clearer in Wushuang.
To repeat, there is no need to read QQ at all, as Wushuang can stand on it's own perfectly, but the sect relationships and sect leaders are the people you might have already met in the Qianqiu.
May 17, 2020
This is a ridiculously fun ride with political plotting & mystery solving as a backdrop to two amoral, competent, and snarky characters who fall in love while scheming endlessly against each other. Do you love undercover fake dating/fake marriage/fake make-outs and similar shenanigans? Then you'll have a blast with this book.
I love that while Cui Buqu is physically frail, he's still incredibly powerful and intelligent, and go head-to-head with Feng Xiao, who's an excellent fighter. They both succeed and fail in equal measures when they scheme against each other, and they eventually care for and end up rescuing each other as well. The equal power dynamics and give-and-take of this relationship is by far one of the best I've read in a long time.
I highly recommend this book for people interested in a rivals-to-lovers dynamic, ruthless & competent main characters, and mystery adventures.
I love that while Cui Buqu is physically frail, he's still incredibly powerful and intelligent, and go head-to-head with Feng Xiao, who's an excellent fighter. They both succeed and fail in equal measures when they scheme against each other, and they eventually care for and end up rescuing each other as well. The equal power dynamics and give-and-take of this relationship is by far one of the best I've read in a long time.
I highly recommend this book for people interested in a rivals-to-lovers dynamic, ruthless & competent main characters, and mystery adventures.
June 8, 2022
wow. finishing this book was a bigger challenge than finishing the fourteenth year of Chenghua (and that took a while). okay so the good first then the bad.
this was the first danmei novel that's made me cry. and yes this is a good thing because the characters were written so well (both main and side), especially our MC Cui Buqu. man I love that chaos loving worm. I did want to punch him a few times (not as much as I wanted to punch Feng Xiao but more about him later) but regardless of that, he is everything to me. let's start with his name: Cui Buqu- refusing to leave - like come on!!! this man's pure stubbornness at keeping himself alive and doing what must be done is the number one thing I loved most about him. a quote I find describes him to a t:
"he could still protect a few more people like his birth mother, people who were kind and righteous yet were too weak to protect themselves. simply because he was Cui Buqu; his heart was tough and his methods cruel".
he might have questionable ways of reaching his main goal but you bet your ass he's never created a goal for himself that's not been something the other party hadn't deserved. this man's heart is made of pure steel which is what makes experiencing him shedding layers upon layers through the duration of the book that much more special. even after you learn about his past and everything he's been through, the fact that he didn't want revenge, rather justice- that tells you everything you need to know about him. i could keep blabbing about him for hours so let's move on.
our beloved peacock- Feng Xiao. I love him (slightly less than Cui Buqu but no one else can be cbq so). I have less things to say about him than Cui Buqu lmao. I love his germaphobic, self obsessed, insanely talented at martial arts ass. the one thing I liked about his character is that even when he had numerous ways and chances for him to let me down as a character, he never did. and while some aspects of his character is questionable (see: poisoning our MC, all the forced kissing cbq had to go through WITHOUT consent, stabbing cbq etc), he wasn't overall an evil character. I would genuinely pay him to be less confident in his own beauty and skills. if he hadn't done those aforementioned things, maybe I would've appreciated him more. but no one's perfect I guess.
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao and their rivals to lovers trope was to die for. the slow-burn of their relationship advancing was great because you got to see the little ways they both evolved and let in the other person more and more as time progressed. it was so well done. the slow-burn was perhaps a bit too slow (you really have to read between the lines even at the very end if the book) which didn't really help in me wanting to rip my hair out at them pitting against each other at every given opportunity. their relationship (as described by my beloved Pei Jinghze) was really masochism at its finest. but it's so fun to see them constantly having a go at each other.
another thing I love about mxs' work overall is the badass female characters. I had noticed in Chenghua somewhat but this novel had multiple instances where I was like "yes!! finally good female characters with actual character development!!" there were I think three (that I remember I'm sure there were more) female side characters who literally stole my heart. although one of them was a quite morally grey character (or maybe I just didn't understand her motivation), the other two were on the "good" side (yes even Qiao Xian, I refuse to believe she wasn't good) which I also find with danmei is quite hard to come across. but yes chef's kiss.
the plot, as always, was... really good? I enjoyed how the novel was separated into separate arcs. the clear division between cases was very well done and the cases in themselves were very well written. mxs does tend to history dump a lot in their works and this novel didn't escape that. did I skip through most of the smaller characters' historical backgrounds? maybe. but even if you did, most of the time it doesn't hinder your understanding of the case as you kind of figure it out as cbq and fx goes about figuring it out. and as always the fight scenes were extremely well written. I loved fx's battle scenes and the constant thing he had with other martial artists who'd come and compete with him.
okay now the bad. there's only one lmao. it's the length. while this book was a lot more fast paced and action packed than Chenghua was (I mean it makes sense they're almost two different genres), it still suffered from the same dragged out plot. for what the ending ended up being, we could've easily skipped a few arcs and come to that same conclusion. we didn't need 187 chapters. the beginning of each arc was usually very information heavy so I usually stopped reading at the beginning of each arc because I just couldn't get through it in one sitting. if this novel was maybe 20/30 chapters less, this rating would've been a lot higher.
should you read this book? absolutely. there are some things to be taken into consideration (see: fx doing certain things and the length of the novel), but it was such an amazing journey reading this book. hence my first proper fully fledged review here. don't start reading this novel and anticipate the ending because the ending will disappoint you. read for the journey this novel will take you through with the plot, side characters and the main couple.
this was the first danmei novel that's made me cry. and yes this is a good thing because the characters were written so well (both main and side), especially our MC Cui Buqu. man I love that chaos loving worm. I did want to punch him a few times (not as much as I wanted to punch Feng Xiao but more about him later) but regardless of that, he is everything to me. let's start with his name: Cui Buqu- refusing to leave - like come on!!! this man's pure stubbornness at keeping himself alive and doing what must be done is the number one thing I loved most about him. a quote I find describes him to a t:
"he could still protect a few more people like his birth mother, people who were kind and righteous yet were too weak to protect themselves. simply because he was Cui Buqu; his heart was tough and his methods cruel".
he might have questionable ways of reaching his main goal but you bet your ass he's never created a goal for himself that's not been something the other party hadn't deserved. this man's heart is made of pure steel which is what makes experiencing him shedding layers upon layers through the duration of the book that much more special. even after you learn about his past and everything he's been through, the fact that he didn't want revenge, rather justice- that tells you everything you need to know about him. i could keep blabbing about him for hours so let's move on.
our beloved peacock- Feng Xiao. I love him (slightly less than Cui Buqu but no one else can be cbq so). I have less things to say about him than Cui Buqu lmao. I love his germaphobic, self obsessed, insanely talented at martial arts ass. the one thing I liked about his character is that even when he had numerous ways and chances for him to let me down as a character, he never did. and while some aspects of his character is questionable (see: poisoning our MC, all the forced kissing cbq had to go through WITHOUT consent, stabbing cbq etc), he wasn't overall an evil character. I would genuinely pay him to be less confident in his own beauty and skills. if he hadn't done those aforementioned things, maybe I would've appreciated him more. but no one's perfect I guess.
Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao and their rivals to lovers trope was to die for. the slow-burn of their relationship advancing was great because you got to see the little ways they both evolved and let in the other person more and more as time progressed. it was so well done. the slow-burn was perhaps a bit too slow (you really have to read between the lines even at the very end if the book) which didn't really help in me wanting to rip my hair out at them pitting against each other at every given opportunity. their relationship (as described by my beloved Pei Jinghze) was really masochism at its finest. but it's so fun to see them constantly having a go at each other.
another thing I love about mxs' work overall is the badass female characters. I had noticed in Chenghua somewhat but this novel had multiple instances where I was like "yes!! finally good female characters with actual character development!!" there were I think three (that I remember I'm sure there were more) female side characters who literally stole my heart. although one of them was a quite morally grey character (or maybe I just didn't understand her motivation), the other two were on the "good" side (yes even Qiao Xian, I refuse to believe she wasn't good) which I also find with danmei is quite hard to come across. but yes chef's kiss.
the plot, as always, was... really good? I enjoyed how the novel was separated into separate arcs. the clear division between cases was very well done and the cases in themselves were very well written. mxs does tend to history dump a lot in their works and this novel didn't escape that. did I skip through most of the smaller characters' historical backgrounds? maybe. but even if you did, most of the time it doesn't hinder your understanding of the case as you kind of figure it out as cbq and fx goes about figuring it out. and as always the fight scenes were extremely well written. I loved fx's battle scenes and the constant thing he had with other martial artists who'd come and compete with him.
okay now the bad. there's only one lmao. it's the length. while this book was a lot more fast paced and action packed than Chenghua was (I mean it makes sense they're almost two different genres), it still suffered from the same dragged out plot. for what the ending ended up being, we could've easily skipped a few arcs and come to that same conclusion. we didn't need 187 chapters. the beginning of each arc was usually very information heavy so I usually stopped reading at the beginning of each arc because I just couldn't get through it in one sitting. if this novel was maybe 20/30 chapters less, this rating would've been a lot higher.
should you read this book? absolutely. there are some things to be taken into consideration (see: fx doing certain things and the length of the novel), but it was such an amazing journey reading this book. hence my first proper fully fledged review here. don't start reading this novel and anticipate the ending because the ending will disappoint you. read for the journey this novel will take you through with the plot, side characters and the main couple.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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