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The Pingkang Li Mysteries #2
The Jade Temptress
“The courtship between the high-class courtesan and the street cop is well drawn and nuanced” in this historical murder mystery (Publishers Weekly). Beauty and treachery abound in the infamous Pingkang Li, home of the celebrated Lotus Palace courtesans . . . As the most requested hostess at the Lotus Palace, Mingyu can charm any man who seeks her company—except Wu Kaifeng. Wu Kaifeng is a no-nonsense constable who maintains his level head even in the most desperate situations. Having crossed paths with each other in the past, the two have a strained history, but that doesn’t stop Mingyu from falling for the secretly sensitive officer. When a powerful official is found dead in a highly suspicious murder, Mingyu and Kaifeng become involved in the dangerous mystery. Amid the chaos, Kaifeng discovers his reluctant, yet fierce attraction to Mingyu, but the temptation to give in to her could destroy them both. After all, a forbidden affair is bound to have consequences . . .
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2013
102 people are currently reading
1811 people want to read
About the author
Jeannie Lin
47 books1,023 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling author Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart Award–winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal with The Dragon and the Pearl listed among Library Journal's Best Romances of 2011.
Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer
For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer
For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
March 30, 2014
Welcome to the world of the Pingkang Li.
Meet Mingyu, the most celebrated courtesan of the Lotus Palace.
Welcome to a world of refinement, of beauty. Music and tea. It is a place where the most powerful men in the Tang Dynasty come to relax in the company of stunning, sophisticated women. Lose yourself in the music of the qin. Prepare yourself for flirtation and lust. Power and politics. Jealousy and murder.
Wu Kaifeng is not a handsome man.
Wu Kaifeng is the "demon" to Mingyu's "flesh of ice and bones of jade."
When Mingyu's long-time patron, General Deng, is brutally murdered, their fates are again intertwined. She needs help. Being caught with a dead body once is bad enough. Being suspected of murder for a second time is truly bad. To make it worse, Mingyu is found with blood on her hands.
Mingyu might not like Wu Kaifeng, but he is a just man, and he is the only one she can trust.
There are enemies everywhere, from political adversaries, to a jilted wife, whose kind words...
To Xi Lun, Mingyu represents a symbol of success. A forbidden fruit that he has always coveted and will now do everything to possess.
Wu Kaifeng:
With the torture of Mingyu, you might be wondering why Wu Kaifeng doesn't deserve a place on my "Jericho-fucking-Barrons" shelf. That's because Wi Kaifeng is not a cruel man. He does his job as an investigator and he is damned good at it. He needs to catch the bad guys. He tortures, but he stops when he sees that nothing more can be done. It is a despicable act, but it was not out of line with the method of the day. In this book, he is never unnecessarily cruel to Mingyu. He is harsh, he is stern, but Wu Kaifeng is a conscientious man. From a child criminal to a shopkeeper, he is unrelentlingly fair in his pursuit of justice.
Moral, just, and determined to do the right thing. A simple man. A common man. A man with hidden desires. Mingyu is a courtesan, from roots as low as his own, but she is refined. A prize for a higher man, a wealthier man. One such as a lowly constable can never dream of loving such a jewel.
She is a beauty, no fair and innocent maiden. At 28, Mingyu has been cruelly treated by life. She is not a person, she is a slave. Mingyu is a possession.
They may be as different as day and night, but Mingyu and Wu Kaifeng burn when they're together. It takes a long time for trust to be built, for lust and attraction to grow into love. But man, it's worth seeing them til the end.
Meet Mingyu, the most celebrated courtesan of the Lotus Palace.
Welcome to a world of refinement, of beauty. Music and tea. It is a place where the most powerful men in the Tang Dynasty come to relax in the company of stunning, sophisticated women. Lose yourself in the music of the qin. Prepare yourself for flirtation and lust. Power and politics. Jealousy and murder.
There was a body seated in the chair dressed in a brocade robe. The head was missing and there was blood everywhere, splattered over the papers and staining the floor and walls.The Summary: This is the second book of the Pingkang Li series. The courtesan Mingyu and Constable Wu Kaifeng are not strangers. They have a past. And boy, it was not a good first impression. In the previous book, Mingyu was suspected of having killed a man. She was thrown into jail. She was tortured by the ruthless Wu Kaifeng with bamboo sticks. Her knuckles were crushed every time she refused to answer.
“He was alive when they took off his head."
Tears had flooded her eyes while her screams echoed off the walls of the barren cell.As a courtesan, Mingyu is used to being used by men. Kaifeng is just the latest, at least he had the courtesy to stop when he realized she would reveal nothing.
. No one came to her defense. For all the compliments and praise that scholars bestowed upon her, she was still nothing more than a diversion. Admired in passing fashion like the brightness of a full moon, beautiful in one moment, easily forgotten in the next.The life of a courtesan is only beautiful on the surface. Mingyu is nothing more than a glorified slave, owned by the Lotus Palace.
Wu Kaifeng is not a handsome man.
His face lacked any refinement. Wu Kaifeng wasn’t ugly—he was more like a puzzle that didn’t quite fit together. There was no harmony to him, no sense of balance. Wu was long in the face, broad in the nose. The eyes were black and hard and unwavering. A sharp jawline framed his hard mouth, a mouth that she had never seen smile.
Wu Kaifeng is the "demon" to Mingyu's "flesh of ice and bones of jade."
When Mingyu's long-time patron, General Deng, is brutally murdered, their fates are again intertwined. She needs help. Being caught with a dead body once is bad enough. Being suspected of murder for a second time is truly bad. To make it worse, Mingyu is found with blood on her hands.
Mingyu might not like Wu Kaifeng, but he is a just man, and he is the only one she can trust.
“I don’t trust you because you are kindhearted and honorable, Constable Wu. I trust you because you don’t care who Deng Zhi is or how vast his forces are. You don’t care who I am, which means you don’t care that a lowly courtesan was found with her dead and high-ranking lover. Or that her life means nothing to the magistrate or his superiors. All you care about is finding the truth.”Furthermore, Mingyu has no choice.
Her chest squeezed tight. “There is no one else.”General Deng is a powerful man, with powerful enemies. The mystery of his death needs to be solved, but it's not as simple as that. The murderer might have wanted Mingyu dead, too.
There are enemies everywhere, from political adversaries, to a jilted wife, whose kind words...
Finally, the widow’s shoulders relaxed. “Is it not awful how women are pushed to secure ourselves in this way, with our flesh and blood? I think of the stories of Empress Wu and Concubine Xiao, clawing at one another, sacrificing their own children for the attention of the Emperor.”...are laced with poison.
“Xiao was one of Empress Wu’s rivals in the imperial court. The Empress cut off her feet and drowned her in a vat of wine.”To Magistrate Xi Lun, an ambitious and cruel rival determined to have Mingyu.
He was well-dressed, his robe dark blue and made of a fine silk brocade. His features were square, his jaw and nose broad. Not beautiful, but a certain kind of handsome.
To Xi Lun, Mingyu represents a symbol of success. A forbidden fruit that he has always coveted and will now do everything to possess.
"There were times when I hated him.”A twisted suitor. Political enemies. Jealous wives. There are no ends to the list of suspects. And there are far too many enemies to be made, for both of them.
Her pulse jumped and once again her skin prickled in warning. “Hated?”
“Because I realized long ago that only a man like Deng Zhi could ever possess someone like you.”
It was always dangerous dealing with powerful men, especially those whose pride was displayed so eagerly. Those were the ones who were easily offended. Those were the admirers who could turn on you in a heartbeat.Will Wu Kaifeng be able to hold onto his position, against all the people determined to remove him from it? Will Mingyu and Wu Kaifeng be able to overcome their differences, their strange attraction? Can they trust each other enough to fall in love?
“It’s difficult to look at you because you make me want things,” he answered plainly. “Things I cannot have.”Or will Mingyu return to her true roots, forged from a lifetime of distrust and pain amongst the beautiful world of the Lotus Palace?
“She played you.” His face was twisted with hatred. “She plays everyone.”The Murder Plot:
Her mere presence distracted him and he couldn’t allow that to happen. This was his duty and his calling and he needed to remain sharp to solve this puzzle, a puzzle that the courtesan was inexplicably a part.I have to comment on this, because so rarely does a Historical Romance actually executes a murder mystery so well. I loved all the details of the investigation. I love the fact that the investigation does not take a back place to the romance, rather, it's the backbone of the plot. The entire story, the setting, the mystery, weaves together so divinely. No single element overpowers the other. We get to see how Wu Kaifeng follows clues and uses his own ingenuity to solve elements in a case in circa 800 A.D. China, where criminal forensics are nonexistent. Brilliantly done, Ms. Lin.
Wu Kaifeng:
Some unnamable emotion flickered in his eyes, but she was unable to catch it. Mingyu was skilled at reading a man’s desires. Maybe she couldn’t read Wu Kaifeng because he had no desires. He was as dark and fathomless inside as on the outside.I do love a complicated man.
With the torture of Mingyu, you might be wondering why Wu Kaifeng doesn't deserve a place on my "Jericho-fucking-Barrons" shelf. That's because Wi Kaifeng is not a cruel man. He does his job as an investigator and he is damned good at it. He needs to catch the bad guys. He tortures, but he stops when he sees that nothing more can be done. It is a despicable act, but it was not out of line with the method of the day. In this book, he is never unnecessarily cruel to Mingyu. He is harsh, he is stern, but Wu Kaifeng is a conscientious man. From a child criminal to a shopkeeper, he is unrelentlingly fair in his pursuit of justice.
Moral, just, and determined to do the right thing. A simple man. A common man. A man with hidden desires. Mingyu is a courtesan, from roots as low as his own, but she is refined. A prize for a higher man, a wealthier man. One such as a lowly constable can never dream of loving such a jewel.
After the kiss, Mingyu had granted him a soft, wistful smile as they parted. They both knew nothing more could become of it.Mingyu: Mingyu is but one of many courtesans within the walls of the Lotus Palace.
She is a beauty, no fair and innocent maiden. At 28, Mingyu has been cruelly treated by life. She is not a person, she is a slave. Mingyu is a possession.
She was part of the cycle, training another girl into the life: bondage and servitude on one side, poetry and music on the other.She has been used by men, and has been in service since she was barely a teenager. She is no virgin. Her long-time patron, General Deng, was a harsh one before he was murdered. Like most powerful men, he seeks to possess. Mingyu is but a prize possession to be shown off, like a particularly nice car you could show off to your friends. She knows powerful men, she entertains them, one could say she uses them. Wu Kaifeng confronts her on it, but as she reminds him...
If Wu was waiting for her to flinch, then he would be disappointed. “Sometimes exploiting a man’s power is the only influence a woman can wield.”Mingyu has guts. She has a fire within her. One does not become the city's most celebrated courtesan by being a meek little fucking wallflower. She knows when to tease men, and when to appease them. She is not a shrinking violet. She has been weak before, and she will never be weak again.
“I have no manners,” he apologized, the roughness of his voice stroking over her.The Romance: How can you not have a romance novel set in Tang Dynasty China without the mention of fate? In Chinese legend, lovers are born with a red thread on their fingers, tying their destiny together. Soul mates exist, they are fated to meet.
“Well, Constable,” she purred. “Then I shall have to put you in your place.”
The events of the past had created a connection between them that remained unresolved. It was fate. Yuán fèn.This romance is a slow burn. It is a fire of two intensely strong personalities, I can think of no few HR characters so equally matched as these. This is forbidden love, the two are separated by the boundaries of class, of wealth. In a culture where social lines are clearly defined, it is a difficult thing to overcome.
They may be as different as day and night, but Mingyu and Wu Kaifeng burn when they're together. It takes a long time for trust to be built, for lust and attraction to grow into love. But man, it's worth seeing them til the end.
She was a courtesan trained in the art of seduction, but she knew nothing beyond that. It was harder than she’d ever imagined to open her heart to someone. She didn’t even know how to begin.Welcome to the Pingkang Li.
Read
November 18, 2018I one clicked this having read The Lotus Palace, because both the manipulative courtesan Mingyu and the remote, scary constable Wu were such powerful characters. This book absolutely lives up to their promise. Lin writes excellent damaged people, and these two are both emotionally scarred by loss, rejection and the unkindness of others. Mingyu's life as a celebrated courtesan is particularly well drawn--the game whereby men give her adoration and respect while also buying her like meat is really well done, and the awful inevitability of her fate at the hands of a creepy obsessive is genuinely scary. Good mystery starting with a decapitation, can't argue with those, and lovely use of recurring characters to build a very vivd enjoyable world. A terrific sequel, and I'm off to read Wei-wei's story right now.
November 16, 2023
4.3 stars
I buddy read this, for full comments and thoughts: Jade Temptress Buddy Read
I'm going to tell you all now, get those bets in on Mingyu for my favorite lead in the Romancies awards. She's a powerhouse in this and I'd read this a million times over solely because of her.
That blow had quieted her momentarily, but it did not silence her forever. Mingyu had never forgotten.
I have some complaints and struggled with the ultimate way the murder mystery wrapped up, it felt really loose with some reveals and even though they were red-herrings some characters really faded away to the sides making the ending of the murder mystery feel really sedate. Xi Lun's character purpose really fell apart for me.
The romance was restrained underlining emotion but the last 20% I spent wanting to wring Kaifeng's neck and some of the previous work done, especially by Mingyu felt ignored, which was really disappointing.
But, that last 5%ish had my eyes watering because of how Mingyu and Kaifeng were together.
I buddy read this, for full comments and thoughts: Jade Temptress Buddy Read
I'm going to tell you all now, get those bets in on Mingyu for my favorite lead in the Romancies awards. She's a powerhouse in this and I'd read this a million times over solely because of her.
That blow had quieted her momentarily, but it did not silence her forever. Mingyu had never forgotten.
I have some complaints and struggled with the ultimate way the murder mystery wrapped up, it felt really loose with some reveals and even though they were red-herrings some characters really faded away to the sides making the ending of the murder mystery feel really sedate. Xi Lun's character purpose really fell apart for me.
The romance was restrained underlining emotion but the last 20% I spent wanting to wring Kaifeng's neck and some of the previous work done, especially by Mingyu felt ignored, which was really disappointing.
But, that last 5%ish had my eyes watering because of how Mingyu and Kaifeng were together.
June 5, 2023
Mingyu is the most sought-after courtesan in the Lotus Palace, which is a precarious position of power. We find out how dangerous that is when her lover, a general who only fears the emperor, is murdered right before she meets him for an assignation.
Mingyu turns to Constable Wu Kaifeng for help. They have a fraught history: The last time she was a murder suspect Kaifeng stopped just short of administering the rough sort of justice that is legal but unquestionably brutal.
As a constable, Kaifeng is considered a servant rather than an authority figure for the upper class that Mingyu entertains. They're both at the mercy of more powerful people, and in order to save both of their necks they have to get creative.
This book is the sweetest slow-burn, I was audibly sighing at parts. The murder mystery raises the stakes, but not anywhere near as much as their growing love. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
Mingyu turns to Constable Wu Kaifeng for help. They have a fraught history: The last time she was a murder suspect Kaifeng stopped just short of administering the rough sort of justice that is legal but unquestionably brutal.
As a constable, Kaifeng is considered a servant rather than an authority figure for the upper class that Mingyu entertains. They're both at the mercy of more powerful people, and in order to save both of their necks they have to get creative.
This book is the sweetest slow-burn, I was audibly sighing at parts. The murder mystery raises the stakes, but not anywhere near as much as their growing love. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
July 25, 2022
Normally, I would not fault the book for this, I would fault myself (a few others fall into that category) but the deliberate pacing and details of Jeannie Lin's work, while exquisite, left me in and out of this story quite a bit. I'm not truly faulting the book, but it took me 7 months to read, so I can't exactly say it wasn't just me either???
Anyway, she's wonderful author and you should read her. Just excellent. Just maybe, check your mood. I had no trouble finishing it in two sittings after struggling for the first few months to get going on it.
Anyway, she's wonderful author and you should read her. Just excellent. Just maybe, check your mood. I had no trouble finishing it in two sittings after struggling for the first few months to get going on it.
March 7, 2022
4.5 stars rounded to 5 for this second entry in the Pingkang Li Mysteries. This book focuses on Mingyu, one of the most sought-after courtesans in the capital, and Wu Kaifeng, the rough and ready constable of her district. She was already at the center of one murder investigation headed by Kaifeng. When another man turns up dead in her vicinity, she's the logical prime suspect this time around.
This book combines romance with political intrigue, murder mystery, and incredible world building. Characters from previous books appear here, but not in the usual historical romance "happy couple cameo" vein. Their romance is incredibly poignant and believable, with so much pining that you can practically smell it! The only thing we disagreed on was how much we appreciated the HEA.
Mingyu is a romance heroine that we don't see often, but we love when we do: the master manipulator (see Your Scandalous Ways or The Madness of Miss Grey for other manipulator heroines we adored). They are usually paired with a hero who knows very well he's being manipulated. The charm, of course, lies in the fact that he loves her because of who she is and how she acts, not in spite of it.
32-Word Summaries:
Laine: Mingyu, infamous courtesan, makes being accused of murder a habit, which keeps her in proximity with the local constable, Kaifeng. You can tell he likes her because he didn't break her fingers.
Meg: The man you can’t charm turns out to be the man you can’t resist… probably because you can’t charm him. It’s only when someone sees through you that you are truly seen.
This book combines romance with political intrigue, murder mystery, and incredible world building. Characters from previous books appear here, but not in the usual historical romance "happy couple cameo" vein. Their romance is incredibly poignant and believable, with so much pining that you can practically smell it! The only thing we disagreed on was how much we appreciated the HEA.
Mingyu is a romance heroine that we don't see often, but we love when we do: the master manipulator (see Your Scandalous Ways or The Madness of Miss Grey for other manipulator heroines we adored). They are usually paired with a hero who knows very well he's being manipulated. The charm, of course, lies in the fact that he loves her because of who she is and how she acts, not in spite of it.
32-Word Summaries:
Laine: Mingyu, infamous courtesan, makes being accused of murder a habit, which keeps her in proximity with the local constable, Kaifeng. You can tell he likes her because he didn't break her fingers.
Meg: The man you can’t charm turns out to be the man you can’t resist… probably because you can’t charm him. It’s only when someone sees through you that you are truly seen.
June 8, 2016
The Jade Temptress is a very interesting read for me. Set in the imperial China, it is a historical romance featuring a courtesan and a lowly constable. We have all read our shares of courtesan-themed HRs. Most of them lose me because the heroines usually belong to the subgroups: the man-hating ones, the frigid ones, the shamed ones and the "if you love me you would have married me" ones. Needless to say, all very off-putting for me.
Jeannie Lin created Sun Mingyu (h, Mingyu = bright jade, translated literally) and Wu Kaifeng (H). Mingyu the unattainable courtesan and Kaifeng, the constable who believed in nothing but justice. In a way this book reminded me a lot of Someone to Watch over Me, which features a courtesan (or a courtesan's twin sister) and a bow street runner. The difference is that Mingyu truly was a courtesan and a bonded one, no less. Her slave status was a major obstacle for their relationship, coupled with a murder mystery.
The mystery was, mysterious. The mystery plot went on until the end of the book but somehow it did not overshadow the relationship. I think what makes this book better than mots courtesan-themed books is Mingyu, who was as elegant and graceful as the writer said she was. Most courtesans in such books are ninnies. They end up wallowing in self-pity or bitterness. Not Mingyu. From the beginning to the end, she was the graceful hostess that she was supposed to be. Her scandalous profession did not diminish her self-value and I very much appreciated that.
Kaifeng was your normal quiet hero who doesn't say much. And I like that. There is no dramatic change of mind and all of a sudden this unfeeling constable turned poet. He was reliable and steady, and was clear-headed from the beginning to the end. No begging "come away with me" or accusing "you just want to be rich". He was level-headed and this part of his character appealed to me.
Admittedly this book was unusual. To imagine characters of this particular time and place in a similar story as I would a story in Regency England took quite some getting used to. But I think this book was successful. There are quite a few intimate scenes but the sex wasn't very hot. I don't know. Maybe it is because they were both too mature. Not that I thought the intimate scenes are bad. They just aren't all that memorable.
I read the 3rd book, a novella in the series and I read about Mingyu and Kaifeng there first. In the same book I read about the lead characters of that novella and the lead characters of book 1. I come to the conclusion that Lisa Kleypas was right when she said in one of her tweets about Helen and Rhys in Marrying Winterborne, that some couples "just have it" and she wish she "could force it." Mingyu and Kaifeng "had it", even in the novella where they were just secondary characters and caught my attention. Their story turns out to be enjoyable, whereas Mingyu's sister, heroine of book 1 who also appeared in the novella, completely failed to interest me.
All in all there is nothing original about the plot in this book. But the setting, the characters well make up for it. I would continue to watch out for Jeannie Lin's books. I think she has created a niche market in HR by writing about love stories taking place in imperial China.
Jeannie Lin created Sun Mingyu (h, Mingyu = bright jade, translated literally) and Wu Kaifeng (H). Mingyu the unattainable courtesan and Kaifeng, the constable who believed in nothing but justice. In a way this book reminded me a lot of Someone to Watch over Me, which features a courtesan (or a courtesan's twin sister) and a bow street runner. The difference is that Mingyu truly was a courtesan and a bonded one, no less. Her slave status was a major obstacle for their relationship, coupled with a murder mystery.
The mystery was, mysterious. The mystery plot went on until the end of the book but somehow it did not overshadow the relationship. I think what makes this book better than mots courtesan-themed books is Mingyu, who was as elegant and graceful as the writer said she was. Most courtesans in such books are ninnies. They end up wallowing in self-pity or bitterness. Not Mingyu. From the beginning to the end, she was the graceful hostess that she was supposed to be. Her scandalous profession did not diminish her self-value and I very much appreciated that.
Kaifeng was your normal quiet hero who doesn't say much. And I like that. There is no dramatic change of mind and all of a sudden this unfeeling constable turned poet. He was reliable and steady, and was clear-headed from the beginning to the end. No begging "come away with me" or accusing "you just want to be rich". He was level-headed and this part of his character appealed to me.
Admittedly this book was unusual. To imagine characters of this particular time and place in a similar story as I would a story in Regency England took quite some getting used to. But I think this book was successful. There are quite a few intimate scenes but the sex wasn't very hot. I don't know. Maybe it is because they were both too mature. Not that I thought the intimate scenes are bad. They just aren't all that memorable.
I read the 3rd book, a novella in the series and I read about Mingyu and Kaifeng there first. In the same book I read about the lead characters of that novella and the lead characters of book 1. I come to the conclusion that Lisa Kleypas was right when she said in one of her tweets about Helen and Rhys in Marrying Winterborne, that some couples "just have it" and she wish she "could force it." Mingyu and Kaifeng "had it", even in the novella where they were just secondary characters and caught my attention. Their story turns out to be enjoyable, whereas Mingyu's sister, heroine of book 1 who also appeared in the novella, completely failed to interest me.
All in all there is nothing original about the plot in this book. But the setting, the characters well make up for it. I would continue to watch out for Jeannie Lin's books. I think she has created a niche market in HR by writing about love stories taking place in imperial China.
January 1, 2015
I was really looking forward to this book as a light, romantic read - the other books I've read of this author, The Lady's Scandalous Night and The Dragon and the Pearl , while not particularly light, focused a lot on the romance.
The Jade Temptress, make no mistake, is a historical romance, but the emphasis (and, to me, the strongest point) was on the historical.
I was looking forward to this one for another reason: the heroine was a courtesan, not a blushing virgin. I don't mind that plot point, but it gets tiresome, so I wanted a character who took charge in the bedroom, one who wasn't blushing and cluelessly stumbling about.
The thing is, (and what a lesson that was!), this notion of mine of weaponised femininity was, as many often are, poisonous in its inception.
Mingyu is, indeed, a skilled courtesan. Poems are written about her, men despair over her, powerful warlords vie for her attentions. She knows how to play the game.
But there is another facet to it, it's not all glamour and female charms. Mingyu is an indentured woman. She belongs to the Madame of the Lotus Palace, sold along with her sister by their mother for a handful of coins. Her training in singing, playing, her clothes, her education, her jewels, all of it was added to the price needed for her freedom.
She had a powerful warlord seemingly enamoured with her, she could (and did) refuse to become his concubine, but she couldn't very well refuse to go to his bed. She needed to turn a profit so she'd be valuable to the Lotus Palace, she needed to court favour so she'd receive gifts to redeem her sister's price and, hopefully one day, her own.
When the book starts Mingyu is headed for a "meeting" with General Deng. What she finds is his headless body.
She calls for Wu Kaifeng, the man who tried to torture a confession out of her in the previous book in the series. Now, I haven't read that one, but I didn't feel like I needed to have read it to follow this story - of course, now I want to read it!
There is obvious bad blood between Mingyu and Kaifeng. He's pragmatism incarnate. Not susceptible to her charms. Not even touched by enough sympathy for her to keep from torturing her. Because only one thing matters to him: the truth. As a Constable he makes it his life's mission to see justice take its place. Which is why Mingyu knows she can trust him to solve this case.
But, of course, the case is more intricate than it seems.
I really, really loved this! Compared to the other books I've read, in this one, Lin crafts an exquisitely elaborate plot. I never really knew who to believe to be the killer until they were unmasked. And even then, there were further mysteries to unveil!
I cannot commend this enough, it was an exceptionally well achieved mystery.
And, as always, it's a delight to read a book that doesn't feature the same settings, the same type of people, as virtually all HR. Bear in mind, I do like the other HRs. But it's so satisfying not to have everything be told through the westernised white gaze of the usual protagonist. All genres need diversity, and it's lovely to see it in HR, as well.
On that note, as always, I must praise Lin's research and knowledge of the time period. I always learn new things after finishing one of her books!
Mingyu was a very compelling character. I felt for her. I felt how trapped she was, how lonely, how few her options were. I felt how strong she was, in spite of all these things. How she used what power she could, how she did not shy away from doing what needed be done, and how she held her head high while doing so.
We grow used to modern heroines having more of an agency, but Mingyu was no less strong because, as she said, she realised that, “ Sometimes exploiting a man’s power is the only influence a woman can wield. ”
Kaifeng was more closed off as a character. We didn't dwell much in his POV. I understood him as a character, I understood his choices, and his personality. I even liked him and wanted him and Mingyu to end up together.
But the romance, for me, wasn't the most important part of this story.
Anyway, if you want a good HR with a well-crafted mystery and sensible characters, then you certainly cannot miss this book!
September 24, 2016
Some days, I have this pipe dream of fiction set in historical China written by Chinese people, where their Chinese characters can be as unapologetically Chinese as they want to be without pandering to a white gaze. Some days, I dream about a representation of China that is beautiful, but is not used to fetishise and aestheticise in some picture of imagined Orientalist glory. A critical take on historical China that is not condemnatory, where culture and history are worlds to inhabit, not setpieces for authors who don't know how to play in a world without smashing it to pieces.
Some days, it's really hard to have this dream, because there exists so much excrement in the dredges of publishing. From white men who don Chinese women's names to write bad poetry to white women who have visions of a futuristic China ruled by Japanese emperors, it's hard out there for a Sino girl who grew up on Princess Returning Pearl and wuxia!
And then Jeannie Lin comes along and my eyes, they grow wide. My heart, it starts to thump wildly. What is this mystical thing I'm witnessing? It couldn't possibly be a novel about a courtesan whose exoticism is not repeatedly emphasised, whose relationship to her livelihood is complex and nuanced! A hero who is not a traditional hero, especially not a traditional Chinese hero, because our heroes tend to be pale-skinned moon-faced willowy scholars lost in their own heads. And a murder that––is not a murder? (To be determined at a later date.)
I'd actually picked up the first novel of this series, the Pingkang Li series, on a whim because it was recommended to me on Goodreads, and because it is exactly the type of 才子佳人 (talented man, beautiful woman; it's a genre, very historical, long story, no time, etc.) novel I would kind of expect. But actually that one didn't do anything for me. But then someone on Twitter posted a notice about the second novel, Jade Temptress, going on sale on Amazon and, like the spendthrift I am, I thought gee whiz! I didn't like the first novel so of course it makes perfect sense to pick up the second novel! This is how reading works, right?
I'm really glad I bought it, but honestly, if I hadn't liked Jade Temptress as much as I ultimately did, I would have kicked myself.
Jade Temptress tells the story of Mingyu, the best-known courtesan in Pingkang Li. She knows what men want from her, and she knows how to get what she wants from men. But Wu Kaifeng, a constable at the county magistrate's office, defies all her expectations. He is not interested in playing games, not interested in flattery. What he wants is to solve the murder of General Deng, Mingyu's patron. A murder in which Mingyu is implicated.
Mingyu and Kaifeng have History, this much is evident, and it's a history that haunts the both of them. But it cannot prevent them from falling in love, even when that love could destroy everything they've worked for in a city where favour is fickle and power is king.
I was initially really wary, because some of the history between Mingyu and Kaifeng (and this isn't a spoiler, this is mentioned in the first few chapters or so) includes him having tortured her during the previous novel. This was a sort of wildly inbalanced power dynamic that immediately raised my hackles, but it actually didn't become too much of an issue, largely because we understand the protagonists as holding equal power in relation to each other, and because Kaifeng is described not to be a cruel man who enjoys torture, but rather (and this isn't a comment on the modern practice of torture, but this is a historical fact within the imperial Chinese justice system) a constable whose primary objective is to get information. He is shown to do what he needs to do, but go no further.
Similarly, it would have been really easy for Mingyu to be a stereotype. The "Hooker with a Heart of Gold" figure or the dragon-lady seductress, using sex to manipulate men into doing what she wants. But she's not, she's human, and it sucks that I'm so excited about that, but there it is. What's so great about Jade Temptress is that it neither seeks to discount the power Mingyu carves out for herself––the ability to steer conversations, to influence powerful political players––nor invest her with uncritical power––she is, however high she can rise, still in essence a slave, bought and paid for by the mistress of the bordello.
Though this was ostensibly a mystery romance (romantic mystery?), the mystery element of the story was so-so. I wanted more, I think, of a show-down, a more dramatic close, but I was okay with how Lin chose to wrap up the novel, because for me, the true draw of the novel lies in its interpersonal dynamics and its sharp grasp of contemporaneous politics. It was honestly such a great read––not that long, just enough sexual tension to make me clutch my pearls, and a world that was so familiar.
That's not to say this novel is perfect, though, because there were a few things that really kind of...rankled. Lin's positioning of fair skin as being beautiful over dark skin is certainly a contemporaneous (and let's be real, a contemporary) attitude, but the emphasis on Mingyu's beauty as it is tied to her paleness and Wu Kaifeng's looks as being, if not explicitly ugly, then at least not handsome, as it is tied to his darkness (particularly when factoring in the fact that he's at one point described as "barbaric") and how this is reflected in their social roles––Mingyu in a position of cultivation and admiration, Kaifeng in a position of inferiority, closely associated with violence––make for an exceptionally uncomfortable read.
Theoretically, you could make the argument that this is merely a reflection of the beauty standards of the day. And this argument might hold water––if the author did not also make sure to stress that Mingyu and the other beautiful ladies in the novel are willowy and slim, which are distinctly modern attitudes, as the Tang Dynasty in particular is known for prizing fatness in women. And while there are beautiful women who are known for their thinness specifically (such as Zhao Feiyan), the defining beauty of the Tang Dynasty was Yang Guifei, who was fat, which is how we came to the expression "环肥燕瘦"–– "fat Yang Yuhuan and thin Zhao Feiyan," which is used to describe the wide range of beauty that exists.
The novel was also pretty aggressively heterosexual? Not in the whole 'everyone is straight' kind of way (excuse me this is like 1200 years ago the concept of sexuality is a modern one, blah blah etc. etc. historicity and historiography bleh bleh bleh) but in that
Like...I get it? She's comparing this to one of their earlier kisses, and as she's a woman and he's a man, I'm not exactly pissed at it, but the way it's phrased is not a cute look. The stress––though not overbearing––on the man/woman, maleness/womanness, masculinity/femininity is definitely present and...well. Yikes is all I can really say.
I did really enjoy the novel despite some of these problems. It has a sophisticated grasp of the Tang world that felt textured with reality while not being afraid to touch the fantastical. The characters were richly drawn and on equal footing with each other, their interactions full of the things that are both said and unsaid, both juggling what they should do with what they want to do. But while the novel portrays a sweet love story, there is a bitter edge that isn't afraid to look with a critical eye, which is something I enjoy in a novel.
Some days, it's really hard to have this dream, because there exists so much excrement in the dredges of publishing. From white men who don Chinese women's names to write bad poetry to white women who have visions of a futuristic China ruled by Japanese emperors, it's hard out there for a Sino girl who grew up on Princess Returning Pearl and wuxia!
And then Jeannie Lin comes along and my eyes, they grow wide. My heart, it starts to thump wildly. What is this mystical thing I'm witnessing? It couldn't possibly be a novel about a courtesan whose exoticism is not repeatedly emphasised, whose relationship to her livelihood is complex and nuanced! A hero who is not a traditional hero, especially not a traditional Chinese hero, because our heroes tend to be pale-skinned moon-faced willowy scholars lost in their own heads. And a murder that––is not a murder? (To be determined at a later date.)
I'd actually picked up the first novel of this series, the Pingkang Li series, on a whim because it was recommended to me on Goodreads, and because it is exactly the type of 才子佳人 (talented man, beautiful woman; it's a genre, very historical, long story, no time, etc.) novel I would kind of expect. But actually that one didn't do anything for me. But then someone on Twitter posted a notice about the second novel, Jade Temptress, going on sale on Amazon and, like the spendthrift I am, I thought gee whiz! I didn't like the first novel so of course it makes perfect sense to pick up the second novel! This is how reading works, right?
I'm really glad I bought it, but honestly, if I hadn't liked Jade Temptress as much as I ultimately did, I would have kicked myself.
Jade Temptress tells the story of Mingyu, the best-known courtesan in Pingkang Li. She knows what men want from her, and she knows how to get what she wants from men. But Wu Kaifeng, a constable at the county magistrate's office, defies all her expectations. He is not interested in playing games, not interested in flattery. What he wants is to solve the murder of General Deng, Mingyu's patron. A murder in which Mingyu is implicated.
Mingyu and Kaifeng have History, this much is evident, and it's a history that haunts the both of them. But it cannot prevent them from falling in love, even when that love could destroy everything they've worked for in a city where favour is fickle and power is king.
I was initially really wary, because some of the history between Mingyu and Kaifeng (and this isn't a spoiler, this is mentioned in the first few chapters or so) includes him having tortured her during the previous novel. This was a sort of wildly inbalanced power dynamic that immediately raised my hackles, but it actually didn't become too much of an issue, largely because we understand the protagonists as holding equal power in relation to each other, and because Kaifeng is described not to be a cruel man who enjoys torture, but rather (and this isn't a comment on the modern practice of torture, but this is a historical fact within the imperial Chinese justice system) a constable whose primary objective is to get information. He is shown to do what he needs to do, but go no further.
Similarly, it would have been really easy for Mingyu to be a stereotype. The "Hooker with a Heart of Gold" figure or the dragon-lady seductress, using sex to manipulate men into doing what she wants. But she's not, she's human, and it sucks that I'm so excited about that, but there it is. What's so great about Jade Temptress is that it neither seeks to discount the power Mingyu carves out for herself––the ability to steer conversations, to influence powerful political players––nor invest her with uncritical power––she is, however high she can rise, still in essence a slave, bought and paid for by the mistress of the bordello.
Though this was ostensibly a mystery romance (romantic mystery?), the mystery element of the story was so-so. I wanted more, I think, of a show-down, a more dramatic close, but I was okay with how Lin chose to wrap up the novel, because for me, the true draw of the novel lies in its interpersonal dynamics and its sharp grasp of contemporaneous politics. It was honestly such a great read––not that long, just enough sexual tension to make me clutch my pearls, and a world that was so familiar.
That's not to say this novel is perfect, though, because there were a few things that really kind of...rankled. Lin's positioning of fair skin as being beautiful over dark skin is certainly a contemporaneous (and let's be real, a contemporary) attitude, but the emphasis on Mingyu's beauty as it is tied to her paleness and Wu Kaifeng's looks as being, if not explicitly ugly, then at least not handsome, as it is tied to his darkness (particularly when factoring in the fact that he's at one point described as "barbaric") and how this is reflected in their social roles––Mingyu in a position of cultivation and admiration, Kaifeng in a position of inferiority, closely associated with violence––make for an exceptionally uncomfortable read.
Theoretically, you could make the argument that this is merely a reflection of the beauty standards of the day. And this argument might hold water––if the author did not also make sure to stress that Mingyu and the other beautiful ladies in the novel are willowy and slim, which are distinctly modern attitudes, as the Tang Dynasty in particular is known for prizing fatness in women. And while there are beautiful women who are known for their thinness specifically (such as Zhao Feiyan), the defining beauty of the Tang Dynasty was Yang Guifei, who was fat, which is how we came to the expression "环肥燕瘦"–– "fat Yang Yuhuan and thin Zhao Feiyan," which is used to describe the wide range of beauty that exists.
The novel was also pretty aggressively heterosexual? Not in the whole 'everyone is straight' kind of way (excuse me this is like 1200 years ago the concept of sexuality is a modern one, blah blah etc. etc. historicity and historiography bleh bleh bleh) but in that
He bent to kiss her the way a kiss should happen between a man and a woman. Not out in the open. Not with drums beating and the threat of intrusion from the outside world.
Like...I get it? She's comparing this to one of their earlier kisses, and as she's a woman and he's a man, I'm not exactly pissed at it, but the way it's phrased is not a cute look. The stress––though not overbearing––on the man/woman, maleness/womanness, masculinity/femininity is definitely present and...well. Yikes is all I can really say.
I did really enjoy the novel despite some of these problems. It has a sophisticated grasp of the Tang world that felt textured with reality while not being afraid to touch the fantastical. The characters were richly drawn and on equal footing with each other, their interactions full of the things that are both said and unsaid, both juggling what they should do with what they want to do. But while the novel portrays a sweet love story, there is a bitter edge that isn't afraid to look with a critical eye, which is something I enjoy in a novel.
September 20, 2024
Love a historical murder mystery that starts off with a fairly shocking beheading. As most beheadings are I assume?
Anyway I did not read the previous book as this was the one on KU but Kaifeng was a constable who straight up tortured Mingyu in the previous book to try to get information out of her so honestly I think it’s safe to say that this was an enemies to lovers story here.
There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, I love more than when other characters comment on how the heroine obviously hates the hero for whatever reason and then she has to sort of stammer around the fact that she now in fact loves him. *chefs kiss*
It’s a very slow build as Kaifeng and Mingyu begin to deeply understand and value each other in a way that’s really beautiful. The murder mystery was fun too. Anyway, highly recommend. I’ll definitely read more in this series.
Anyway I did not read the previous book as this was the one on KU but Kaifeng was a constable who straight up tortured Mingyu in the previous book to try to get information out of her so honestly I think it’s safe to say that this was an enemies to lovers story here.
There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, I love more than when other characters comment on how the heroine obviously hates the hero for whatever reason and then she has to sort of stammer around the fact that she now in fact loves him. *chefs kiss*
It’s a very slow build as Kaifeng and Mingyu begin to deeply understand and value each other in a way that’s really beautiful. The murder mystery was fun too. Anyway, highly recommend. I’ll definitely read more in this series.
January 31, 2025
5/5
Very few romances I've read I've genuinely enjoyed, and this one had it's claws in my from start to finish. I've been quick to realize my issue with your run of the mill romance novels is that... I don't really enjoy when the plot itself is just two people falling in love... On that note let me just say, Lin DELIVERED!!!!! The plot has us following our main characters Mingyu and Kaifeng as they get embroiled in the murder case of a high profile warlord/general... as they try to piece together clues they end up catching feelings and it is was just *chef's kiss*.
This is technically the second book in a series that Lin has written, but I had no trouble following the story or the different characters (think I'll go back and read the first book as well). Lin knows how to write tension between her characters, the seduction... the romance... Mingyu is a famous courtesan and Kaifeng an apparent lowly constable and they're not strangers to one another.
You don't really have a third act breakup in the bland fashion that many novels tend to do, in the context of the world and story that Lin has written it makes sense and it's expected actually... in fact Lin's writing is so good that in 390 something pages of the ebook she is able to write both Kaifeng and Mingyu as multifaceted characters with complex relations with those around them (Kaifeng with Magistrate Li, Mingyu with her "Mother").. more importantly these two are still my brain even after finishing the book like !!! Mingyu/Kaifeng my beloveds etc etc
Very few romances I've read I've genuinely enjoyed, and this one had it's claws in my from start to finish. I've been quick to realize my issue with your run of the mill romance novels is that... I don't really enjoy when the plot itself is just two people falling in love... On that note let me just say, Lin DELIVERED!!!!! The plot has us following our main characters Mingyu and Kaifeng as they get embroiled in the murder case of a high profile warlord/general... as they try to piece together clues they end up catching feelings and it is was just *chef's kiss*.
This is technically the second book in a series that Lin has written, but I had no trouble following the story or the different characters (think I'll go back and read the first book as well). Lin knows how to write tension between her characters, the seduction... the romance... Mingyu is a famous courtesan and Kaifeng an apparent lowly constable and they're not strangers to one another.
You don't really have a third act breakup in the bland fashion that many novels tend to do, in the context of the world and story that Lin has written it makes sense and it's expected actually... in fact Lin's writing is so good that in 390 something pages of the ebook she is able to write both Kaifeng and Mingyu as multifaceted characters with complex relations with those around them (Kaifeng with Magistrate Li, Mingyu with her "Mother").. more importantly these two are still my brain even after finishing the book like !!! Mingyu/Kaifeng my beloveds etc etc
May 31, 2024
This was so excellent, it made me come back to Goodreads and write my first review in months.
I had a feeling this would work better for me than the first, and I was very right. First of all, I love a romance with actual stakes and this one had them. Both characters were in vulnerable positions with shit to lose and valid reasons not to trust the other.... and they had to consider external factors in a fairly nuanced way before choosing each other. Mingyu and Wu Kaifeng were guarded af due to their life circumstances, and I'm a sucker for seeing two guarded people let down their walls in romances. Particularly with Mingyu's relationship to being a courtesan and having to weigh the pros and cons between security in society and true freedom. They just really had to work through some shit, and that journey made the HEA so satisfying. The mystery in this one was much more compelling than the first, and I was engaged the whole way through. The writing was just as beautiful too, I love how real Jeannie Lin makes this setting feel.
Since starting school, my reading has taken a huge hit, especially within romance. Ya girl has been struggling🥲 So reading a romance that really captured me like this was MUCH needed and makes me excited to take advantage of my summer. I'm glad this Jeannie Lin worked so well for me, definitely has the potential to join my list of go-to historical authors.
I had a feeling this would work better for me than the first, and I was very right. First of all, I love a romance with actual stakes and this one had them. Both characters were in vulnerable positions with shit to lose and valid reasons not to trust the other.... and they had to consider external factors in a fairly nuanced way before choosing each other. Mingyu and Wu Kaifeng were guarded af due to their life circumstances, and I'm a sucker for seeing two guarded people let down their walls in romances. Particularly with Mingyu's relationship to being a courtesan and having to weigh the pros and cons between security in society and true freedom. They just really had to work through some shit, and that journey made the HEA so satisfying. The mystery in this one was much more compelling than the first, and I was engaged the whole way through. The writing was just as beautiful too, I love how real Jeannie Lin makes this setting feel.
Since starting school, my reading has taken a huge hit, especially within romance. Ya girl has been struggling🥲 So reading a romance that really captured me like this was MUCH needed and makes me excited to take advantage of my summer. I'm glad this Jeannie Lin worked so well for me, definitely has the potential to join my list of go-to historical authors.
July 11, 2020
Jeannie Lin is officially one of my favorite authors and I am so glad that I have the rest of her backlist to devour. Now off to read the final novella in this series.
November 19, 2017
The ending is magnificent.
October 9, 2025
3.5 stars
Ever since the sublime The Lotus Palace, I have been following avidly this series. But I skipped this second book for a long time, because the story did not entice me much. Now having read it at long last, I find it was a decent follow up to The Lotus Palace. JL's pen remained wonderful in the vibrant way she brought the Pleasure quarter and its characters to life.
I had never been a great fan of Mingyu but this book redeemed her in my eyes as it showed the hidden depths in her character. She was not easy to like. In fact, both her and Wu Kaifeng were not easy characters. They were not warm characters and it showed in the writing, I could feel the hardness in their make up. But I think this was done with purpose - it made them distinct characters. And the character backgrounds drawn up by JL helped explained why they were like they were. And so they made sense in being together.
I would have rated up this second instalment based on the romance alone. However, I was disappointed with the last part of the book where I felt the loose plotting of the concurrent investigation was too evident to ignore:
🌸 Why was the jade head removed and found in the servant's quarter? How did Wu Kaifeng get 'ownership' of it?
🌸 Why did Mingyu had to organise that little semi-public showdown with Xi Lun at that very moment? I get she wanted payback via the only way she had at her reach, namely humiliate him. But there was a warrant on her head right then! And that showdown served at nothing at that point of the story.
🌸 The insertion of Xi Lun's character felt underwhelming by the end. I really thought he had something to do with Deng's death. He featured so much during the whole book, appeared so powerful and inspired fear... and then he was just brushed away so easily.
🌸 I loved that Bai Huang was brought back with yet more flourish and edge. But I was totally let down that his intervention following Mingyun's reveals on Deng and plea to have Wu Kaifeng's freed was not more explained. How was Xi Lun pushed off the interrogation? How was Mingyun's presence at Bai Mansion enabled by the authorities? Why did they agree to Wu Kaifeng's release and Mingyun's free roaming when it was evident that there was no clue to solve Deng's murder until Wu Kaifeng's found the jade head?
Still, the book makes for necessary reading for Pingkang Li fans like myself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2023
Kaifeng and Mingyu, my fave couple of the reading journey I had this year.
I devoured book one to rush into this one because Kaifeng was so dark and broody that I had to see him go head-to-head with Mingyu.
You find out in the first book that Mingyu was taken into custody as a suspect for the death of someone. You see as she is released she is shaken up from her time in jail with Kaifeng, but you never knew exactly what went down... and in this book, you do. You see it, and understand that he absolutely no-nonsensed and bluntly took dissected every bit of her testimony and alibi. He also tortured her by almost crushing her fingers. Yowza. But he stops before he could go any further, and lets her go knowing that she didn't do it... yet, someone changed in that moment and Mingyu and Kaifeng will never be the same again.
Mingyu is involved in another death, as someone who has no one to turn to - and looking for someone who will believe her as innocent, she goes to Kaifeng. Kaifeng is surprised but reasons she had nothing to do with this death, but is now thrust into this world where he must find the killer and protect Mingyu whom he may or may not be having feelings for...
There is also a character thrown in that is a government official (who gets his story down the line it seems?) that is after Mingyu and wants to own her (due to a crush he had on her when he was poor and penniless). Which now rushes things in terms of Kaifeng figuring out his feelings.
I love the mystery, the romance, the setting, and the historical research that went into this. Again, there were sex scenes but I felt they were earned. This was like watching one of my favorite cdramas come to life with some R rated scenes thrown in there. But that romance? A+.
I am for sure going to be reading books three and four, because I'm too far down the rabbit hole to quit. Jeannie Lin's books have caught my attention and this series is one of my favorite romance series for sure!
I devoured book one to rush into this one because Kaifeng was so dark and broody that I had to see him go head-to-head with Mingyu.
You find out in the first book that Mingyu was taken into custody as a suspect for the death of someone. You see as she is released she is shaken up from her time in jail with Kaifeng, but you never knew exactly what went down... and in this book, you do. You see it, and understand that he absolutely no-nonsensed and bluntly took dissected every bit of her testimony and alibi. He also tortured her by almost crushing her fingers. Yowza. But he stops before he could go any further, and lets her go knowing that she didn't do it... yet, someone changed in that moment and Mingyu and Kaifeng will never be the same again.
Mingyu is involved in another death, as someone who has no one to turn to - and looking for someone who will believe her as innocent, she goes to Kaifeng. Kaifeng is surprised but reasons she had nothing to do with this death, but is now thrust into this world where he must find the killer and protect Mingyu whom he may or may not be having feelings for...
There is also a character thrown in that is a government official (who gets his story down the line it seems?) that is after Mingyu and wants to own her (due to a crush he had on her when he was poor and penniless). Which now rushes things in terms of Kaifeng figuring out his feelings.
I love the mystery, the romance, the setting, and the historical research that went into this. Again, there were sex scenes but I felt they were earned. This was like watching one of my favorite cdramas come to life with some R rated scenes thrown in there. But that romance? A+.
I am for sure going to be reading books three and four, because I'm too far down the rabbit hole to quit. Jeannie Lin's books have caught my attention and this series is one of my favorite romance series for sure!
May 8, 2022
We first met both Mingyu and Kaifeng in the first book. In summary, Mingyu is a courtesan and was accused and arrested for murder. Kaifeng was her interrogator. She was eventually freed. Her life is not hers and she is owned by the Lotus Palace. She could be replaced anytime by someone younger/prettier. Kaifeng came from humble beginnings and is a constable.
In this she ends up in a similar situation. Her longtime client/patron, General Deng is found murdered (beheaded). She is the one who finds his body. Knowing Kaifeng to be fair and to do what is right, she sends for him.
I liked the gradual trust and attraction that builds between them. Interesting look at the culture (don't look here, everything is FINE in our family!). I did think some things would happen and be revealed and I was proven to be wrong. Deng's wife did know more than she let on, but that was the only thing I was right about. Suffice to say that with the revelation that I didn't see coming, the rest of the mystery was a bit of a let down. However, the romance between Mingyu and Kaifeng is what drove the story and I have to say I liked that (even if the mystery was disappointing). They got their HEA, but only after Mingyu came to her own realization, with help from an unexpected source. And I have to say that the whole story-line with Xi Lun wasn't necessary (except as an obstacle for the love birds to overcome, and I did love how Mingyu ultimately stood up to him!).
In this she ends up in a similar situation. Her longtime client/patron, General Deng is found murdered (beheaded). She is the one who finds his body. Knowing Kaifeng to be fair and to do what is right, she sends for him.
I liked the gradual trust and attraction that builds between them. Interesting look at the culture (don't look here, everything is FINE in our family!). I did think some things would happen and be revealed and I was proven to be wrong. Deng's wife did know more than she let on, but that was the only thing I was right about. Suffice to say that with the revelation that I didn't see coming, the rest of the mystery was a bit of a let down. However, the romance between Mingyu and Kaifeng is what drove the story and I have to say I liked that (even if the mystery was disappointing). They got their HEA, but only after Mingyu came to her own realization, with help from an unexpected source. And I have to say that the whole story-line with Xi Lun wasn't necessary (except as an obstacle for the love birds to overcome, and I did love how Mingyu ultimately stood up to him!).
March 24, 2024
This was great fun. We had met the MCs in book 1 but I think it works as a standalone. The female MC is a courtesan and the man a constable. They get to know each other because she finds a body and he investigates. The investigation was well done even though I liked book one's better. The romance was slow and they really belonged together but the transition from "enemy" to "cooperation" to more was a bit abrupt. Something was missing but I still enjoyed it.
November 17, 2025
4.5 stars.
January 16, 2014
3.5 stars
Once again Jeannie Lin writes a setting that is extremely enjoyable, and characters that are interesting and different.
We are introduced to most of the characters in the previews book "the Lotus Palace" and pairing Wu with Mingyu did not come as a surprise.
General Deng, one of the most important people in the empire, is found dead by Mingyu, who goes to Wu, the constable, for help even though it is known by everyone that she despises him.
Or does she?
Wu is a hard man with secrets and a mysteries past. He does not know how to deal with Mingyu the favored and most sought after courtesan. He doesn't have pretty words or poetry in him, a straightforward man in all his actions and words, it seems farfetched that she would be interested in him.
Yet while he tries to solve the murder mystery their relationship goes through changes that makes him wonder about her true feelings and motives.
The mystery was really well written with a few surprises, it was not easy to figure out which kept me interested.
I'm hoping the next installment in this series is about Wei Wei whom we see briefly in both books.
This review is for a free copy courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley.
Once again Jeannie Lin writes a setting that is extremely enjoyable, and characters that are interesting and different.
We are introduced to most of the characters in the previews book "the Lotus Palace" and pairing Wu with Mingyu did not come as a surprise.
General Deng, one of the most important people in the empire, is found dead by Mingyu, who goes to Wu, the constable, for help even though it is known by everyone that she despises him.
Or does she?
Wu is a hard man with secrets and a mysteries past. He does not know how to deal with Mingyu the favored and most sought after courtesan. He doesn't have pretty words or poetry in him, a straightforward man in all his actions and words, it seems farfetched that she would be interested in him.
Yet while he tries to solve the murder mystery their relationship goes through changes that makes him wonder about her true feelings and motives.
The mystery was really well written with a few surprises, it was not easy to figure out which kept me interested.
I'm hoping the next installment in this series is about Wei Wei whom we see briefly in both books.
This review is for a free copy courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley.
October 22, 2014
At first I wasn't sure about this book but as I read on I became enthralled. Wu Kaifeng and Lady Mingyu are sooo much more interesting than Yue-Ying and Bai Huang. I was captured by the prose and the ability the authoress has for transporting me into a different cultural setting in an effortless way. It helps that the author intimately knows what she is talking about and I just enjoyed every moment of the book. It never lost its shine like the first one and I truly felt for the main couple. Lin has really improve in her writing and her pacing has improve greatly.
Kaifeng and Mingyu relationship was this effortless flow of events that felt organic and never forced in any way. At first I was leery of ever feeling their love and connection but Lin proved me wrong. I felt their love, I felt the impossibility of their relationship and the despair at circumstances that set them apart. I was also incredibly happy that Mingyu was able to escape her infuriating suitor, Magistrate Li, on her own, it was an empowering moment to see her escape her fate. I want to read more books Jeannie Lin.
Kaifeng and Mingyu relationship was this effortless flow of events that felt organic and never forced in any way. At first I was leery of ever feeling their love and connection but Lin proved me wrong. I felt their love, I felt the impossibility of their relationship and the despair at circumstances that set them apart. I was also incredibly happy that Mingyu was able to escape her infuriating suitor, Magistrate Li, on her own, it was an empowering moment to see her escape her fate. I want to read more books Jeannie Lin.
November 14, 2016
I still enjoyed this but I found it less engaging than the first book in the series. In the first book I felt like the mystery and romance had equal footing in the pace of the story whereas here the romance took more of a center stage role. I also didn't quite feel as connected to the protagonist Mingyu as I did to her sister from the first book. I did like Constable Wu Kaifeng but I feel like both Mingyu and Kaifeng were written as characters that live with a lot of personal walls surrounding them and even in their POVs you felt somewhat disconnected. It was still enjoyable and I'd like to read more by the author.
March 5, 2014
When I realized who would be the main characters in this one, I was all the more so eager to read it. This is the second book in the intriguing The Pingkang Li series set in the Tang Dynasty of China and featuring a combination of murder mystery and romance with the pleasure ward of the capitol city as the backdrop. Mingyu is the enigmatic older sister to the heroine of the previous book and Wu Kaifeng was the intimidating police constable who played his part in solving the murder. They were at odds with each other not just because of their vastly different stations in life, but their personalities and agendas too. Now they are both the leads and their story was all that I could hope for and then some.
Lady Mingyu is the most beautiful and coveted courtesan in the pleasure district living a comfortable life at the Lotus Palace and from everyone's perspective she should be pleased with her place at the top of the food chain in her sphere. With her sister freed and happily married, with her own bond price way beyond her means, and with the new arrival to the city of her long time protector who has done more than hint that he wants her for his concubine, she grows worried about her future chance of freedom and feels loneliness. She yearns for freedom, but that is beyond her means with General Deng's return.
Constable Wu Kaifeng gazes from afar on the beautiful Mingyu. He knows she hates him for his part in her arrest and interrogation the year before and he knows that she hides behind a mask using men for her advantage, but he can't stop yearning. Kaifeng is under a lot of pressure now with someone higher up pushing to have him removed and he needs to be extra careful about how he does his job. His latest murder case will tax him sorely to stay professional. Mingyu sends for him because she has discovered the body of her lover General Deng. She is well aware that she is a suspect, but he doesn't know what to make of her new attitude toward him. Is she planning to use him because she did commit the murder or because she is afraid of being accused and interrogated or is she telling the truth?
Mingyu learns that her reprieve of not being sold is short lived. Deng is gone, but now 'Mother' has a new man, a Palace Investigator, who wants her. He has wanted her since he was a student and has followed her activities closely. Mingyu sees him as a stalker and someone who just wants to 'collect' her and hide her away. She must tread carefully though because he has made it clear that he hates Kaifeng and will make things hard for him during the investigation. Mingyu hides her need for Kaifeng from everyone not out of shame, but necessity. He doesn't understand what she sees in him and is suspicious that she is just using him, but in reality, it is because he is the first person to see and like the real her.
The machinations of the inspector, the plotting of Mingyu's protectoress, the intrigue surrounding the murder all tighten the danger and tension for Mingyu and Kaifeng. Their relationship is forbidden and heartbreaking because it doesn't stand a chance, but it soon becomes a weapon used to harm them both. In the end, they must solve the murder and use their wits to stay alive, but it is something more- something even harder still- that is required for a chance at happiness.
I cannot shower enough praise on the author for this book and the rest of her stories. Her command of the historical background, rich and full characters and their stories, and twisting plot paths is so good. I always feel like I'm really there and my emotions are always engaged. She does so well with the forbidden romance and writing the couple out of the corner that seems so hopeless without compromising the realism of the time. This particular series is set against the background of the Chinese Geisha culture and it is so artistically beautiful without compromising the seedy reality of life behind the scenes for those who live in the pleasure palaces.
Mingyu is a beautiful, talented courtesan who is a prize hostess for the rich nobles and students who sit in her salons as she pours their tea and wine, sings, plays music, discusses poetry, art, and politics of the day. She is everything refined, subtle and graceful- the opposite of her love interest, Kaifeng. She tended to hide and deny her own emotions and desires, but it made sense in this instance. She was afraid to step out on faith because people who are sold by their own parents and owned by others tend to not trust in concepts like love and happiness.
Kaifeng is a bluntly honest, simple man who others see as a brute and are afraid of him. He has a past that has taught him to push his emotions into a box. He has had to work hard for everything he has and it is all precariously close to being taken away by the whim of a more powerful, vindictive man. Yet for all this, he sees through all the artifice that surrounds Mingyu and appreciates the woman under the cosmetics, silks and jewels. He is protective and gentle, but always honest about what he wants even when she cannot be honest with herself.
Their attraction is acted on and it is truly passionate. They both consider a relationship hopeless and even dangerous, but can't help seeking each other out. This is not one where trite words or actions are tossed out because these are two realistic, jaded people. I loved watching this relationship develop as they worked slowly, but surely to solve the ticklish murder mystery.
The mystery was not an easy one which is what I liked. I had no idea who did it or even why up until the end.
The presence of the characters from the previous book were a wonderful inclusion. I loved seeing how Yue-Ying and Bai Huang are doing along with his precocious sister Wei-Wei. I hope she gets a book too maybe even with Wu Kaifeng's magistrate friend. I think she'd be like the Nancy Drew of Ancient China.
All in all, I enjoyed immersing myself in this book and recommend it and the series to those who enjoy historical romantic suspense in a spicy opposites attract romance with a cunning mystery and a gorgeous Asian historical backdrop.
My thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Mingyu is the most beautiful and coveted courtesan in the pleasure district living a comfortable life at the Lotus Palace and from everyone's perspective she should be pleased with her place at the top of the food chain in her sphere. With her sister freed and happily married, with her own bond price way beyond her means, and with the new arrival to the city of her long time protector who has done more than hint that he wants her for his concubine, she grows worried about her future chance of freedom and feels loneliness. She yearns for freedom, but that is beyond her means with General Deng's return.
Constable Wu Kaifeng gazes from afar on the beautiful Mingyu. He knows she hates him for his part in her arrest and interrogation the year before and he knows that she hides behind a mask using men for her advantage, but he can't stop yearning. Kaifeng is under a lot of pressure now with someone higher up pushing to have him removed and he needs to be extra careful about how he does his job. His latest murder case will tax him sorely to stay professional. Mingyu sends for him because she has discovered the body of her lover General Deng. She is well aware that she is a suspect, but he doesn't know what to make of her new attitude toward him. Is she planning to use him because she did commit the murder or because she is afraid of being accused and interrogated or is she telling the truth?
Mingyu learns that her reprieve of not being sold is short lived. Deng is gone, but now 'Mother' has a new man, a Palace Investigator, who wants her. He has wanted her since he was a student and has followed her activities closely. Mingyu sees him as a stalker and someone who just wants to 'collect' her and hide her away. She must tread carefully though because he has made it clear that he hates Kaifeng and will make things hard for him during the investigation. Mingyu hides her need for Kaifeng from everyone not out of shame, but necessity. He doesn't understand what she sees in him and is suspicious that she is just using him, but in reality, it is because he is the first person to see and like the real her.
The machinations of the inspector, the plotting of Mingyu's protectoress, the intrigue surrounding the murder all tighten the danger and tension for Mingyu and Kaifeng. Their relationship is forbidden and heartbreaking because it doesn't stand a chance, but it soon becomes a weapon used to harm them both. In the end, they must solve the murder and use their wits to stay alive, but it is something more- something even harder still- that is required for a chance at happiness.
I cannot shower enough praise on the author for this book and the rest of her stories. Her command of the historical background, rich and full characters and their stories, and twisting plot paths is so good. I always feel like I'm really there and my emotions are always engaged. She does so well with the forbidden romance and writing the couple out of the corner that seems so hopeless without compromising the realism of the time. This particular series is set against the background of the Chinese Geisha culture and it is so artistically beautiful without compromising the seedy reality of life behind the scenes for those who live in the pleasure palaces.
Mingyu is a beautiful, talented courtesan who is a prize hostess for the rich nobles and students who sit in her salons as she pours their tea and wine, sings, plays music, discusses poetry, art, and politics of the day. She is everything refined, subtle and graceful- the opposite of her love interest, Kaifeng. She tended to hide and deny her own emotions and desires, but it made sense in this instance. She was afraid to step out on faith because people who are sold by their own parents and owned by others tend to not trust in concepts like love and happiness.
Kaifeng is a bluntly honest, simple man who others see as a brute and are afraid of him. He has a past that has taught him to push his emotions into a box. He has had to work hard for everything he has and it is all precariously close to being taken away by the whim of a more powerful, vindictive man. Yet for all this, he sees through all the artifice that surrounds Mingyu and appreciates the woman under the cosmetics, silks and jewels. He is protective and gentle, but always honest about what he wants even when she cannot be honest with herself.
Their attraction is acted on and it is truly passionate. They both consider a relationship hopeless and even dangerous, but can't help seeking each other out. This is not one where trite words or actions are tossed out because these are two realistic, jaded people. I loved watching this relationship develop as they worked slowly, but surely to solve the ticklish murder mystery.
The mystery was not an easy one which is what I liked. I had no idea who did it or even why up until the end.
The presence of the characters from the previous book were a wonderful inclusion. I loved seeing how Yue-Ying and Bai Huang are doing along with his precocious sister Wei-Wei. I hope she gets a book too maybe even with Wu Kaifeng's magistrate friend. I think she'd be like the Nancy Drew of Ancient China.
All in all, I enjoyed immersing myself in this book and recommend it and the series to those who enjoy historical romantic suspense in a spicy opposites attract romance with a cunning mystery and a gorgeous Asian historical backdrop.
My thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2021
I loved the first installment of this historical China romance mystery. (Try saying that three times in a row quickly). In this book we return back to Tang Dynasty and the pleasure quarter Lotus Palace where the older sister of the first book's protagonist, Mingyu reigns as a high place courtesan under the patronage of Imperial General Deng.
Only Deng gets murdered and Mingyu is under suspicion again. Constable Wu, the policeman who painfully questioned her in the last book, is who she turns to for protection.
Constable Wu has solidly reigned in his emotions behind thick walls. He has secrets of his own, and has made his new life around being concerned only with justice and truth. While his Magistrate boss appreciates that about him, else where political enemies are more concerned with the weakness in his armor: Mingyu.
He can't seem to stay away from her. And she dreams of freedom from the Lotus Palace and male protectors.
Lots of fun details about tea, musical instruments, robes, etc. This one was definitely more romance-focused with a romance style ending and each protagonist ruminating on how they can never be together. Still quite interesting story and satisfyingly steamy.
Only Deng gets murdered and Mingyu is under suspicion again. Constable Wu, the policeman who painfully questioned her in the last book, is who she turns to for protection.
Constable Wu has solidly reigned in his emotions behind thick walls. He has secrets of his own, and has made his new life around being concerned only with justice and truth. While his Magistrate boss appreciates that about him, else where political enemies are more concerned with the weakness in his armor: Mingyu.
He can't seem to stay away from her. And she dreams of freedom from the Lotus Palace and male protectors.
Lots of fun details about tea, musical instruments, robes, etc. This one was definitely more romance-focused with a romance style ending and each protagonist ruminating on how they can never be together. Still quite interesting story and satisfyingly steamy.
May 30, 2023
When I read the Lotus Palace, I readied myself for what was brewing between Mingyu and Kaifeng. Mingyu is the most sought after courtesan in the district. Kaifeng is a constable investigating the decapitation of Mingyu’s most well-known patron, General Deng. Mingyu is a suspect, and it’s not even the first time she’s been tied to a murder case.
Right from the get go, someone tries to take Kaifeng off the case and we later learn it’s a magistrate, Xi Lun. He’s coveted Mingyu for a long time. When he makes his move, Mingyu recognizes he wants to keep him for her and no one else. Kaifeng’s manner is blunt and direct. He’s relentless in his pursuit of the truth. As a constable, Kaifeng can’t aspire to be with someone like Mingyu. She’s legally bound to the Lotus Palace and can’t leave of her own accord. Unless someone offers a high enough price for her and her debt continuously increases based on some shaky math.
I really liked this a lot. It’s easy to see why Mingyu loves a man like Kaifeng, who tells you things directly. She doesn’t have to offer up the curated courtesan to him, she can be herself. Likewise, there were many moments of Kaifeng appreciating Mingyu. Her ease with people. Always stopping himself from hoping for more. Mingyu doesn’t know how to open her heart, either. She’s never allowed and really been in a place where she could let an emotion like love run its course. Lin weaves the tension of her couple deftly.
Right from the get go, someone tries to take Kaifeng off the case and we later learn it’s a magistrate, Xi Lun. He’s coveted Mingyu for a long time. When he makes his move, Mingyu recognizes he wants to keep him for her and no one else. Kaifeng’s manner is blunt and direct. He’s relentless in his pursuit of the truth. As a constable, Kaifeng can’t aspire to be with someone like Mingyu. She’s legally bound to the Lotus Palace and can’t leave of her own accord. Unless someone offers a high enough price for her and her debt continuously increases based on some shaky math.
I really liked this a lot. It’s easy to see why Mingyu loves a man like Kaifeng, who tells you things directly. She doesn’t have to offer up the curated courtesan to him, she can be herself. Likewise, there were many moments of Kaifeng appreciating Mingyu. Her ease with people. Always stopping himself from hoping for more. Mingyu doesn’t know how to open her heart, either. She’s never allowed and really been in a place where she could let an emotion like love run its course. Lin weaves the tension of her couple deftly.
January 28, 2019
This is my favorite of her books I’ve read so far, which is saying a lot. Loved everything about this from beginning to end. Plus the mystery had some plot twists! Sorry, I feel incapable of writing longer reviews lately, but this was so good.
April 8, 2024
this book is so flipping good
October 16, 2017
The Jade Temptress is the second book in The Pingkang Li Mysteries, and tells the story of Mingyu, the most celebrated courtesan at The Lotus Palace. Even though this book can be read as a standalone, to experience the wide range of emotions the unfolding story exposes the reader to, I would recommend reading the series in order.
Wu Kaifeng, known as Constable Wu is a man of serious demeanor, having never shown an interest in her, unlike men of the caliber that Mingyu usually spends her time with. But the murder of Mingyu’s long term patron General Deng Zhi brings Wu and Mingyu together in a way that deepens the awareness that had sizzled to life between them from almost the beginning. of their acquaintance, though neither had acknowledged the fact at first.
While Mingyu is beauty personified with every man who comes to The Lotus Palace enamored by her presence, Wu is the opposite of what one would call “handsome” in the classical sense. But his strong presence, his demeanor, the way he holds himself, his strong sense of seeing justice through, and the way he is helplessly ensnared by the strength of character that Mingyu hides from most; all that and more makes Wu a formidable character, one that I fell head over heels in love with from the minute I came across him in the first book.
Mingyu’s past, the way she had become the most sought after courtesan at The Lotus Palace is one that grabs the emotions of the reader. Similar is how Wu grew up, his character even then one that was different from most children. How Jeannie Lin creates such beauty in a world where murder, jealousy, and traversing the treacherous waters of Chinese imperial politics is one that continues to amaze me. I would always come back for more because similar to authors like Sherry Thomas, Jeannie Lin is one of a kind and there is no giving up on that.
I absolutely loved the story that unfolded in The Jade Temptress, more so than the first book in the series. I have a thing for strong and silent heroes, and Constable Wu personifies all that and more. Mingyu is not the average heroine material that you encounter in most romance books, but she is endearing in so many ways that I fell for her just as hard when it came right down to it.
As the story reached its ultimate conclusion, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty and utter perfection that Jeannie Lin created with the characters, the story, and the ending. I loved the way Kaifeng bought the one thing that mattered most to Mingyu, and yet, waited patiently, biding his time until Mingyu came to him on her own volition. That was profound in a way I cannot describe, because for a woman such as Mingyu, that was a gift that was priceless. I loved the tidbits that showed the struggles both of them go through to make a different life for themselves together – and that in essence clinched the deal for me.
This is one of Jeannie Lin’s best works, and comes highly recommended for fans of beautifully crafted romance novels.
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Wu Kaifeng, known as Constable Wu is a man of serious demeanor, having never shown an interest in her, unlike men of the caliber that Mingyu usually spends her time with. But the murder of Mingyu’s long term patron General Deng Zhi brings Wu and Mingyu together in a way that deepens the awareness that had sizzled to life between them from almost the beginning. of their acquaintance, though neither had acknowledged the fact at first.
While Mingyu is beauty personified with every man who comes to The Lotus Palace enamored by her presence, Wu is the opposite of what one would call “handsome” in the classical sense. But his strong presence, his demeanor, the way he holds himself, his strong sense of seeing justice through, and the way he is helplessly ensnared by the strength of character that Mingyu hides from most; all that and more makes Wu a formidable character, one that I fell head over heels in love with from the minute I came across him in the first book.
Mingyu’s past, the way she had become the most sought after courtesan at The Lotus Palace is one that grabs the emotions of the reader. Similar is how Wu grew up, his character even then one that was different from most children. How Jeannie Lin creates such beauty in a world where murder, jealousy, and traversing the treacherous waters of Chinese imperial politics is one that continues to amaze me. I would always come back for more because similar to authors like Sherry Thomas, Jeannie Lin is one of a kind and there is no giving up on that.
I absolutely loved the story that unfolded in The Jade Temptress, more so than the first book in the series. I have a thing for strong and silent heroes, and Constable Wu personifies all that and more. Mingyu is not the average heroine material that you encounter in most romance books, but she is endearing in so many ways that I fell for her just as hard when it came right down to it.
As the story reached its ultimate conclusion, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty and utter perfection that Jeannie Lin created with the characters, the story, and the ending. I loved the way Kaifeng bought the one thing that mattered most to Mingyu, and yet, waited patiently, biding his time until Mingyu came to him on her own volition. That was profound in a way I cannot describe, because for a woman such as Mingyu, that was a gift that was priceless. I loved the tidbits that showed the struggles both of them go through to make a different life for themselves together – and that in essence clinched the deal for me.
This is one of Jeannie Lin’s best works, and comes highly recommended for fans of beautifully crafted romance novels.
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
June 22, 2019
releyendo
una de mis novelas románticas favoritas.
una de mis novelas románticas favoritas.
June 12, 2024
Back to Pingkang Li, a historical romance set in the Tang Dynasty, book 2! This one features the icy courtesan Mingyu and the uptight constable Wu Kaifeng. Both are logical and cold, so it was really fun to see how they're trying to dance around each other.
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I LOVE watching the romance developing between Mingyu and Kaifeng. Both are so prideful, cold, and SO AWARE of their different role in society. As a courtesan, Mingyu can only be dined, wined, and redeemed by rich patrons (which of course she has at least 1. A very jealous one as well!). Obviously something that someone with only a constable wage can afford. Hence, reading about the forbidden love, i.e. how attracted they are vs. how incompatible they are is so satisfying.
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Once they fall in love, interestingly they still keep their head! Seriously both are so level headed and they don't fall to the I-love-you-let's-burn-the-world schtick. I really like how they try to make sense of their love despite of everything and I can happily say that the conclusion is so satisfying.
.
True to the series name, a large dose of this book is devoted to a murder mystery. Unlike the first one, I find the case in this one to be more compelling from the get go, with Mingyu finding the headless form of her longterm protector. The development of the case is fun too! Some revelations are quite gripping, although I'd like to have a better, bigger, longer conclusion of the mystery 🙂
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Lastly, I also enjoy how this story is very reminiscent of a c-drama! Yes I started this series because I wanted to read a c-drama in book form, but was disappointed in the first book. This one, while I do think can have a better worldbuilding/descriptions, still has the mannerisms and archetypes of Chinese cultures depicted better. In fact, I can totally see the epilogue as a very poetic c-drama montage. Love and recommend this book!
.
I LOVE watching the romance developing between Mingyu and Kaifeng. Both are so prideful, cold, and SO AWARE of their different role in society. As a courtesan, Mingyu can only be dined, wined, and redeemed by rich patrons (which of course she has at least 1. A very jealous one as well!). Obviously something that someone with only a constable wage can afford. Hence, reading about the forbidden love, i.e. how attracted they are vs. how incompatible they are is so satisfying.
.
Once they fall in love, interestingly they still keep their head! Seriously both are so level headed and they don't fall to the I-love-you-let's-burn-the-world schtick. I really like how they try to make sense of their love despite of everything and I can happily say that the conclusion is so satisfying.
.
True to the series name, a large dose of this book is devoted to a murder mystery. Unlike the first one, I find the case in this one to be more compelling from the get go, with Mingyu finding the headless form of her longterm protector. The development of the case is fun too! Some revelations are quite gripping, although I'd like to have a better, bigger, longer conclusion of the mystery 🙂
.
Lastly, I also enjoy how this story is very reminiscent of a c-drama! Yes I started this series because I wanted to read a c-drama in book form, but was disappointed in the first book. This one, while I do think can have a better worldbuilding/descriptions, still has the mannerisms and archetypes of Chinese cultures depicted better. In fact, I can totally see the epilogue as a very poetic c-drama montage. Love and recommend this book!
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