Taiwan during the Qing dynasty was deeply patriarchal. Women were disregarded from birth, their only purpose was to find a good marriage. But once married, the pressure was on to provide sons. This gave rise to various folk practices which claimed to ensure male offspring. Chieh-Niang watches as her sister-in-law, obsessed with giving birth to a son, gives in to these superstitions. And she herself is under pressure to marry – can she ever break free? Walking by the river one day, she comes across the body of a woman. A priestess is summoned to ensure the woman\'s spirit passes peacefully and does not haunt the town. The priestess, with her mysterious ways, does seem able to communicate with the spirit world, and Chieh-Niang, seeing a glimmer of hope, enrolls as her apprentice. But soon after, small handprints start appearing on her legs as she sleeps, while more women go missing or are found dead. What will Chieh-Niang do, and will she find the life she wants? Tan-Tsiu-Niu was selected as a recommended book by the former Minister of Culture and was recommended as a must-read book for the 2020 World Book Day by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature.
“You never loved me anyway, right?” Astelle’s long-awaited marriage life ended in a day. She worked hard to become Kaizen’s wife since she was ten, however, the only thing that was left for her was a disgrace as the banished-empress. She was abandoned by her family; She was kicked out by the man she loved, Kaizen. “Yes. You’re right. I didn’t love you.” Astelle lied for the last time. For the sake of the man who was her reason to live and it was also for him who was her husband for a day. She thought there is no point tp contact with him again, but- “I think… I might be pregnant?” *** Six years later, Astelle, who reunited with Kaizen, lied again. “You… who is that child?” “He’s my nephew.” For the sake of protecting the child.
Contain several short stories from a certain kingdom.
It is the 16th year of the Meiji era. Five years have passed since Kenshin Himura stopped the uprising of Makoto Shishio. Though the flames of his budding revolution were extinguished, the scars left in its wake are still felt across Japan. Remnants of his group—though scattered—still exist. Some have found peace while others continue to fight. After a remaining faction tried to revive the revolution, Shishio's old sword fell into the hands of Ashitarou Hasegawa, an orphan boy who has never known a home. The conflict also leaves both Aran Inoue, a 16-year-old half-Japanese, half-American boy, and a mercenary girl named Asahi Kubota with a hefty price to pay off, with nowhere else to go. But luckily for these individuals, the Kamiya dojo has always been a place to accept wanderers without prying into their pasts. The three are keen to start fresh, so when two members of Asahi's former clan show up demanding her return, Asahi refuses and things start to get ugly. In the midst of the chaos, the clan members drop a package containing a picture of dojo proprieter Kaoru Kamiya's presumably deceased father and his location—Hakodate, Hokkaido. With only this information, the members of the Kamiya dojo embark on an adventure across the sea in the hopes of finding news about Kaoru's father and the reason he is being targeted.
Ayano is a schoolgirl who dreams of pursuing a career fashion. On the day of her first ball, she encounters a beautiful girl. Charmed by the foreign-looking girl called Tsubaki-hime, Ayano\'s dreams grow stronger. But Ayano\'s mother, looking down on her hobbies, plots to get in her way. Meanwhile, Tsubaki-hime seems to have some kind of circumstances of her own... This is a Taishō-era romance about girls closing in on their dreams. (source: Yuri Hime, translated)
※ Be prepared for a world after death! I received a strange spam text message right before I died. I thought I was dead but when I opened my eyes I was at the transmigrated examination bureau. There really is a world after death? I\'ll transmigrate to a book?! \"Do you have a particular genre you like?\" I, who mastered a variety of genres in my previous life, In my next life, I hoped for a child-rearing novel where I can become a cute, dainty girl and acquire infinite love. ㅡ The book I\'ll transmigrate to isㅡ Survival Difficulty S-class, an book full of regression instances . ㅡ And the character I will possess thereㅡ is the daughter of a servant who serves the ruthless aristocrat familyㅡwho abused the main character?! However, thanks to , which I signed up for just before I died, I got special privileges... This is a story about surviving an S-class survival difficulty book with the help of new skills, insurance privileges, and God\'s favoritism and affection that I\'ve gained!
In a bustling slum during the Mid-Ming Dynasty, an ambitious locksmith named Xiao is approached by a group of thieves with a mysterious, ornate safe. What starts as a routine job soon leads Xiao on a dangerous journey tied to an ancient secret hidden within the powerful Yuan family. When he discovers a noble girl trapped inside the safe—and a promise of unimaginable riches—Xiao must navigate deceit, family legacies, and his own morality to uncover the true meaning of wealth and sacrifice. A gripping one-shot blending action, drama, and heartfelt bonds, this story will leave readers pondering the value of freedom, love, and the treasures that can’t be bought.
“It seems I must kill you, Your Grace.“ Inas has always been Duke Nigel Montestein’s most faithful knight. But when Nigel is betrayed and killed by Inas, he wakes up a year before his supposed death. Nigel’s quick to realize this isn’t a mere case of time travel however, and the only one who has answers is the man who betrayed him!
Rorstein\'s jewelry store is an unusual store where \"maids sell jewelry\". The store, on the main street, is visited by an elderly gentleman, an aristocrat, an actress, a poor student, and all sorts of people who have heard the rumor.When they pick up the jewelry chosen by the waitresses, their own lives also begin to shine. A story told by jewelry and people. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: A series of jewelry and short stories with delicate illustrations.
Consists of a collection of oneshots: 1) Covetous You and Insensible Me (Hoshigariana Kimi to Futsutsukana Boku) Never one to get close to strangers, Kai finds himself helpess in the enchanting gaze of a foreigner... 2) Lost in the Darkness Before Dawn (Gyou An ni Mayou) Tatsumi Hiroaki is a swordsman for hire during the Edo Period. Recently, a rise in bandit activity has given him a steady flow of work in protecting small shops in town. The bandits recognize his skill and offer to hire him, where he finds a familiar face from the past. 3) Confession (Kokuhaku) Unable to forget the random act of kindness by the wealthy, but lonely business man, Matsumi offers to sell his body. Is it really just for money, or is there a greater need at stake? 4) The night he escaped death (Shi ni Zokonai no Yoru) Prequel of Lost in the Darkness Before Dawn. 5) Sleepless Night The Night He Escaped Death bonus. 6) Service Confession bonus. 7) Bonds of Blood Covetous You and Insensible Me bonus.
