In the early dawn of the Ming Dynasty, Xiū Huā arrived at her father-in-law's grand estate. The mourning period for her late husband had begun, a charade of solemnity meant to preserve the facade of unity between two powerful families. Her husband had been a womanizer, a man with little regard for the marriage that had been arranged for political advantage. His unexpected death from an illness contracted abroad left Xiū Huā a widow at twenty-seven, bound by duty to mourn in the house of the family that had never truly welcomed her.
Her family insisted that she remain in mourning at her father-in-law’s home, rather than returning to her own family. It was a strategic move, designed to maintain the appearance of a strong bond between the two families. Xiū Huā found herself confined within the walls of the house, a prisoner of tradition and expectation. The restrictions on her clothing and behavior during her mourning period only served to deepen her isolation and despair.
She was forbidden from working or pursuing any passions beyond the confines of her quarters. Her only solace came from playing the guqin, a Chinese string instrument, and molding clay into delicate pottery. These moments of fleeting peace were overshadowed by the oppressive atmosphere of the household and the looming presence of her father-in-law, a man of immense influence and little empathy.
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Thrum of Desire
Romance"Thrum of Desire" follows Xiū Huā, a young widow trapped in the opulent yet stifling world of her late husband's family. As she endures a mandatory mourning period, her isolation drives her into an unexpected and forbidden relationship with the enig...
