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002051

'Yu Xuanji'Author: Mori Ōgai

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Original Title魚玄機
Author森 鴎外
GenrePopular Fiction
Author TypeMale Author
SummaryIn the opulent heart of Tang Dynasty Chang’an, a scandal erupts when Yu Xuanji—celebrated poetess and Taoist priestess—is imprisoned for murder. Renowned for her ethereal beauty and verses that rivaled literary giants, her fall stuns a society enthralled by her intellect and allure. Once a prodigy from the city’s pleasure quarters, she rose through mentorship by a gifted but embittered poet, her talent eclipsing even his acclaim. Yet behind her temple’s serene facade, passions simmered: a doomed romance, whispered affairs, and a growing hunger for recognition in a world that revered yet constrained her. When her maid vanishes, suspicion festers, and a grisly discovery unravels Xuanji’s carefully guarded life. As authorities close in, allies plead for mercy, but the weight of secrets proves fatal. What drove this luminous mind to violence? Amidst silk-clad elites and temple incense, a tragedy unfolds—where genius and desire collide with devastating consequence.
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