Novel Summary
Imagine traveling back to the 40th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, wanting both to indulge in pleasure and to directly save the nation. Yes, it's a story full of intrigue and contradictions. Late Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan, a decadent prosperity; the elegance of *Cai Gen Tan*, the vulgarity of *Jin Ping Mei*; an old monk engaging in commerce, a famous courtesan worshipping Buddha; Yuan Hongdao expressing his spirit through tea and flower arranging, Li Zhuowu brewing wine, meditating, and continuing the burning of books; Dong Qichang, a master of both calligraphy and painting, yet a local tyrant; Zhang Zongzi, a young playboy, dreaming of West Lake in his old age; the refined see elegance, the vulgar see vulgarity. To find truly remarkable figures, look to the present (accompanied by a certain classic gesture).