The Bronze Sparrow Chronicle

In the 210th year of the Great Yong Dynasty, the northern border garrison was annihilated overnight, and the commander's entire family was executed. The case was officially closed as treason and collusion with the enemy. The surviving youngest son, Lu Zheng, hides his identity and, carrying half of a broken bronze sparrow tally, infiltrates the capital to uncover the truth buried beneath the yellow sand. Dark currents surge in the capital: princes vie for the throne, and noble families intertwine. He only wanted to take revenge alone, but unexpectedly crosses paths with Ling Shu, the feared female director of the Secret Spy Bureau. The world believes she is cold-hearted and ruthless, with no weaknesses, but no one knows she holds the other half of the bronze sparrow tally and bears another long-buried case. From mutual testing and scheming to being forced to join forces, they enter the game. Swords flash in the court, arrows fly in the underworld—every step is a deadly trap. Lu Zheng wants to clear his family's name; Ling Shu wants justice for the dead. As the storm of succession sweeps across Great Yong, amid the vortex of power and desire, they realize this chess game was set in motion twenty years ago. Love or country—which weighs more? — Description from novelcodex.orgFull novel: The Bronze Sparrow Chronicle — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠