The very first original intention in writing “Love Like the Galaxy” was actually to vindicate Emperor Guangwu of Han.

This is actually a grudge that’s lasted over ten years. Since my youth, I’ve constantly seen people on forums cursing Emperor Guangwu as a “scumbag,” splashing all kinds of character assassination mud on him. I’m not a Guangwu fan—even if you criticized him for allowing powerful clans to grow strong, laying the groundwork for the later fall of the Eastern Han dynasty, that would be better than calling him a “scumbag.”

Among emperors in our nation’s history who can be considered wise, Emperor Guangwu was absolutely the cleanest, most upright, and most proper emperor regarding relationships between men and women—bar none. His ten children were all born to Yin and Guo (with only the Prince of Chu as the one fish that slipped through the net). Yet still, Yin fans and Guo fans seize every opportunity to slander Emperor Guangwu’s character.

To put it bluntly, Yin Lihua’s own brothers all had wives and concubines filling their houses. If she had married a privileged noble of the same social stratum, wouldn’t her household similarly be full of concubines and illegitimate children, with husband and wife treating each other with distant respect in the end?

After Guo Shengtong’s father died, she and her widowed mother and siblings depended on her maternal uncle, the Prince of Zhending. Whoever the Prince of Zhending told her to marry, could she refuse? Even if the marriage partner looked like Li Kui with a violent temper and despicable character, Guo Shengtong still had to marry him. Did she have the power to refuse?!

Both Yin and Guo were casualties of that era, just like the three daughters Cao Cao sent into Emperor Xian of Han’s harem—they similarly had no choice, were sacrifices to politics. But Liu Xiu was already as good to both of them as he could be within his capacity.

Truly, kind people get bullied. If it were those with many palace beauties like Dragon, Phoenix, Sanlang, and Wild Boar and Wild Boar Skin, the empress fans would actually be more tolerant.

I worked very hard to defend Emperor Guangwu, but I was outnumbered and alone. Every time I was cursed out for miles. My most recent defeat was just over two years ago—they actually called Emperor Guangwu a “kept man” and someone who “latched onto a sugar mama,” which infuriated me beyond measure.

Even if Emperor Guangwu was kept and latched onto someone, he was kept by and latched onto powerful landlords—it has nothing to do with you two young women. Without you, as long as the powerful landlords felt Liu Xiu was a heroic lord worth investing in during chaotic times, they would have found opportunities to marry other girls to him and thereby unite forces!

Please don’t tell me that the Nanyang merit officials group including the Yin family completely decided to invest their lives and fortunes in Liu Xiu only because Yin Lihua fancied Liu Xiu! And please don’t tell me that the Prince of Zhending took out his entire fortune—troops, horses, grain, and fodder—for his nephew-in-law to conquer the realm!

It’s political maneuvering. Can empress fans please not be so thick-faced?

Some people like to judge whether emperors are filial sons, some like to judge whether emperors are loyal friends, and some like to judge whether emperors are affectionate and devoted husbands. In my view, these are all auxiliary considerations.

Since they’re emperors, judging their merits and faults naturally should only look at whether they’re good rulers—whether cooking smoke rises from rural homes on time, whether the people marry and age normally, whether the realm is peaceful, whether court governance is clear, whether officials are properly employed, whether taxes are appropriate… No matter how much you broaden the evaluation criteria, there’s no item about whether they’re monogamous with their empresses, right?

But I still couldn’t out-argue them.

So I planned to write a novel set in Emperor Guangwu’s era (because I don’t write novels with real historical figures as protagonists), made grand proclamations, and then let the matter sit.

Of course, the real reason for writing this book was that I wanted to write a female protagonist who herself had no “story.”

Previously when watching many novels and TV dramas, the vast majority of conflicts were brought by the female protagonist herself—either bizarre background connected to huge conspiracies, or bearing deep blood feuds, or having grievances from years ago to redress… In short, each one emerged with deep bitterness and hatred.

So I wondered—is there a female protagonist from a normal family with a normal personality who’s normal? Is there a female protagonist who’s just unlucky enough to encounter someone full of stories and dramas, thus leading to an extraordinary life?

Aside from her special experience as a left-behind child and conflicts with her birth mother, Shaoshang herself was born into a very normal, harmonious family—she has a father and mother, house and property, brothers and sisters, and ideals and aspirations. She’s much like many young women today—nowadays young people mostly have various large and small conflicts with their parents.

Shaoshang’s personality may be somewhat stubborn, solitary, and intense, but fundamentally she’s still an ordinary girl you could see on the street. Perhaps during our long years of schooling we had such classmates or roommates—the explosive point of the entire “Love Like the Galaxy” story is actually the male protagonist’s background, the male protagonist’s personality, and the male protagonist’s family’s grievances.

If Shaoshang hadn’t met the male protagonist, her life definitely wouldn’t have been so turbulent and dramatic. She probably would have peacefully married and pursued her career. Then this story’s title should be changed to “Daily Life of a Small Landlady in Early Eastern Han.”

The skies of the Spring and Autumn, Warring States, Qin and Han periods seem higher, more pure, and more vast than other dynasties, with fewer constraints—

In those times, scholars wore swords. It’s said Li Bai was a master swordsman who would compose poetry after defeating opponents~~

In those times, women could freely remarry, so the yamen handling marriage and property lawsuits were also quite lively.

In those times, men’s eyes looked outward, their hearts like eagles soaring in the firmament—passionate and expansive. Not like later times, fussing over what shape women’s three-inch golden lotus feet were bound into.

“Love Like the Galaxy” is probably the most idealistic ancient romance novel I could write, full of trust, love, loyalty, and friendship. I don’t know what kind of stories I’ll write in the future.

Originally I wanted to write a Republican era story next, but who knew the pandemic would arrive unexpectedly.

We shed many sorrowful tears, lost many precious lives, and our spirits were terribly low. So I changed my mind—the Republican era story can wait. I want to write a world of rivers and lakes where gratitude and revenge are swiftly settled, with a touch of fantasy elements. I hope everyone will like it in the future.

That’s all.