"幻中游" by active 18th century Yanxiazhuren is a historical novel written in the late 17th century to early 18th century. The story centers around a scholar named 石峨 (Shi E), who struggles to maintain his integrity and ambition in a society defined by political machinations and corrupt officials. The narrative reveals his challenges, particularly as he faces numerous examinations and societal pressures while striving for a successful career, alongside the life of
his prodigious son, 蕙郎 (Hui Lang). The opening of the novel introduces Shi E, a talented scholar with a firm belief in his principles, who has faced repeated failures in his civil service examinations. He is married to 卓氏, a supportive wife, and they have a gifted son named Hui Lang, who shows exceptional promise in both academia and the arts from a young age. As Shi E receives encouragement from his wife and peers, he contemplates the balance between personal ambition and the societal demands placed upon him. The initial chapters set a foundation for the themes of aspiration, familial duty, and the complexities of navigating a bureaucratic society, all intertwined with the expectations and realities of life during the Ming Dynasty. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
