The Prisoner of the Secret Garden

An Asian novelty from popular Russian writer Lea Rain — the story of Miao Shan set against the backdrop of 1920s China.
Over 50,000 views on Wattpad! For all fans of China, the East, and novels in the spirit of "Iron Widow" by Xiran Jay Zhao and "Amber Diffuses Darkness" by Lucida Aquila.
"The Prisoner of the Secret Garden" is a runovel inspired by the myth of the Chinese goddess of mercy Guanyin. According to legend, a cruel king wanted to marry his daughter Miao Shan (the earthly incarnation of the goddess) to a wealthy but unloving lord. The girl agreed to submit only if the marriage would alleviate the three misfortunes of the people: aging, illness, and death. As punishment, her father forced Miao Shan into hard labor and ultimately executed his daughter. In the hellish realm, demons did not touch her, and flowers blossomed in hell.
In our story, Miao Shan in the 20th century challenges traditions, weaves intrigues for a purpose, and leads a rebellion!
Lea Rain is a Russian young adult author. Lea has been writing books since she was 15 and loves the aesthetics of the 1900s–1920s. In Lea's story, East and West come together: the city where the book takes place is based on real Shanghai, which was "Western" in structure and resembled cities like Paris, London, and New York.
Do you love the dramas "Arsenal Military Academy", "Yan Shi Fan: New Youth", "Love at First Sight", "Taming the Dragon"? This book is for you! In the country of Sinlin, a war for the throne rages. Four major clans vie for power and seek to overthrow the emperor. But Miao Shan is concerned with ordinary people — those who suffer from hunger and murder. She will go through hell to reach her paradise!

I am Miao Shan, the youngest daughter of the emperor. And I want to dedicate myself to my people. I want happiness for their homes. I want all people to be equal and for there to be no division into servants and lords. However, my father longs to marry me off. Choosing a nobleman as my spouse, he hopes to retain power through him. But I will either become the bride of a simple doctor or vanish in the Secret Garden.
Explosions rage in the city. Captured by the Xuan Wu clan, I promise myself that I will survive at all costs. Each of the rulers of the Great Four Clans desires to take me as their wife, but I will not tarnish my honor. I will do anything, even lead a rebellion, just to put an end to this dirty bloodshed. But when my heart opens to love itself, will I be able to submit to it?