Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu (Novel) Vol. 5

Ballad of Sword and Wine #5

by Tang Jiu Qing, st (Illustrator)

SINS OF THE FATHER

As Shen Zechuan attempts to consolidate power in Zhongbo with the aid of Yao Wenyu, his greatest stumbling block continues to be his own name. No matter how great his deeds, so long as he bears the stain of the traitor Shen Wei, he remains foiled in his ambitions. If Shen Zechuan is to expand his hold over the region, he must find a way to overcome his past.

Meanwhile, in the north, Xiao Chiye struggles to find his footing in the Libei Armored Cavalry. Their enemy Amur has sent his most powerful general northward, and the cavalry find themselves pressed back time and again by an adversary who seems to anticipate their every move. Xiao Chiye is hungry to step out of his father and brother's shadow and become the commander who carries Libei to victory--but can he prove himself before it's too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Historical Fiction, Historical, Novels

442 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2025

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was possibly not the strongest installment of QJJ for me, but I still had a great time and can see the players and places starting to be moved where they need to be in order to work towards the culmination of the series. I feel like this is a series that I will get a lot out of rereading cause the frequency with which I find myself lost and needing to back track and reorientate myself to the moving parts of the story is kind of embarrassing 😅🥲


Before Han Cheng could stop her, Qi Zhuyin extended the sheath of her blade and lifted the curtain, tilting her head to peer inside.

Hua Xiangyi had not yet covered her head with the veil; wearing her bridal phoenix coronet of gold and jade, she stared at Qi Zhuyin in shock, her chest pounding, unsure what Qi Zhuyin was going to do.

“Well hello,” Qi Zhuyin greeted her. “Stepmother.”


This blink and you miss it moment of sapphic tension was so tasty. Honestly, I would totally read about Qi Zhuyin disposing of all of her male relatives, indisputably taking her role as grand marshal of the five commanderies of Qidong and stealing her father's new beautiful bride to rule over the whole lot in a heartbeat 🤌🏼.

Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye spent so much of this separated from each other which was devastating to me personally, but gave some great moments from each other them separately.


“It doesn’t matter who my parents are.” Shen Zechuan leaned in and whispered into his ear, “I am Shen Zechuan. Whether what you said is the truth or a lie makes no difference to me at all. I am my own nightmare.”


Shen Zechuan is one of those character types that I just ADORE; he's so smart and strategic that everyone just thinks of him as a silver tongue, and forget how shockingly lethal and ruthless he is. I loved getting to see him get himself a bit bloody this volume but the ongoing health issues are a concern and I can't wait to see how the story addresses this (Poor Ding Tao sitting outside crying cause he was so scared 😂).


Still, stagnant waters lay at the bottom of the abyss, and it was into these Shen Zechuan fell, stirring up ripples as he landed. But the sound of breathing in his ear was so, so intense. A vital force dispelled the darkness as strong arms wrapped around him. In that split second, the lifeless waters seemed to brush off their extraneous dust and take new shape, becoming a familiar chest, a beloved embrace.

Xiao Chiye had caught him.


I completely understand that Xiao Chiye had to be humbled a bit, face some adversity and grow up a little but Jesus Christ 😭 I love him so much and this one hurt.

Some fantastic illustrations this installment❤️. The next volume in December can't come soon enough. Were getting closer to the end ❤️😬

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really a review but I’m going to organize the main players/locations in this volume here (no spoilers for this volume). First, few of my favorite things!
❤️Yao Wenyu and Qiao Tianya
❤️Qi Zhiyun hands down my favorite female character in danmei (Turan from Can Ci Pin/The Defectives is a very close second)
❤️Multiple braid mentions finally after only one in volume 3

Okay, here are the main locations and players in this novel

CIZHOU : the new main stage where SZ has has set up “home”
-Zhou Gui- prefect
-Kong Ling/Chengfeng- advisor to ZG (left for Huaizhou with Yu Xiaozai to discuss potential grain trade agreement)
-Qiao Tianya- SZ’s second, absolute best friend material
-Yao Wenyu/Yuanzhuo- scholar, advisor to SZ, loves his kitten
-Fei Sheng- part of SZ’s guard, former EUG, just trying to find his place, wants to be important (and used) so bad
-Gao Zhongxiong- Imperial college student, very good at writing!
-Ding Tao- from Libei, loyal to SZ and XC, loves candy and his notebook, baby boy
-Li Xiong- new bff for Ding Tao, strong boy, prior young bandit taken in by Lei Jingzhe but now with SZ
-Ji Gang- SZ dad (not biological), former EUG commander when Eastern Palace Prince was framed, Side eye’s XC and SZ’s relationship constantly but still clueless
-Yu Xiaozai- came from Qudu, was in government, brought news of Hai Liangyi’s death and consequences

QUDU: where the Imperial family, Academy, and Government are, the Eight Great Noble Clans, nothing but corruption here, just a few good beans left
-Xue Xiuzhou- orchestrator of the current chaos, student of Hai Liangyi like Yao Wenyu, government official, teacher of Imperial heir Li Jiangting, person who I hate the most right now
-Han Cheng- commander in EUG, despise him because of who he killed, brother is Han Jin a hostage in Cizhou who was the leader of Eight Great Battalions
-Li Jianting- imperial heir daughter, found a groomed by Xue Xiuzhou
-Third Lady Hua- about to be married to Qi Shiyu as a control play by the Empress Dowager to have power over Qi Zhiyun (the amazing female general of Qidong) and her army
-Kong Qiu and Cen Yu- government officials, friends (good beans)
-Hai Liangyi and Hua Siquan (both dead)
-Pan Lin- government official, got into a fight with Xue Xiuyi (Xue Xiuzhuo’s older brother) at XC’s banquet on the pleasure boat, brother is Pan Yi (both good beans)
-Helian Marquis- son is Fei Shi (also at the banquet), daughter is Zhaoyue who Empress Dowager tried to get XC to marry in order to keep him under control in Qudu
-Commandery Princess Zhaoyue- Pan Yi’s wife, part of Fei clan, daughter of Helian Marquis (good bean), obviously did not marry XC

LIBEI
Xiao Chiye
Xiao Jiming-brother
Xiao Fengu- Daddy
Zuo Qianqiu- XC’s shifu, one of the great four generals
Chen Yang- XC’s second
Gu Jin- Imperial Army with XC
Zhao Hui- XJ’s second, Three Great Battalions of Liuyang leader
Tantai Hu- Imperial Army, brother is Tantai Long (dead)
Wu Ziyu- young general was previously demoted from Xiao Jiming guard for being drunk, now with XC
Jiang Sheng- Second Sand Camp leader
Guo Weili- Third Sand Camp leader (do not like)
Lu Yizhi- wife of XJ (son is Xiao Xun), Lu Guangbai’s brother, Lu Pingyan’s daughter

CHAZOU : control acquired by SZ in the last volume, ran Cai Yu out
-Luo Mu- prefect, has a history with Kong Chengfeng (students together)

HEZHOU :
Yan Clan has control/power. Rich and in cahoots with bandits Lei Changming and Lei Jingzhe. Selling grain at exorbitant prices.

JUXEI
-Jiang Qingshan-smart, efficient, doesn’t take crap from anyone, Xue Xiuzhou seems to be able to put him where he wants, this place has grain surplus so naturally it’s important. Selling grain at exorbitant prices.
-Ge Qingqing- was in EUG with SZ, now helping with the businesses SZ has here from Xi Clan.

QIDONG
Qi Zhuyin-one of the four great generals, only female, total badass
Qi Shiyu- Dad
Qi sons- useless and not worth naming
Qi Wei- QZ’s second

HUAIZHOU
Kong Chengfeng and Yu Xiaozi- both are with SZ and left for Huaizhou to discuss grain trade with Cizhou to lower cost of grain from Juxei and Hezhou

DUANZHOU Borders Gedal which will be important in this novel. Controlled by Yan Clan. We learn more about SZ’s past here and also Scorpions…
-Yan Heru- loves money and has lots of it due to illegal goods and the merchants
-Cuiqing- madam
-Haeigu- Scorpion

DUNZHOU Mt Luo bandits who aren’t really organized anymore. This is also where Shen Wei’s manor was. Previously Tantai Long was leader of garrison troops here trying to get rid of bandits. We get a lot more history about what happened here!

FANZHOU
King Yi- self proclaimed leader but not good at it. Only still there because SZ is using him as a buffer

BIANSHA
Amur-leader
Hassen- Amur’s son
Jida-Scorpion

BANDITS
Lei Jingzhe- took out his uncle Lei Changming but has lost control, has sick pedo preferences

Characters who sadly were not in this novel (spoiler?)
Ge Qingqing (in Juxei managing accounts for SZ)
Lu Guangbai (Bianjun Commandery reportedly deserted)
Xiao Jiming (injured?)

[Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

that last chapter gave me emotional damage when i read it for the first time.
so i mourn with you, my brothers and sisters in pain. waiting for the next vol wont be easy but worth it.

but aside from that, cezhou in this volume made go like...

[ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when your wife is getting back-to-back injuries?

- scold him ❌
- tell him to be more mindful ❌
- put him in timeout ❌
- shave his balls ✅

Oh, Xiao Chiye, I just love how your mind works! I can add that scene to my list of wild things I’ve seen in danmei.

Then we have Shen Lanzhou giving Xiao Chiye discreet head under the table WHILE THE MAN IS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE ELSE! Better to give head than lose your head.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oftentimes when the main character and romantic lead get together in danmei, I lose interest because the plot stops plotting, and they honestly lose everything interesting about their relationship for the sake of being sappy. This is certainly not true of Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. They are so domestic that all of their subordinates, some of their enemies, and even Xiao Chiye’s family know of their impending marriage, yet I never find myself bored by their interactions or by the plot.

This book was deeply satisfying because Shen Zechuan started finally hitting all his enemies where it hurts. The empire he dreamed of and schemed for is coming to fruition.

I just wish it didn’t end the way it did.

[ir]

FINE SHYTTTT THAT COVER REVEAL FUCKKK im so excited.

[Queens Love Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We can look at each other from afar—eyes to eyes, forevermore.”



I’ve started this book more times than I can count—and kept putting it down, not because it wasn’t good, but because I was lowkey scared. There’s something about QJJ’s writing that grips me the same way Meatbun’s does: intense, precise, and quietly brutal. When I finally committed to reading it, I couldn’t stop. Every chapter hits with purpose. There’s no wasted motion, no easy comfort. You’re either paying attention or getting left behind. And when it goes there? The smut is absolutely smutting—bold, layered, emotionally charged, and written with the kind of restraint that makes it hit harder.

The pacing is unflinching, the narrative control razor-sharp. Every conversation, battle, or glance is part of something bigger. You can feel the pressure building through political maneuvering, backchannel plays, and sudden shifts in loyalty. Even when nothing “big” is happening, there’s a constant pulse underneath, like something is always about to snap. QJJ doesn’t hold your hand, and that’s part of the thrill—you have to work for the emotional payoff, but when it lands, it lands. It’s the kind of storytelling that rewards re-reading, not because you missed something, but because there’s always more under the surface.

Then there’s Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye—two forces moving in sync even when they’re apart. Their relationship isn’t loud or sentimental; it’s built on trust, mutual calculation, and a deep, wordless bond. They’re co-commanders, co-conspirators, and somehow still achingly close in the quietest ways. And when they do come together? Five-alarm, restrained, vulnerable, pulse-spiking fire. This volume tore me up and left me nervous for the next—like I’m already bracing for heartbreak, and still dying to see what happens.

Date Read: 2025.10.13

[Natalya Voronina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an amazing volume.
Cezhou are wonderful and even more married than usually, I loved their moments together. I have a ton of pages saved with their bickering and/or being the absolute peak of romance. Xiao family stuff just rocked, "meet the parents" scenes were hilarious.
Lanzhou is brutal and lovable as always.
Finally got me some Libei warfare.
And yeah... heartbreak for dessert :( The wait for the next volume will be tough.

[hiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

i honestly lived for cezhou's reunions throughout this volume. hate seeing them having to split apart but love seeing shen zechuan running into xiao chiye's arms and xiao chiye dramatically saving shen zechuan. also, xiao chiye hard launching his relationship to his father has to be a highlight of the entire novel so far.

i'm constantly in awe of how elaborate and complex the plot is, yet it's so engaging to follow. like i'm on the edge of my seat watching these men plan out trade routes. we keep getting introduced to new characters but they all feel so unique. i also like that we get even more of an insight into the military tactics of both sides as the war really starts heating up.

that cliffhanger ending though. absolutely diabolical.

[Rüveyda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm filled with gigantic hatred. Give my father back

[mara - hyrulevalkyrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
At some parts I feared I was too stupid to be reading this but I love Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye so I persist 🖤

[z ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

so… after that art and that ending… you’re telling me that i have to wait until december for vol. 6? hahaha… actually not funny at all. i cried

[Li Ya 🪷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

No nie jest to zakończenie, które chciałam przeczytać z samego rana

[lyanuum · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

not that ending 😭😭😭

this volume blessed us with some hot Cezhou moments and I love the writing of the battle scenes

but I just can't for the life of me connect all the dots when it comes to heavy politics stuff, there are just too many names and things going on

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

cezhou love each other so much and there is nothing that'll get in the way 💕💕💕 I'm going to reread the rest of the series now, I can't get enough

[Stay Alive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, okay... *takes a deep breath*. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER WITH THAT ENDING? I need volume 6 right this second!

[James 🦤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one emotionally damaged me so badly I already know I’m not ready for what comes next. Let’s go lesbians though.

[Meli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Volume 5 is probably my fav QQJ book so far. It’s got everything: my favourite moments, illustrations and cover. My fav scene is definitely the one where Xiao Chiye comes out to his dad and then just runs away 😭. I was laughing my ass off at how Xiao Fangxu was like ‘’Get your ass back here ‘’ while throwing horse shit in his son’s direction. I loved their son/father interactions and how even tho Xiao Fangxu scolds Xiao Chiye for his military mistakes, he still cares and loves his son. It’s sad that Xiao Chiye’s mother died when he was young. I would have loved to see how she was as a person and her relationship with her husband seemed wholesome. Also loved how Xiao Fangxu basically sent Lu Yizhi to Cizhou to gather information on his future son-in-law. Overall, I was really excited to see the Xiao family and I liked their interactions. I was genuinely crashing out over the last illustration because I just know Xiao Chiye got the premium trauma package and him and his family will never be the same again. I’M NOT ready for the next volume especially with that cover. 😔

I also ate up the Cezhou moments. I loved the domestic and caring moments they had. You can clearly see the contrast between their mutual lust/hatred from the first book and their deep love from the fifth book. They made me realize I don’t mind the lust to love trope as long as it’s done right.
Fav quotes from them:
’’Ce’an.’’ Shen Zechuan turned his face towards Xiao Chiye, their breaths intertwining. In a show of near innocence, he called out, like a student only just learning to recite a poem, ‘’Oh, how I love you.’’

’’You can do whatever you want,’’ Xiao Chiye whispered into his ear. ‘’As long as I’m here, you’ll never fall.’’

Xiao Chiye whispered back, ‘’Hurry up and marry me to make things clear to my father. Otherwise, we’ll look like we’re having a secret affair.’’


Still can’t believe Ji gang doesn’t know about their relationship even tho he’s been living with them for a couple of months and is literally Lanzhou’s teacher.💀

Also, we finally got some Qihua and Songyue interactions !!!! I’ve been waiting for like 5 books for this to happen. Although, I’m scared because I know how Songyue’s relationship ends and there aren’t that many Qihua interactions in the other books. I’ll still be devouring the crumbs tho.

The plot reveals were really nice. They didn’t shock me, but I still liked the way everything tied up together. The author is really good at world building and at creating a rich political landscape. Can’t to see how the story ends.

[Calypso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues to be a delight. This particular installment is heavy on the politics, with schemes and strategies about trade routes and filling granaries and making alliances. There are a few lovely moments between the two leads, who are now lovey-dovey and call each other spouse, but the majority of the plot concerns Lanzhou consolidating his power. The ending is heartbreaking. I am not sure I can restrain myself until the next volume.

[XA · Rating 5 out of 5]

«They were like two broken pieces of jade coming together»

Este tomo me hizo reír y llorar, un sube y baja de emociones intenso. Cuando en momentos antes hay una escena llena de dulzura y anhelo, para luego quitarte toda la esperanza en 3 capítulos después. QJJ está siendo increíble, definitivamente le va a quitar el puesto a erha de mi top 1. Espero algún día seguir leyendo danmeis que sean igual de buenos.

NECESITO A UN XIAO CHIYE POR DIOS

[sally ✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

they're actually pure evil for ending it there

CEZHOU MY BELOVEDS and qi zhuyin and hua xiangyi on the cover <333

[Cveti Angelova · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending….

[Kiwi]

i would like to let the 2 ppl following me know that this allegedly has a scene where dude 1 shaves the balls of dude 2

[iz · Rating 5 out of 5]

XIAO FANGXUUUUUUU, MY FAV DAD!!! NOOO, HOW DARE THEY????? 😭😭😭😭😭

[lily ⊹ ₊ ⁺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

₊˚⊹♡ ˚ ➺ 5/5 ✧

[Byury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplemente el Cezhou es mi vitamina

[Safiyye Gürler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What land beneath his feet?
Zhongbo couldn’t tie Shen Zechuan down. He was not nearly as attached to his roots as Xiao Chiye was. Since the day he fell into the Chashi Sinkhole, he’d become a man without a home. He had severed whatever attachment he had toward this land."

A little on the slower side at the beginning but REALLY picks up at the halfway mark. I love Shen Zechuan and just want him to win everything, become king and prove everyone wrong!

"Perhaps Lei Jingzhe was right: All those years of suffering and hatred had molded him into a monster. The night Qi Huilian had died in that heavy downpour, Shen Zechuan had forsaken all the obsolete conventions and constrictions that bound him. He would no longer be anyone’s prisoner."

Also: THAT ENDING?!

P.s. Rule number 1 when getting into danmei: I cannot do anything about the out of pocket kinks that make no sense whatsoever.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me at the start of this book: Aww! These boys are making me so happy. :)
Me at the end of the book: I am in (s)pain right now. Oh my gosh.

Once again, another fantastic read.
There is so much going on with this book that the pacing does not lack at all. We still have a beautiful casts of characters, and there is A LOT of foreboding going on in the later half of the book, with a rather cruel ending for the readers. But overall, still my favorite series to date.

Now I need to dive into 6 because holy hell, that ending!!! ToT

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live for these moments between SZH and XCY, they are simply perfect for each other. Even the way they fight shows how much they love each other.💙 (the tortoise with Ce'an's name underneath it was hilarious 😂)
And although I've had a hard time with the dimensions in this volume (like the distances between the Libei camps and the size of Zhongbo), it was so interesting to see Lanzhou taking more and more control over the land while XCY went back and forth between his wife and the warzone.

[Stephrewritten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Holy. Fricken. Crap. That volume. Amazing. Incredible. QJJ just keeps getting better and better and I’ll forever be in awe. Literally a wild array of emotions for this one. BUT THE END. THE CLIFFHANGER. Unwell. Sobbing.