A satirical novel that exposes the flaws of China’s ruling elite during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century. The author critically assesses the country’s conservative foundations, discusses the ideas of reformers, and depicts scenes from the liberation movement in neighboring countries. At that time, China was going through hard times: the Qing dynasty, which had held power for several centuries, was coming to an end; colonizers besieged the country, leading to numerous wars and popular uprisings. At the heart of the novel «Flowers in the Sea of Evil» is the life story of the high-ranking diplomat-official Jin Wenqing and his concubine Fu Caiyun. Zeng Pu depicts with irony the morals of the ruling elite—people who, even in the 20th century, still choose auspicious days to make decisions about state matters—revealing their depravity, corruption, narrow-mindedness, and the embezzlement that enshrouded the imperial court.