[3] In addition to her creative works (many of which have survived) and independent spirit, she has been revered in later times for her unwavering love for her husband and for her country (the Ming) during the Ming–Qing transition.

Historian Chen Yinke, who spent decades researching and writing about her, characterizes Liu Rushi as "a heroine, a belle, a wordsmith, and a patriot" (女俠名姝 文宗國士).

She was very smart since she was a child, the boss of Guijia Yuan is Xu Fo (徐佛), a former famous courtesan.

In 1632, Liu Rushi came to Songjiang and changed his old name to "Ying Lian" to show his self-pity in the troubled times.

She often wore Confucian attire and men's clothing to gather with literati, talk about the general situation of the country, and sang many poems.

When making friends with men, she liked to call herself "brother".She also often travels by boat between Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jinling.

Chen Zilong's wife, Zhang, led people to make trouble in the south building.

[17][18] Qian apparently believed her to be a man, but later in the year he had established her at a specially built hermitage in the grounds of his Suzhou estate, called the "According to Sutra Studio".

In 1663, she entered the Buddhist laity, partly as a response to the destruction of her husband's substantial personal library, the Crimson Cloud-Storied Hall.

[18] After Qian's death in 1664, his creditors and enemies attempted to extort money from Liu; their machinations eventually drove her to hang herself.

Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.[20] Misty Willows at the Moon Dike, 1643, handscroll, ink and color on paper.

[21] Other paintings by Liu Rushi include "Mountain Village in Smoke and Rain(煙雨山村)", "Early Spring Garden Drama(早春園戲)", "Fragrance Far and Bright(香遠益清)" etc.

[18] Her solo anthologies included Songs from the Mandarin Duck Chamber and Poems Drafted by a Lake, and her poetry was published alongside her husband's in a number of his works.

In addition to poetry collections, calligraphy and painting works, Liu Rushi also wrote 31 Chidu (尺牘).