Let the Moonlight Descend the Western Tower

Night.

A handsome man sat in the courtyard of a thatched cottage, gazing up at the sky as if searching for something. Was he looking for stars? But the sky was dark and heavy. There was no sign of the moon, let alone any stars. His face showed neither joy nor sorrow. He sat perfectly still, like a statue.

This was Buyang Valley, where neither sun nor moon could be seen. The man had lived here for five years. His name was Gu Zhi, the eldest legitimate son of the Gu family in the capital. Personally taught by his father, Grand Tutor Gu, he had been widely read from childhood and was hailed as the capital's foremost talent, earning the emperor's favor. But his ambitions did not lie in court. He longed to roam the world with a sword at his side and find solace in mountains and rivers. At thirteen, he...