Holding Jin in My Arms, Hiding Jade and Pearls Within

This is a story I dreamed about. After telling a friend about it, I turned it into this tale. Of course, the dream only gave me the rough outline, and I've added many characters of my own. I'm an office worker, so I wrote most of it during my lunch breaks and after work. I hope you enjoy the story! Chu Yunjin, the only princess of the Western Chu Dynasty, was betrothed from childhood to the heir of Prince Chengxuan, the only prince of a different surname in the Western Chu Dynasty. When he was eighteen, the heir used his military achievements as leverage to break off his engagement to Chu Yunjin. Afraid his sister would be heartbroken, Chu Yunjin's full brother took her to live in his fief. But they were ambushed on the way. Her brother was killed, and her sister-in-law died young after suffering complications from a premature birth. Fleeing all the way to Southern Qi, she encounters the crown prince of Southern Qi. Since the story centers on the Western Chu and Southern Qi dynasties, here's a brief introduction to the royal families of both. The Western Chu royal family has eight princes and one princess. The Southern Qi royal family has just one heir, the crown prince, Qi Yu.