Su Qingwu was born to a concubine in the Earl Zhongyong's household and repeatedly failed the civil service examinations. To serve his clan, he went to the frontier to fight on the battlefield. After years of fighting for his life, he finally distinguished himself and built a career. He later married Danju, a maid who served the third young lady of the Sheng family, and had a house full of children and grandchildren. When Danju passed away before him, he never remarried. In his old age, he retired from military service and returned to farming outside Peach Blossom Manor in the capital. Sensing that his end was near, he went to Danju's grave, leaned against her tombstone, and fell asleep.
Years later, storytellers still told of Su Qingwu, the Su family's illegitimate son, who made a name for himself on the frontier and later married a maid. He never took another wife, and the couple lived in perfect harmony. In the end, they were buried together. Two trees stood before their grave: a towering parasol tree and a fragrant, sweet citrus tree. Their branches and leaves intertwined so closely that they could not be parted. A scholar gave them the name “intertwined branches.”
Although it's a bit short, it's really well written 👍👍