The Lantern's Mistake

At the Shangyuan Lantern Festival, A-Luan, a captive phoenix in a mask, and the young general Xiao Lin solve a lantern riddle featuring the characters for “lovebirds.” They exchange a colored-glass lantern and half a tiger tally. When the border falls, the emperor wagers A-Luan’s life to force Xiao Lin to defeat the enemy within three months. On the day he returns victorious from the bloody battle, A-Luan’s severed head hangs above the city gate. She took her own life in the Golden Hall to remove the threat against him. Xiao Lin lays down his title and guards her tomb. From then on, every Shangyuan Festival, he lights the whole city with lanterns alone, illuminating her way home.