Chapter 1: Red makeup buried in snow
The snow in the 27th year of Yong'an was colder than in previous years. When Ah Heng died on the desolate slope outside Yanmen Pass, he was still holding half of the cracked white jade pendant in his hand. It was ten years ago that I, as a hostage in the North, tied it on her wrist under the pear tree in Dayin East Palace. At that time, she was still the most precious eldest princess of Dayin. She smiled with stars in her eyes and said, "Ayuan, on the day you go back, I will send you off in red makeup." Later, I really returned to the north, leading my cavalry to crush the beacon smoke on the border, but what I wanted was half of Dayin's country. The court reported that she had collaborated with the enemy, saying that she had stolen Dayin's military defense plan to me, and that she had knelt in the Qinzheng Hall for three days and three nights, just to beg His Majesty to spare my life. I don't believe it. I saw her wearing a prison uniform at the foot of the city tower and being escorted through the long street by the imperial guards. The common people were throwing green leaves and curses at her, but she looked up at me with her eyes still as bright as they were ten years ago. I swung my sword to cut off the suspension bridge on the tower, and cut off her last thoughts. Later, I broke into Dayin's capital and found an unfinished wedding dress in her bedroom. The phoenix embroidered with gold thread stopped at the collar, and the stitching was so fine that it seemed that all the effort was exhausted. There was a yellowed letter lying next to it. The handwriting was blurred by tears: "Ayuan, I hid Dayin's military talisman under the pear tree you gave me back then. They won't hurt you. I can't send it to you in red makeup. The snow is very good. Just think of it as my wedding dress."
Collection of short stories.
