Slay Spring and Return

[A writing exercise, updated irregularly] Everyone in the capital praised Third Miss Xu for her good fortune. She was the daughter of a concubine of a low-ranking seventh-grade official, yet she had married the legitimate eldest son of a Minister’s household as his principal wife. Although the eldest son had been sickly since childhood and was bedridden, seemingly with only a few years left to live, even his wedding ceremony had to be performed by the household’s second son on his behalf. Along with their envy, everyone in the capital waited to see Third Miss Xu make a fool of herself. - Less than half a month after the wedding, Chen Yan’an heard rumors about his new wife from the servants. For instance, she had sent soup to his second brother the day before yesterday, tea and pastries yesterday, and had “happened” to run into him in the front garden that morning. People outside said Chen Yan’an was gravely ill and had little time left. He thought so himself. So that night, he went to the room he shared with his new bride, though he had never slept with her, despite being ill. On the bed, his face was as pale and clear as moonlight on fresh snow, his coughing cheeks faintly flushed. The handkerchief he used to wipe his lips was stained with blood, yet his gaze toward his new bride was gentle. “I know I’ve wronged you. I’ll write you a letter of release. After I’m gone, you won’t have to remain a widow…” Standing with her head bowed not far away, the new bride had her eyes hidden beneath thick, tousled bangs. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her fingers turning a cold blade at an unhurried pace. It had just tasted blood from someone’s throat. - Jing Li was a blade the emperor kept hidden in the dark. Three months earlier, the trail in the case of the rebel king’s orphan, whom the emperor considered a thorn in his side, had gone cold at the Ministry of Justice. An order was issued in secret. Under the identity of Third Miss Xu, she married into the Minister’s household, suspected of having ties to the rebel king’s case, to decide the fate of everyone in the manor. - At first, Jing Li also thought Chen Yan’an was a pure lotus rising unstained from the mud. Later, she learned he was a demon born at the feet of the Buddha. On a rainy night, when they were surrounded and attacked, her embroidered spring saber was chipped all over. Blood and rain ran across her eyes, blurring her vision. That man, who seemed at once like the Buddha and a demon, came strolling leisurely toward her with a sword in one hand and an umbrella in the other. He tilted the umbrella toward her and asked: “Want to work with me?” Theme: Though we walk through the dark of night, dawn will come.