This story is adapted from accounts in the History of the Northern Dynasties, the Book of Sui, and records relating to daily life in ancient China. As it follows the calendar used during the Northern Zhou period, some descriptions of the seasons may differ from modern understanding. It seeks to recreate, on a foundation of historical accuracy, an era shaped by the blending of Hu and Han cultures and by sweeping political upheaval.
In 557 CE, a regime founded by a northern horse-riding nomadic people, the Northern Zhou, established its capital at Chang'an and came to rule over half of China. This people, once sustained by hunting and nomadic herding, rode across the north with their superb horsemanship and archery. But because their customs, language, and methods of rule differed from those of the Han, they were long branded as barbarians.
Over the years, as the nomadic people settled in the south, they lived and mingled with the Han. The Dugu clan was a prominent family in the Northern Zhou, renowned for its scholarship and calligraphy. Dugu Jialuo, its seventh daughter, grew up surrounded by the scent of ink and learned both horsemanship and archery. She possessed the spirit of the nomads as well as a grounding in Han culture. She met and fell in love with Yang Jian, son of the Duke of Sui, and they pledged to be husband and wife alone for life. Their love, transcending its time, became a steadfast refuge amid the chaos.
Set against the turmoil of the Northern Zhou, this novel follows the love between Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian, tracing the turbulent years in which they joined forces and built a realm together. From the children of noble families finding and cherishing one another to standing side by side to pacify a troubled age and lay the foundations of the Great Sui, their love is marked by devotion and responsibility. It blends heroic spirit with the warmth of literary grace, and tells the legend of an emperor and empress united in heart as they shaped the land together, combining the weight of history with human warmth.
Theme: The legendary love story of Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian, who found and cherished each other, pledged to be husband and wife alone, joined forces to pacify a troubled age and establish the Sui dynasty, and ruled the realm together as emperor and empress united in heart
