In the fifteenth year of Chengping, a quiet boy arrived at the Imperial Academy.
Xiao Zeyi found him fascinating. Every day, he chased after him, calling him "Little Liar," brought him osmanthus cakes, tricked him into eating sour hawthorn candies, and wrote "May Xiao Zeyi return safely, and Xie Linyuan live to a hundred" on a Kongming lantern on the night of the Lantern Festival.
Later, Xiao Zeyi went off to war, and Xie Linyuan waited for him for 462 days.
Later still, they met again at court. One stood with the military officers, the other with the civil officials. Half a great hall lay between them, as did the game the emperor had personally set in motion.
From then on, Commandant Xiao and Censor Xie bickered every day. All the officials believed they were sworn enemies.
But no one knew how many times Xiao Zeyi secretly looked at Xie Linyuan.
And no one knew that Xie Linyuan had been writing memorials accusing him, year after year, every word steeped in blood and tears, yet none of it came from the heart.
"Life's roads branch north and south in countless ways. You head for Xiaoxiang, while I go to Qin."
But A-Yuan, I only ever wanted to walk the same road as you.
Theme: People who struggle to express themselves need a lover who won't be driven away.
