That year, the handsome young man took the girl's hand. In his deep eyes, paulownia blossoms bloomed in layer upon layer. In a low voice, he made a promise for a lifetime. He said, "A Jiu, wait for me to return. When I do, I will drape you in glory and bring a thousand miles of wedding finery to welcome you as my wife."
That year, she waited full of hope. Year after year, the paulownia trees blossomed and withered, then blossomed again, but in the end, she never saw her hero ride home with glory.
Later, she watched him take another woman's hand and ascend the throne, promising her a life of splendor. He said, "A Jiu, I cannot wrong her."
At last, she gazed at the golden-feathered arrow that had pierced her chest and smiled like a child. He said, "A Jiu, why didn't you dodge?"
She only smiled, while a question that had haunted her for many years wound through her heart: A Zhou, did you ever truly care for A Jiu?
Legend has it that the wu tree is male and the tong tree is female. They grow and age together, and live and die together, symbolizing a love that lasts until death.
