Love's Ordeal: Qing Lian

[First published on Jinjiang. Revisions may be made at any time. Do not repost; violators will bear the consequences.]

The lotus emerges from the mud unstained, washed by clear water without becoming gaudy,

Its stem is hollow and straight, with no creeping vines or branches,

Its fragrance grows purer with distance, and it stands tall and graceful,

It can be admired from afar, but not touched irreverently.

But I wonder, can this green lotus, now sunk into the mire, remain as untouched by the world as we imagine?

Qingyan Huailian

The young man, clad in white with white hair, carries a faint air of aloofness and clarity,

Along with a purity and innocence this world should never have known.

But when he sees the green lotus that should not exist in this world,

An emotion forbidden to this world wells up in his pure eyes.

Baiyue Ruofei (Jiu'er)

That wicked, audacious man possesses peerless beauty beyond that of ordinary people,

As well as wealth, power, and a violent temper beyond their reach.

Yet he has also endured pain and trials unknown to ordinary people.

When hatred has piled up like a mountain, what can possibly make it disappear?

Mingjue Xuanling

The mischievous little rascal loves to laugh and has a generosity of spirit others lack.

Who could have guessed that the sickly yellow face once concealed peerless beauty?

What kind of laughter and curses will his carefree travels through the world bring?

Is he truly laughing his way across the land, or is his acting simply so brilliant that no one sees through it?

Murong Xiyan

The divine physician Wangchuan is a flower, aloof from the world and untouched by dust.

His medical skill and martial arts are beyond compare.

Is he compassionate, with a heart like a bodhisattva's, or does he watch the mortal world with amusement?

Can all these joys and sorrows move his heart?

Chu Wangchuan

[Longing]

The first watch, the second watch,

Yearning and longing entwine, unknowable even to Heaven,

Reflected in the white-moon curtain.

Lotus leaves gather, lotus leaves part,

Entangled, indistinguishable, dancing in the pond,

Half a lifetime swallowed in silence.

Companion piece, an ancient danmei story: The Transmigration Romance of Hongyu Nairuo:

A wonderful story by a friend: an inspirational youth romance novel: