The Flourishing Age of Chang'an

In the ninth year of Zhaohua, the Rongdi tribes from the northwest invaded. The emperor flew into a rage and ordered a trusted general to lead six armies into battle and quell the unrest. After six years of hardship beyond the passes, the general lived up to everyone's expectations. Victorious, the armies returned to court, and the overjoyed emperor rewarded them all. The general was made Marquis of Zhenbei, becoming the talk of the realm.

But that day, amid the splendor of the general's mansion, after entering the palace to give thanks, the general instead asked to resign and return to his hometown, leaving court behind. Grateful for his years of service, the emperor granted his request.

The ninth year of Zhaohua was to be the year she married the general's son. Childhood sweethearts, the two families had arranged their union. But just as the wedding drew near, the Rongdi tribes invaded from the northwest. An imperial decree ordered him to join his father and lead the troops to war. Before leaving, he promised to return victorious and take her as his wife in a proper six-ceremony wedding.

And so she waited for him, devoted and heartbroken, for six years, worrying about him day and night. At last, good news arrived from Chang'an: the army would soon return to court. She bathed and changed early, carefully applying her makeup and dressing herself up. She went to the city wall to welcome them, hoping to see her young man first.

But that day, the emperor rewarded all six armies, and the general's mansion was filled with splendor. Yet her young man was nowhere to be seen. She knew he had stayed behind in the yellow sands of Mobei and would never return.

That day, wearing the exquisite wedding dress she had sewn long ago, she leapt from the city wall.