Above the Ninth Heaven

The starry wilderness stretches far and wide, while distant lands shine with renown. A brilliant new dynasty rises, destined to usher in a prosperous age.

The towering Suyin Pavilion stands beside Lanshan, near the old capital. A young child travels far to study, beneath a splendid canopy against the vast blue sky.

Sorrow and longing well up as the wanderer leaves home. Back in those childhood days, we laughed and talked, each of us now in a different place.

The young lady of the East Bank, the young lord of the Western Capital. Graceful and elegant, each peerless in their own way.

Once they meet, then gaze at each other from afar for three years. After ten years, they are finally together, their fates ordained in the heavens.

In youth, I suddenly fell in love beside the endless blue waters. A zither’s song followed the drifting clouds, its clear light shining on a snow-white dress.

We raced through the spring grass, our voices ringing over the beautiful river. Through the haze of dreams and waking, at last our long-awaited meeting brought us together.

In the bright summer, a sudden storm fell. After a long journey, we returned to the imperial capital. Blood stained the delicate silk, and a broken spear lay by the gate tower.

At dusk, we heard the drums of war. By dawn, news of victory rang out. The banners departed with the troops, and the jade carriage entered Hua Liang.

I linger beneath the fragrant trees, then turn sleep-heavy eyes toward an empty room. Autumn brings a chilly wind, and my solitary shadow sighs beneath the thin frost.

The perilous tower rises a thousand feet, while the rest of my life stretches endlessly ahead. I once painted my face in rouge, and even the faintest recollection brings fresh heartache.

Many years later, when Nan Rong Jiahua walked into Suyin Pavilion, all that greeted him was the clear chime of the bells beneath the eaves.

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