[The Story of Minglan] A Song for the Mountains and Rivers

Song Huaien was born into a poor family and disliked the aristocratic clans. The only clan he felt any affection for was the Jiangnan Zhao family, a line of generations of generals whose children were all passionate and brave.

While the nobles in the capital reveled in song and dance, the orphaned He Guang Junzhu of the Zhao family worried for the common people and spent years subsidizing the military. The nobles never gave her a second thought, but the people praised her.

He had always believed the Junzhu was a woman who could match any man, a valiant daughter of a military family. But when he finally met her, he realized she was no different from other sheltered young ladies, a hothouse flower, perhaps even more fragile and coldhearted.

Until the day enemy forces reached the city gates. The sick noblewoman stood atop the ramparts in a blood-red cloak. A jade bracelet circled her wrist, so delicate it seemed it would snap with the slightest pressure. Her slender hand raised a heavy military banner as she recited the Zhao family motto.

Red veins spread across her usually clear eyes, and snow blanketed her frail shoulders.

Her back looked lonely and proud. Only then did he understand that she wasn't coldhearted. Even a pampered young lady could hold her country in her heart.

Years later, when he returned to the capital, she was still standing at the city gate to watch the ceremony, turning her head with a faint smile as the spring breeze passed by.

But his feelings had changed:

He wanted to marry her.

Theme: The lingering effects of the Second Prince from Joy of Life