Together in the Same Robe

I composed a poem in the style of Nian Nu Jiao:

Stepping out through Qi Gate, beyond the gate,

Fallen blossoms swirl in countless waves,

A thousand points of sorrow fill the heart.

They say the plain white butterflies flutter back to where they belong.

Plum blossoms at heart, bamboo sword in hand,

The fierce wind wipes the cliff clean,

The snow on the vast mountain stirs the soul.

When clothes grow cold, let rippling strings play on the jade qin.

I think back to the gentleman in those days,

When the three armies first showed their mettle.

Rescuing Zhao, besieging Liang, his laughter stirring the wind,

Then turning back in sudden alarm,

The old road stained with blood and tears.

A gifted man, yet all in vain,

Standing before the palace hall, his thoughts fixed on old kindness.

He resents the spring peach blossoms,

Locked away at dusk, again and again.

I've always believed that the most important thing when reading a tragedy isn't to grieve over the characters' fates as they rise and fall, or to weep along with them. It's to think about why the tragedy happened in the first place.

So perhaps this story won't make you cry, but there are some things that truly deserve our consideration:

For example, what caused the tragedy: the times, society, or the characters themselves? Or why did the characters make the choices they did? Why didn't she (or he) choose to forgive, or choose to be reunited? What wound deep inside her left this scar...

What would happen if he chose to let go?

What would happen if he chose to forgive?

What would happen if she chose to reach out?

What would happen if she didn't have to choose at all...

So, if you choose to keep reading, please think about these questions. Your reflections will become her life.

Also, apart from the general setting and certain names, this story has become quite different from history. I've reshaped some characters according to my own ideas, because I believe everyone has admirable qualities as well as fatal flaws. Pang Juan is no exception, nor is Bo Ling. Ruyi is imperfect, but very real. A Zhu is talented, yet lonely. Success or failure? Right or wrong?

In the end, that's for you, dear readers, to decide.

It feels like it's been a long time, but I have to admit that among all my novels, Tong Pao still has the best structure. The current formatting is a revised version, though there are still typos. I'll tidy them up bit by bit when I have time

Theme: