The Princess on the Left, the Minister on the Right

Princess Ji Ji Ge loved red. She painted her nails with crimson polish and wore red coral ornaments. Draped in scarlet, she shimmered with boundless splendor.

One day, as dark clouds pressed overhead and the wind howled, bandits cruelly severed Ji Ji Ge's Achilles tendons at the edge of a cliff. Filled with hatred and despair, she struggled to crawl to the very edge. Leaping from the cliff was the last shred of dignity she had left.

Now, the face before her was the one she had longed for day and night, a peerlessly beautiful face, cool and picturesque. But its owner, Xiao Si Ting, was utterly heartless. The foot pressing on Ji Ji Ge's delicate hand gradually bore down, as if toying with her, or perhaps setting her free, determined to drive her into the abyss.

Her fingers, clinging to the jagged rocks at the cliff's edge, were numb and weak. She could no longer hold on. Before her eyes, the face that had filled her with boundless hatred seemed to appear once more.

So his conscience had finally stirred, and he meant to spare her? Ji Ji Ge could only find it ironic and laughable.

"Princess! I was too late to save you!"

Xiao Si Ting leaned over the jagged rocks at the cliff's edge, one hand gripping Ji Ji Ge's slender wrist tightly. His bloodstained hand was covered in calluses. Blood dripped onto Ji Ji Ge's pale cheek, like a blooming red spider lily, bewitching and alluring.

The wind roared in her ears, mingling with the wanton laughter coming from the cliff. In her final moment, she broke free of his grasp. At last, she was free...

"Jiu Ge..."

That heart-rending cry could no longer reach Ji Ji Ge as she fell from the cliff.

After being reborn, Ji Ji Ge shut her heart to love. It was hard as black iron, and no matter what Xiao Si Ting tried, he could not pry it open even a fraction.

The man stood in the rain, clad in armor, his eyes bloodshot as he begged Ji Ji Ge to forgive him. All he received in return was the cold sound of a lock clicking shut.

She could never forget the soul-searing pain of Xiao Si Ting using a sharp knife to sever her Achilles tendons at the cliff's edge. She could never forget the despair of supporting herself with her delicate hands, scraping them over sharp stones as she crawled step by step to the cliff. Most vivid of all was the last moment, when the man humiliated her by grinding his black boot down on her...

The princess spent every day seeking pleasure at Miaoyin Pavilion, changing her male companions one after another. Even so, she could not reconcile with the Xiao Si Ting of her previous life.

But just before Ji Ji Ge leaped from the cliff, she glimpsed a man standing behind Xiao Si Ting who looked exactly like him. Carrying her confusion and resentment, Ji Ji Ge left this filthy world...

Theme: A healthy outlook on love is the only way to make it last.