Mu Danzhi was born into the Duke of Qi's household, but instead of following in his father's footsteps and leading troops, he pursued a literary career. He even traveled to Jiangnan to study under a renowned master.
Strangely enough, although he was no heartless ingrate, he couldn't even remember who that master was. He only knew he had learned a great deal, and at just seventeen, he passed the imperial examination as its top scholar.
Afterward, he took the blame for the Crown Prince and was sent to endure three years of hardship guarding the northern border before finally being summoned back.
During a bout of high fever, he faintly heard someone speaking beside him.
"The Crimson Pearl Immortal has repaid her tears and settled her debt."
"Then why are we still here? We might as well return to the Lihen Heaven early."
"Indeed, indeed."
The voices faded away.
When he awoke, he vaguely recalled some memories from years past. His mentor's surname was Lin, and his courtesy name was Ruhai. Before dying, he had written to Mu Danzhi, asking him to look after his junior sister Daiyu. Every word had been written in anguish, yet Mu Danzhi had forgotten it as soon as he finished reading.
Mu Danzhi knew there had to be something amiss, but he was still angry with himself.
He had no idea how his junior sister Daiyu was doing. He had truly failed his mentor.
So he rode at full speed back to the capital to learn what had happened and resolve the crisis. He exchanged the achievements of three years for an imperial decree, then brought Lin Daiyu back to live in his home.
He didn't know that the more he cared for her, the more his heart stirred, and the less he wanted to let her go.
His gaze traveled inch by inch over Daiyu. All he could think was that every bit of her delicate beauty had blossomed under his care. How could he let someone else snatch her away?
Daiyu coughed up blood night after night. Knowing she was near the end, she felt she had seen through all the storms and blades in the Jia household. Though her heart was full of affection for Baoyu, he was simply too weak to stand on his own.
Daiyu's heart turned cold. She quietly instructed Zijuan to at least send her back to her hometown after she died.
She never expected that one day an imperial decree would arrive, and her former senior brother would suddenly appear and take her to his home.
Her senior brother was handsome and refined, keeping everyone else at a distance, yet he cherished Daiyu above all. He personally tended to her every need and sought doctors and medicine for her. Later, he even asked her to marry him, insisting that she was the only one for him.
Mu Danzhi: "Daiyu, I'm late. From now on, your senior brother won't let you suffer the slightest grievance."
(I'm still a beginner, just writing whatever comes to mind. I haven't done any historical research, so I hope this makes you smile.)
Theme: Cherish yourself.
