Locked in Autumn

A spirited, free-spirited young general x a clear-eyed, independent princess who rebels against feudalism

The day An Zhixing first saw Xie Jingyu was an utterly ordinary morning.

The young general had returned victorious. Mounted on a tall horse, dressed in armor, he galloped down Vermilion Bird Avenue, sharp and dazzling as a sword fresh from its sheath.

As he passed her, his features were stern, and his cold gaze swept right past her.

She heard her maid say that Xie Jingyu was terribly proud, disliked dealing with strangers, and especially disliked dealing with young ladies.

She herself was quiet and dull, so their encounter would probably be the only time their paths crossed.

Still, perhaps she envied him a little: envied that he could leave Chang'an, envied how free he was.

But soon they met again. On a misty, rainy day, she lifted her eyes and met his smiling gaze.

She discovered a freedom she had never known before, in every singular day that came because of him.

*

Xie Jingyu returned to the capital after a great victory over the enemy. In everyone else's eyes, he had followed in his father's footsteps and was living a life of glory. He was Chang'an's most celebrated young general, with a brilliant future ahead of him.

But every night after returning home, he was trapped in nightmares, unable to escape.

Then, one day, as the sun rose, he saw An Zhixing in a dazzling warmth: a young girl whose smile was as soft as a flower's.

In the midst of lifeless darkness, he glimpsed the color of light.

He wanted to hold on to it.

Bonus scene:

After they married, Xie Jingyu wanted to fulfill her wish and take An Zhixing to see more of the world.

Though he made it sound easy, actually taking her away meant enduring no small amount of trouble from his parents and the emperor.

But when he saw An Zhixing's delighted expression, and how carefree she looked riding across the grasslands, he knew it had all been worth it.

She didn't need to know how difficult it had been.

All she had to do was be happy for the rest of her life and live as herself. He would shield her from every other worry, every feudal relic and outdated custom.

She was born to be this way: free of convention, passionate, and free.

Mutual salvation, mutual pining

Historical romance novella

Character notes written in October 2020

Historical setting inspired by the Tang and Song periods. Please kindly point out any errors.

Theme: Love makes people brave, and responsibility makes them invincible