Twin Cranes

In the capital, everyone knew Yan Ziyang, and even more people knew Xue Ruoqing.

Storytellers and opera singers alike would always sing a line:

"Pity the beauty, born to a tragic fate; a lone crane remains, reaching up to the heavens."

In the eyes of the world, they were the Twin Cranes, Qing and Yang. Only the people at the heart of the story knew there was just one crane, its shadow all alone.

At seven years old, beneath a pagoda tree, she wore a light silk dress embroidered with peonies in two colors. One glance, and a lifetime was changed. From then on, a child followed the melancholy daughter of Minister Xue everywhere, learning to read and write, and how to conduct herself.

They drank fine wine in Shangbei and crossed the rivers of Lingnan. Behind Xue Ruoqing, there was always a soft, sweet voice calling, "Teacher."

Later, the child grew up and entered the court. The two stood back to back. Those limpid, bodhi-clear eyes no longer looked up at her. Instead, the grown child bowed with hands clasped, standing just a foot away...

"A beauty's fate is tragic. The lone crane has fallen."

She opened her eyes and was back beneath the pagoda tree, in the year she was seven.

"In this life, may I follow your path?"

Main pairing: stubborn, well-behaved local disciple (pure version) x headstrong, spirited transmigrated young master (darkened version)

Theme: Making up for regrets