Married by the Spring Breeze

Yan Ning was born in a time of turmoil and raised in an age of prosperity. The posthumous daughter of the renowned Marquis Anyuan, Fenglang Juxu, she was brought into the palace at the age of six to be raised by the empress. At sixteen, she was granted the title of commandery princess. Her life should have been one of joy and ease, but she fell in love with Tan Jiang, the crown prince who had protected her since childhood and grown up with her as her childhood sweetheart.

On the day the crown prince was to choose his consort, she heard him look over the portraits of numerous noble young women and say without hesitation, "The eldest daughter of General Su is gentle and refined. She can be chosen as the crown princess. As for Yan Ning, if she is willing, she can be taken as a secondary consort."

Hidden behind a pillar, Yan Ning's hand trembled, shattering the precious jade ruyi she held.

Unwilling to become a concubine, she brought the newly crowned top scholar to the palace hall and knelt to request an imperial marriage decree.

But that night, Tan Jiang went mad and pinned her against the bed, sneering, "Your older brother hasn't even married yet, and you're already in such a hurry, A Ning?"

On the day the Xiongnu envoys arrived in Chang'an, their envoy requested the hand of the celebrated Princess Changle.

She looked to Tan Jiang for help, only to see him raise his wine cup from afar and smile as he agreed. Only then did she learn that, to him, she was no more than someone he could discard at will.

On the night she married the Xiongnu Chanyu, she sat on the bed and heard someone crash through the door. A long sword lifted her red bridal veil.

The fighting outside went on without pause. Tan Jiang was still stained with the Xiongnu Chanyu's blood. He seized her hand and smiled. "A Ning, I've come to take you home."

Yan Ning looked up and drove the dagger in her hand into his chest without mercy. Her gaze was cold, her red lips parting to say, "Brother, you're too late."

Theme: Once I refused to wed the spring breeze, yet somehow ended up forsaken by the autumn wind