Awu was a palace maid in the imperial harem.
In the fourth year of Yongchun, she was assigned to serve a Taoist priest.
They said the Taoist was a remnant of the previous dynasty, who became a monk and withdrew from the world after its fall.
The day they met, Awu was so struck by his otherworldly grace that she was half a beat slow in greeting him. "This servant is Awu."
The Taoist looked like an immortal, standing tall and solitary as a pine, yet smiling with warmth in his eyes.
He said, "Awu. What a lovely name."
It was only later, after Awu learned to read and write, that she realized "Wu" and "Wu" were different characters.
As the Shuowen says, "Wu means love."
Her parents had named her "Awu" because she was their fifth child.
But "Awu" was a name filled with affection.
She could only honestly tell the Taoist, "The Wu in my name is the number five, not the character you mean."
The Taoist's eyes, as warm as a spring breeze, turned to her. He raised a hand to brush her disheveled bangs aside. "Which one would you like as your name?"
She liked the "Wu" he had said. It was a beautiful character with a lovely meaning.
Amid the storms of the dynasty, the Taoist always kept her by his side, cherishing her in his hands.
Awu thought that perhaps all her past misfortunes had been blessings stored up so she could meet the Taoist.
On the day the new emperor ascended the throne, they were finally able to return to the Taoist temple. The Taoist took her hand, and together they climbed the stone steps, one by one.
Green trees shaded the path, birdsong filled the air, and spring was in full bloom.
The long staircase seemed endless, and Awu fussed that she wanted to rest.
The Taoist teased her, speaking her name aloud.
Awu, Awu.
Each time he said her name, it grew more precious.
At last, Awu understood. From the moment they first met, the Taoist had believed she was someone worthy of being cherished.
**
Li Qing, the crown prince, was seven when his country fell and a Taoist temple took him in.
Even after twenty years in seclusion, the current dynasty still viewed him with suspicion. To avoid implicating the innocent, he willingly accepted house arrest in the capital.
The new dynasty sent a half-grown girl to take care of him,
but she seemed unable to do anything at all.
So Li Qing taught her to read and write by day, and mended clothes at night.
From time to time, he even cooked special meals to help her build up her strength.
One day, Li Qing was summoned by the new emperor and didn't have time to say goodbye to the girl.
When he returned, he saw her sitting on the threshold, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath, as if she'd suffered a terrible injustice.
The moment she saw him, the girl threw herself into his arms through tear-blurred eyes and sobbed, "Taoist Priest, please don't abandon me."
His heart ached, and he didn't know what to do. All he could do was gently cradle the back of her neck and soothe her with slow strokes down her back. "How could I bear to?"
Reader's guide:
1. A crown prince who became a Taoist after his country fell x a lonely, helpless palace maid
2. Twelve-year age gap
3. Probably a purely sweet romance, with no court intrigue.
Theme: Companionship is the deepest, most enduring love
