Li Zhao, King of Beizhou, was born with an unyielding spirit, wild and ruthless, forged from humble beginnings.
At the palace banquet, music played without end. A beauty in shimmering robes, her hair adorned with a fresh plum blossom, smiled with red lips as she raised her cup to drink.
Li Zhao took a sip of wine, his gaze blazing. "Who is that?"
The maid replied, "My lord, she is Shen Wangshu, the only daughter of the Prince of Chang'an. They call her the Moon Maiden."
The stern young man looked at Shen Wangshu and smiled.
Shen Wangshu, renowned throughout the four provinces, raised her eyes.
Seeing the infamous King of Beizhou, she only smiled and lifted her cup.
Li Zhao lifted his in turn.
From afar, the two drank together.
Over the next two years, Li Zhao traveled almost every corner of the four provinces and six commanderies.
The first thing Li Zhao did after claiming power was rename Zhongzhou Mingyuezhou.
He would marry his Moon Maiden.
Li Zhao had once been driven to the brink of despair.
Lying in a cold, damp cave, he gritted his teeth and thought:
The snows of Beizhou were too cold, and the place beside the King of Beizhou was too perilous.
He would not let his Moon Maiden be battered by blades and blizzards.
He would marry her.
So he endured, and on a snowy day when fresh plum blossoms covered the land, he married Shen Wangshu, offering Mingyuezhou as his betrothal gift.
Theme: Dedicate a province to the bright moon.
