Dong Cun, a princess of the Western Regions, is betrayed by her own family. While on a diplomatic mission to the Han Empire, she is caught in a plot by both countries and hunted down, only to be rescued by the Han Empire's Grand Princess.
"We have a common enemy. I won't kill you."
While hiding in the princess's residence, Dong Cun accidentally learns a royal secret of the Han Empire: the Grand Princess, like her, has also been caught up in a struggle between siblings.
"Those who share an enemy can become friends."
"I want you to help me inherit the throne, and I'll help you get your revenge."
"There is snow in the Western Regions too, isn't there?"
Dong Cun agrees with Shen Ci, but she isn't willing to stop there. "I won't be the ninth princess of the Western Regions. I want to be its ruler."
"With the heavens above and the earth as my witness, I, Dong Cun, offer the treasured saber of the Manmeng tribe as a token, and pledge my blood to seal my resolve to kill my enemy."
When false is taken for true, even the true seems false. The moon is in the sky, yet it's hard to tell it from an empty blossom.
(It's not right for an author to make excuses, but I can tell the feeling in my writing is off. I don't know if it's because of my state of mind, and I don't want to pad it out just for clicks from the lovely readers who have stopped by, so I often end up pausing and not posting. I'm very sorry.)
Theme: Empty blossoms and sun-dogs: some illusions are impossible to distinguish from reality
