For generations, the Ye family has guarded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, loyal to the people and not to the emperor.
After Zhu Wen usurps the Tang throne, he repeatedly applies pressure, and the Ye family's commander, forced by circumstances, forms an alliance with Li Keyong.
His only daughter enters Tongwen Hall as Li Cunxu's apprentice, bringing three hundred thousand shi of military grain to Yanyun.
Ye Zeqing is only eight when she enters Tongwen Hall. She and A Li are raised by Li Cunxu.
Her second brother is always there to supervise her and teach her martial arts and strategy.
And seven-year-old Zifan trails behind her, calling her Auntie.
There's also Li Xiao Liu, irritable inside but mild-mannered on the outside.
Their days are chaotic, but peaceful too.
Ten years later.
Her second brother dies. His face and voice remain as they were, but the old days are gone.
The regional warlords divide the land, the realm falls into turmoil, and the people live in fear.
She bears the responsibility of protecting the Sixteen Prefectures, and remains at the border, never to leave again.
He stays at Tongwen Hall, rising to become the master of the Li Sect, devoted to accomplishing great things.
He returns to the Tianshi Mansion to take up his father's duties, standing by the emperor through thick and thin.
The three childhood friends now follow different beliefs, each walking the path they have chosen.
Two of them even cross blades, pushed to the brink of ruin.
Where can a weary bird find rest? How can those on separate paths ever reunite?
To restore peace to the realm and avenge the bloodshed: these are the obsessions in her heart.
To rid the world of the Unorthodox: that is his obsession.
Even in turbulent times, true feelings endure.
With the realm in turmoil, love is too small a thing to matter. The two of them can only hide their tender feelings, entrusting them to the breeze and the moon. Perhaps a few sparse lines in their letters will reveal the truth.
Each time the breeze passes, it is you whispering in my ear.
Each night the moon hangs high, its light keeps me company as I sleep alone.
A powerful, fiercely patriotic heroine who holds a grudge x Li Cunli, refined on the outside and a little wild within.
The wind rises, clouds gather, and old dreams give way to a new melody.
The clouds twist and turn; the world remains, but the people have changed.
That's what the chapters are about.
Author's Note:
This is a short story, so I'm writing this one first. I'll go back to the HP story next.
1. The couple is Li Cunli. Both are generals, childhood sweethearts, and a formidable team. The heroine is chaotic neutral, with a very powerful golden finger.
2. Li Cunli and Ye Zeqing were both raised by Li Cunxu, so they are deeply attached to him. That's why they are both seeking revenge for their second brother. There will be lots of Tongwen Hall content and flashbacks to Li Cunxu. This story isn't very friendly to Jing Xin Mo. (He gets killed in the end.)
3. Although Li Cunli is the love interest, the story is told from the heroine's perspective. In essence, I've created a new character to see the world of "The Bad Guys" anew through her eyes, so this is a heroine-centered story, and Li Cunli may not get that much screen time. The heroine has a very powerful golden finger, and in a sense she even gets one over on Yuan Tiangang. Li Cunxu survives, so fans of the Marshal may want to proceed with caution.
4. There may be a little angst, since everyone is under the immense pressures of their time, but the romance is absolutely mutual. They are each other's one and only, and face crises together. So this story leans more toward historical drama. Maybe later I'll write a heroine-centered story for "The Legend of Qin" too (a fun, carefree Jianghu daily life with Sha Hun as the love interest). Just the title sounds delightful.
Theme: For the greater good of the realm, for what the heart desires, for the sake of all under heaven, and for the people.
Teacher, where did you move your HP copy? 😭