The Luan and Phoenix Hairpin

He rules the four seas and commands the world, passionate yet heartless.

On the surface, he seems like a foolish, worthless ruler, but in truth he is a brilliant leader and a man of virtue. In the end, he spends his whole life loving only her.

At her coronation as empress, snow fills the sky. Dressed in red silk brocade and flowing sleeves, she smiles like a flower.

Yet inside Changqing Hall, he gives her a cup of poisoned wine. From that moment on, she is consumed by anguish, grief, and utter despair.

“Rather than suffer the agony of having my flesh and bones torn apart, I would sooner end it all with a length of white silk.”

“When the first light breaks and spring flowers bloom, I want to take you as my wife, share a pillow with you, and grow old by your side. May our love never die.”

Hunted by assassins, she eventually meets him and moves into the Western Palace, only to discover that the one she loves has long been separated from her by mountains and seas. She is nothing more than a pawn.

Love is like the nearest red spider lily, just beyond reach. Without longing, there is no madness; without madness, there are no dreams.