Above the Wisteria

In the spring of the first year of Taihe, on a bitterly cold night, Yu Hualing, covered in blood and barely able to stand, leaned against a corner of a narrow alley. She thought her life was a complete mess. After being hunted for thousands of miles, she would probably die on the road before ever making it to the capital.

As she languished in a daze, someone came out of a nearby tavern carrying wine. He saw her and stopped. From ten yards away, he looked her over for a moment, then clicked his tongue. "Such a young girl, and in such a sorry state. I've got half a jar of wine here. Want it?"

Yu Hualing listlessly raised her eyelids and looked at him for a while. He was a tall, handsome young gentleman. She held out her hand. "I do!"

He tossed her the half jar of wine and turned to leave.

With the help of that half jar, Yu Hualing fought her way into the capital and was enfeoffed as the Lady of Mingxi for her service.

The day after her investiture, she entered the palace to give thanks. A scowling man came out of the Ziji Hall just as she approached. When he saw her, he narrowed his eyes, then suddenly grinned and stopped her. "Lady of Mingxi, you owe me for that half jar of wine. Why don't you repay me?"

Yu Hualing silently regarded him, greatly surprised. "How?"

The man said cheerfully, "Go tell the Grand Empress Dowager that you want me."

Yu Hualing: "..."

A song of trumpet creepers climbing the boughs, ten miles of spring breeze along the road to glory., Yu Hualing

A young man in a light spring robe, fine rain falling; frost and snow cover the blooms, then flowers burst forth., Li Anyu