I have heard that Chang'an is like a game of chess; a century of worldly affairs brings sorrow beyond measure.
In the age of prosperity, Chang'an shone with dazzling splendor. All nations submitted, and envoys came from every corner of the world. But disaster struck from within, and in an instant, Chang'an fell. Thus began the chaos of the Great Qi.
Long Ming, king of a vassal state of Great Qi, marched south to aid the emperor and was reunited with Ling Bo, a female court official.
In short, this is a story about an ambitious, calculating foreign king who pursues his country's interests on someone else's turf, only to have his plans foiled by a clever, self-assured heroine.
Notes:
1. This story is set in a fictional world, but I'm terrible at coming up with names, so the names of people, places, and official titles are all randomly copied. Please point out anything unsuitable or awkward.
2. Although Zi Xuan and Chang Qing appear, this is primarily a prequel fanfic for Chinese Paladin 5. The plot has nothing to do with the game, so you can enjoy it even if you've never played.
3. I haven't written in a long time, so I'm bound to be rusty. I feel like I can no longer write anything but academic papers T_T. Please don't hesitate to point out any shortcomings. *Fists clasped.*
4. If you've read A Narrow Strip of Water, you could consider this a companion piece. The plots are entirely independent, but the settings were planned together back then. I hope you'll enjoy it :)
