And the guest of honor at this banquet,
the beauty Wang Zhaojun, did not appear at all.
Instead, she had stolen away with Liu Di to sit atop the towering pavilion of Changle Palace.
At that moment, Zhaojun
had already changed into magnificent ceremonial robes and put on exquisite jewelry. Her blue hair was swept high into a bun, and a streak of vivid red adorned the corner of her eyes.
She no longer looked as carefree as before. Instead, she resembled a Han imperial noblewoman, like a bird trapped in a cage.
She stared blankly at Chang'an City below.
Liu Di asked, "Why have you put these clothes on again?"
Zhaojun smiled bitterly. "This time, I truly represent the grandeur of Great Han. I cannot act as I please. Otherwise, when I reach the Western Regions, they may think all Han women are that wild."
Liu Di asked again, "Leaving your homeland like this, do you have any regrets or attachments?"
After pondering for a long time, Zhaojun said softly, "No."
From then on,
neither of them spoke again.
Zhaojun thought, Such an important mission has fallen upon me. Naturally, righteousness must come first.
I practiced martial arts and studied military strategy from childhood so that one day I could fight the Xiongnu. Now, it is merely taking another form.
As for romantic feelings and attachment to my homeland, I dare not think of them. Otherwise, the pain would cut straight to my heart.
And Liu Di thought,
this was history, after all. Just as Zhaojun had said, he could not act as he pleased.
Yet whenever he thought of Zhaojun's coming circumstances, an inexplicable ache filled his heart.
Suddenly,
Liu Di saw Gu Fan's mark appear out of thin air atop the city wall.
She propped her chin