Lian'er's letter was neither particularly short nor particularly long.
It began with how much she missed Cheng Yu, followed by an account of how she had been lately.
After they parted three years ago, Lian'er had taken Cheng Yu's advice and set out on a journey alone. When she wrote this letter, she was in the Central Capital. She wanted to see what the Heavenly Dynasty's most magnificent city looked like, and she had also enrolled in the largest academy there.
She was now studying at the Women's School and had made some progress. She had also made a few close female friends.
In her letter, Lian'er seemed rather insecure. She apparently still dwelled on her past as a courtesan. Compared with the close friends around her, she felt as lowly as the dirt beneath their feet.
With that came worry and uncertainty, but she said she did not need Cheng Yu's advice. She wanted to give it a try herself-to try saying goodbye to her past self and starting a new life. Once she had completed that fresh start, she wanted to come find Cheng Yu.
Also, a wealthy young man at the academy had recently been pursuing Lian'er. She had rejected his advances on the grounds that her heart already belonged to someone else, but he seemed unwilling to give up. Lian'er said she would find a way to make him abandon his hopes.
Next came Lian'er's reflections on her journey from West Sea Prefecture to the Central Capital. She was deeply grateful to Cheng Yu for saving her. Along the way, she had seen all sorts of scenery she had never seen before, and had indeed encountered some interesting people and events.
Tucked into the letter were several simple drawings. They were simple only in the sense