Ke Zhen

My husband was upright and restrained, a gentleman praised by court and commoners alike. He took no concubines and kept no maidservants in his chamber, so everyone believed he cherished me. Only I knew the woman he loved was the Empress. I had resigned myself to it, until the year rebels stormed the capital, seized our only daughter, and forced him to surrender the Empress and the Crown Prince. Before the two armies, he shot our daughter dead with an arrow and said, “Since ancient times, loyalty to the realm and love for family cannot both be preserved.” My hair turned white overnight. In despair, I dragged the Empress down with me. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to our wedding night. Facing his still, emotionless face, I smiled sweetly. “Since you love each other so much, I will make sure your love story is sung throughout the world.”