Spring Scenery and Broken Joy

For six years after marrying into Xiping Marquis Manor, I spent six years a living widow. My husband was stationed at the Northern Frontier, yet somehow found time in the midst of his duties to fall madly in love with another woman. She was beautiful and strong, able to ride tall warhorses, wield a long spear, and read the art of war. She fought shoulder to shoulder with my husband on the battlefield, killing the enemy. The people and soldiers of the border city all called her the General’s Lady. As for me, the true General’s Lady, no one even knew I existed. She was the eagle of the Northern Frontier. I was a sparrow trapped in the inner courtyard. But disaster was already creeping closer.