Tragic Love Story
In the year 1155, I met the most beautiful you in the gardens of the Shen family. The willows swayed gently, resembling your soft smile. The drizzling spring rain mirrored the helpless love of my lifetime. Now, you have become another man’s wife. Tang Wan, I know that in this life, we can no longer hold hands and gaze tearfully at each other.
I think of those days when we were in perfect harmony, you grinding ink, and I lifting the brush to write about our poetic life. I looked at you as you approached me, yet those gentle moments, I could not keep.
Obeying my mother’s wishes was the deepest pain in the Shen family gardens. Watching Zhao Shicheng by your side, I hesitated to take another step. Tang Wan, you haven’t changed, but do you know? My heart has never changed. I love you, your flowing long hair, and your shy, gentle smile.
Awkwardly, I retreated as you watched me leave. You sent food and wine, but without your company, the wine only added to my sorrow. My heavy heart ached like a piercing thorn. If I had insisted back then, maybe your heart would have been my eternal love.
Staring at the calm water, the spring breeze gently lifted your long hair, stirring my heart. Swallows danced joyfully, while I tread despondently, recalling our past. Tang Wan, do you remember? I once waited for you in a sea of blooming peach blossoms. Surrounded by butterflies, you came to my side, and I held your hand, vowing to never abandon each other.
Tang Wan, you must have hated me! It was not my intention to divorce you and remarry. That day, you left in tears, with marks of sorrow on your face. I stood at the door, watching your departing figure, unwilling to leave. Tears flowed from the corners of my eyes, and my heart was filled with regret.
After you left, the nights grew unbearably long. I lay in bed, unable to sleep, thinking of your figure moving about the small house, recalling the warmth of you serving me tea and the joy of composing poetry together. You were so kind and gentle, but why couldn’t fate fulfill our deep love?
I could not hate my mother; I could only hate myself. If I had not been so attached to your tenderness, my mother would not have commanded me to divorce you. Do you know how painful it was for me? Losing you was more agonizing than losing myself.
Those days were excruciating for both of us. I harbored love with no place to express it, while you were filled with silent sorrow. Later, I married Wang Shi, and you wed Zhao Shicheng of the royal family. From then on, there was no more tenderness between us in this world.
Meeting you again today in the Shen family gardens might be fate’s trick. I thought I had forgotten you, but just one glance through the dust of the world stirred my heart. Knowing you are well is my greatest comfort now. For you, I still feel guilty. Tang Wan, in the next life, let us walk together and never let go, shall we?
In my melancholy, I wrote “Phoenix Hairpin” on the wall. Thus, I walked alone on the path of spring.
The following year, when you saw my “Phoenix Hairpin (Red Soft Hands)” on the wall, you inscribed “Phoenix Hairpin (World’s Feelings Are Thin)” beneath it. I believe we always loved each other from beginning to end, but why could there be no beautiful moments in our lifetime?
Later, news of your untimely death reached my ears, and the book in my hand fell to the ground. I knew you were always depressed, and we couldn’t let each other go. But I never expected you to leave so soon. Tang Wan, are you waiting for me in the Shen family gardens?
The Shen family gardens, where I concealed my heart, will never age, and you will live forever in my memory. No one can replace you in my heart. If possible, I would wait for you for eight hundred years in the Shen family gardens, waiting for you to walk towards me, waiting for you to smile at me, waiting for us to grow old together.
In the blink of an eye, I have reached old age. Time has changed my appearance, my hair is white, but in my heart, you remain so young. You extend your jade hand in a red sleeve, and we sip leisurely together. Looking up, our eyes meet and linger. Your tenderness is like water, and my affection is deep. I wish time would stop at this moment.
Things never go as planned, and I have come to believe that beauties are destined to become dust. Your shadow still haunts my heart to this day. Tang Wan, in this life, I have failed you. In the next life, let me use each spring to preserve you, let me write your name with ten miles of peach blossoms.
Postscript: The “I” in the text refers to Lu You, not myself. Most of the content in the text is imagined. I wrote this piece to convey a sense of emotion.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
