"You can't do this to my son!" the maiden slave cried, drawing her sword and pointing it at the palace guards.
"Lady Yueshen, we have orders from the Qinghai King to take him to the Queen's palace," the guards replied, moving closer to the cradle where the baby prince lay.
Shua!
With a swift act, Lady Yueshen strikes one of the palace guards about to snatch the baby prince on his cradle. The guard's wrist was cut off blood started to spill on the ground and on a shock.
"You can't come any closer!" she declared coldly, holding up the Canhong Jian sword. The palace guards were taken aback.
"This sword will haunt your descendants for generations," she warned them, her gaze unwavering and her sword ready. She took the baby prince from the cradle, cradled him against her chest, and wrapped him in a fine white silk sash.
Behind her, Lady Yueshen carried a fine sword, a gift from the King for her son, who had been declared the next crown prince just three days ago.
The Qinghai palace guards fell to their knees, awestruck by the Canhong Jian sword they had never seen before. Lady Yueshen knew that in Qinghai, the respect for a sword was paramount, unlike in the Wei empire where a tiger tally made of pure jade held authority.
The Canhong Jian was infamous for its power to curse the enemies of its bearer. It would bring misfortune not only to the enemy but would extend its curse to their descendants for up to four generations.
The Canhong Jian is most potent when used during the waxing fourth quarter of the moon, but only if its wielder also possesses the Po Yue Jian sword, its main counterpart.
The Qinghai King, a passionate sword collector with many inherited from his ancestors, kept his empire's treasures in the most secure part of the Qinghai Palace.
The Canhong Jian, though powerful, is considered lesser compared to the Po Yue Jian. The history of these swords is marked by tragedy, with their owners meeting grim fates.
During his first visit, the Qinghai King was pleased to meet Lady Yueshen during a seven-day diplomatic tour with the Wei empire and Southern Liang. At that time, the three empires enjoyed peace and had mutual interests, including their elite spy networks, military strength, and forms of government.
The elite spies included three from the Yuwen household—Yuwen Hao, Yuwen Xi, and the mysterious black-clad spies of Wei, suspected to be from the Bathuja family—and two from Liang: the Afterlife Camp led by Zhan Ziyu and the high-ranking spies under Princess Xiao Yu.
The remaining spies were under the control of Chu Jing, the Lesser Moon King of Qinghai. Unlike the Greater Sun King, Chu Jing rarely involved himself in imperial matters. These spies, known as the Underworld Elite, were trained in the ancient teachings of the Woolong and Longji mountains in Yanbei.
The Qinghai King first met Lady Yueshen when she was a young servant girl in the Wei imperial palace. Despite her humble origins from the Xie household, she shared his passion for swords. She was a striking figure, her heart as unyielding as iron, and a natural fighter.
"Under the waxing moon stands a fine young lady, as beautiful as the Canhong Jian sword," the King remarked.
Upon hearing someone, Lady Yueshen instinctively pointed her sword at the King, though it was too late—he had already witnessed her skill behind the palace.
The King was immediately smitten. He offered twice the amount requested to secure her freedom from the Wei palace, but the Great Summer Emperor refused, demanding instead the prized Cheng Ying sword, which the King of Liang wanted as a gift for his son, Crown Prince Xiao Ce.
The Cheng Ying sword, known for its bladeless nature, symbolized civil power and the ability to resolve conflicts without bloodshed. Its blade, invisible except when pointed northward, was believed to guarantee victory in bloodless confrontations. The Southern Liang King desired it for its elegance and as a perfect gift for his son.
Ultimately, the Qinghai King traded one of his most prized swords for Lady Yueshen's freedom. She was renamed Lady Yue Shen, or the Moon Goddess, after the Qinghai King acquired her from the Wei Emperor, disregarding the Liang King's request for the sword in exchange for a state-of-the-art ship.
This decision soured relations between the Liang and Qinghai Kings. The Liang King bitterly criticized the Qinghai King, suggesting he should focus on acquiring more beautiful slaves rather than ships, and hinted at the possibility of negotiating for such treasures in the future.
In a display of triumph, the Shen Jin Emperor unsheathed the Cheng Ying sword before the Liang King, adding to his humiliation. The Liang King, forced to concede, remarked on the graciousness and mercy he had shown, noting the Qinghai King's preference for acquiring slaves over ships.
The Shen Jin Emperor, grinning broadly, retorted, "No one wins a bladeless fight, my brother. Learn from me."
Meanwhile, under the waxing moon, Lady Yue Shen fled with her child along the Great Wall of China. The palace guards, deterred by the Canhong Jian and the Po Yue Jian she carried, were afraid to pursue her, fearing the haunting legends associated with the swords. They eventually received orders to execute them for letting her escape.
Despite the danger, Lady Yue Shen and her baby had made significant progress. She paused to breastfeed her child, offering the comfort and nourishment of nature as they continued their perilous journey.
With her unyielding spirit, Lady Yue Shen completed the journey across the Great Wall of China in seven days, reaching the snowy forests of the Western territories where she sought refuge.
Standing amidst the snow, she said, "At last, we are home. There is nothing I can't survive now. This is our land, my child. You are destined to be the next king of the greatest dynasty in the world. You shall know my homeland and the legacy of my ancestors before you know your father's land. Welcome to your mother's land, my baby prince."
She gently placed the baby prince on the ground, positioning the Po Yue Jian sword on his right and the Canhong Jian sword on his left.
Performing a kowtow, she bowed deeply and wept, thanking the heavens for their protection and guidance during their perilous journey. Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the Po Yue Jian and Canhong Jian swords, the lovers' swords, but there was no accompanying thunder.
As she stood up, she saw her baby touching the Po Yue Jian sword, and tears of joy filled her eyes. She picked up her child and the swords, and made her way to her modest Xie household.
Her father, a renowned blacksmith, was astonished and overjoyed to see his daughter and grandchild. Though initially concerned that she might have stolen her own child and could be hunted by the Qinghai King, he was thrilled to see the swords and grateful for the chance to see them up close.
Proudly, Lady Yueshen explained, "The Canhong Jian was a gift from the King to his beloved handmaiden, who, like me, shared a passion for swords and understood their power."
Her father, his eyes gleaming with pride and joy, inspected the swords closely. He began to share the secrets of the swords that even the King might not fully understand, speaking with calm reverence:
"The Po Yue Jian sword bears eight ancient inscriptions on its double-edged blade, meaning 'The King of Yue' and 'May you live long and achieve victory.' Its sheath, made of copper, is rustproof, a marvel of craftsmanship from 2000 years ago. Forged through trials on eight sacred mountains and frozen lakes, it features indigo-blue stones visible only under moonlight. Its handle, crafted from soft gold in a crescent moon design, commands respect and reverence.
The sword has won countless victories and defeated many armies before it was retired."
Her father, lost in nostalgic memories, stared at the sword with unblinking eyes, as if transported to his childhood. After blessing his grandchild, he said, "May you rule wisely. This sword should be used to protect rather than to harm, and to seek justice for everyone, not just a few."
Lady Yueshen then asked about the Canhong Jian sword.
Her father explained, "The Canhong Jian was created during a dark red Supermoon, with eight ancient enchanters chanting continuously for eight days and nights. The moon's reflection and the howling of foxes were believed to be etched into the blade during this time.
Our ancestors said that if this sword is used to kill, the howling of a fox will be heard, and it will haunt the enemy's grave and their descendants for up to four generations." His father's expression grew sad, but he did not explain why.
Lady Yueshen remembered the King's words from their first night together. He had presented her with the Canhong Jian sword, and that night, the Qinghai King stood by her side, dressed as a warrior with his Po Yue Jian sword, as if ready for a swordsmanship duel with her.
Just like the story of Yuwen Yue and Xinger, the King threw the Canhong Jian to Yueshen as she awoke like an angel. They engaged in a playful, skillful sparring match, both avoiding harm, before returning to bed. And so, their story began.
(Read on, dear readers, and feel free to add your own twists and turns. As for where Yuwen Yue comes from—well, at least in this fanfic, it's up to your imagination .)
Lady Yueshen, once a modest girl waiting for her time to shine, transformed into a sophisticated butterfly upon moving to Qinghai. With access to the finest beauty treatments, cutting-edge makeup, high fashion, and the courtly etiquette required for a queen, she blossomed into a vision of elegance.
Her transformation was driven by her deep love for the Qinghai King. Her remarkable swordsmanship and newfound grace won the King's admiration, and he made her his consort. In the King's embrace, she fulfilled his greatest wish by giving him a son.
Lady Yueshen's metamorphosis into the "Moon Goddess" of the palace became legendary. Her ethereal beauty was said to rival that of the gods, and even her homeland occasionally received updates on her enchanting new life. Her story became a modern-day Cinderella tale, making her the most coveted lady in the King's court.
At 30 years old, the Qinghai King was six years older than Yueshen when they met, making him the youngest of the current monarchs compared to the 37-year-old Shen Jin Emperor and the 40-year-old Liang King. He had never felt such profound emotions until meeting Yueshen, whom he cherished as his first and true love.
However, their love story faced significant trials. The Queen, who was older than the King, struggled with infertility after their initial attempt to conceive. Her inability to bear a child led to profound sorrow. In her grief, she adopted several children, but her longing for the child she could not have drove her to cast the adopted children aside cruelly, distancing herself from her royal duties.
Despite his understanding and tolerance of the Queen's actions, the King remained committed to securing the future of the throne through his relationship with Yueshen. Yet, despite his efforts and deep feelings, the true nature of love seemed fraught with challenges and remained elusive.
Author's Footnotes
Cheng Ying sword – the sword of delicate elegance and invisibility. Owned by The Wei state ruler in the ancient Chinese Dynasty and was appreciated by a ruler named Lei Zi. In the original novel, the name of the Liang Prince is Li Ce which is Prince Xiao Ce in the drama series, borrowed it to enhance the story of Liang and Wei.
Source
Po Yue Jian – Searching about the stories behind Po Yue Jian sword, I came across its Chinese local name "Chun Jun sword". It was discovered in 1965 at the province of Hubei China under a human skeleton on a tomb submerged into deep waters. Despite being deposited under water, when it was unsheathed, the double edge showed untarnished blade that defied time for more than 2000 years ago. Engrave on the front seat of the sword were eight ancient Chinese inscriptions and was deciphered to be: "The King of Yue, made this sword for his personal use" If there is King Arthur Excalibur sword of the west, on Chinese folklore their legendary sword is called Guojian the "Gentleman of all weapons" which I borrowed in this fanfic to enhance and keep the original source of the sword recognized as important part of China's history and culture.