(1)
Xiahou Dan first conceived the idea of crafting a ring after seeing the lark hairpin sent by Lin Xuanying.
Although Yu Wanyin didn’t wear it in her hair, the admiring look in her eyes still triggered a severe sense of crisis in Xiahou Dan.
He decided to make a proposal ring.
His design concept was clear: If Lin Xuanying sees you as a lark, then I’ll see you as a phoenix. Soaring to the heavens, riding the winds—perching only on the parasol tree (which is me).
The idea was sound.
But when he handed the "Phoenix Perching on Parasol Tree" sketch to the craftsman, the craftsman fell into silence.
Xiahou Dan asked, "What’s wrong?"
The craftsman wiped his sweat nervously and said, "Your Majesty’s rooster climbing a tree… is truly a stroke of divine inspiration."
(2)
Er Lan decided to leave the capital for a while—partly to scout locations for the Female Academy across the regions, and partly to distance herself from the court and clear her mind.
On the eve of her departure, a few close friends held a farewell banquet for her.
Li Yunxi remained sullen throughout and quickly drank himself into a stupor before collapsing face-first onto the table, dead asleep.
Yang Duojie also got drunk and suddenly slammed the table, declaring, "Brother Er, in this life, one need only be free of shame before heaven and earth—why fear the words of others?"
Er Lan was somewhat moved as she looked at him.
Yang Duojie continued, "I know all those rumors in the court, hic , are just lies! Whether my brother is a man or a woman, hic , how could I not know?!"
Er Lan: "?"
(3)
After returning to the southern border, Lin Xuanying spent every night drowning his sorrows with the Nameless Wanderer.
Lin Xuanying said, "In another ten days or so, news of His Majesty’s passing should arrive from the capital."
Nameless Wanderer: "..."
Lin Xuanying continued, "Master, back when you sent me to assist him, I wasn’t willing. But after all these years, I’ve long considered him a sworn brother… Now, I have to wait day after day for news of his death. It’s unbearable."
The Nameless Wanderer hesitated to speak.
Lin Xuanying downed several more cups. "What will the Empress do, alone in that den of wolves? Master, can you divine whether I can take her away?"
The Nameless Wanderer tried to open his mouth: "It’s not necessarily—"
A clap of thunder rang out from the sky.
The Nameless Wanderer shut his mouth again.
Lin Xuanying, bleary-eyed with drunkenness, sighed, "But she won’t leave. She refuses to go."
Months later, the news of death still hadn’t arrived.
Instead, a secret letter from Xiahou Dan arrived.
After reading it, Lin Xuanying’s expression shifted through a myriad of emotions before he finally went to confront the Nameless Wanderer in a huff. "Master, why didn’t you tell me sooner?! Did you enjoy watching me drink myself into a stupor?!"
Nameless Wanderer: "..."
The Nameless Wanderer replied with profound mystery, "Immensely."
(4)
When Xiahou Dan and Lin Xuanying first met.
Lin Xuanying asked, "What do people in your world do for fun?"
Xiahou Dan racked his brain. "Climb over walls to internet cafés and team up to play games."
Lin Xuanying asked, "What’s playing games?"
Xiahou Dan explained, "Usually, it’s you kill me, I kill you."
Lin Xuanying: "?"
Xiahou Dan added, "But not for real. You’re killing… just think of them as puppets. You can die over and over again."
From that day on, Lin Xuanying held a deep reverence for the reigning Emperor.
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