The Terracotta Soldier and the Emperor's Daughter
Once upon a time, in the heart of the vast Chinese Empire, Emperor Qin Shi Huang discovered a beautiful terracotta soldier among the many figures being produced to protect his tomb in the afterlife. Unlike the others, this particular one was exceptionally detailed, sparking life into the cold clay that composed it.
There was something oddly enchanting about the soldier – an inimitable charm and lifelikeness that stirred the Emperor's heart. Captivated, he ordered the master sculptor Lu Kai to place the soldier in his imperial gardens, away from the tomb. This unusual transfer soon attracted helpless curiosity and marvelling gazes from the court members along with the Emperor's only daughter, Princess Mei.
Elegant and divinely beautiful, Princess Mei found herself drawn toward the terracotta soldier. Over time, a strange bond developed between the Princess and the lifeless figure, sometimes making her believe she could see a glint of real emotion in its glazed, clay eyes.
One fateful night, under the ethereal glow of the full moon, an enchantress disguised as a simple gardener approached Princess Mei. Touched by the strange connection between the royal daughter and the lifeless soldier, she offered Mei a chance to bring her terracotta companion to life.
Caution mingled with excitement, Mei accepted the enchantress's offer. Under her guidance, Mei invoked the ancient spirits, and to her surprise, the terracotta soldier transformed into a handsome young man. His name was Zian, an exceptional soldier who'd been unjustly turned into a clay figure by a vengeful sorcerer for denying his unjust orders.
Freedom breathed new life into Zian. He and Mei soon forged a bond born of respect, understanding, and a shared sense of loneliness. Their days began with sunrise strolls along the imperial gardens and concluded with moonlit conversations brimming with laughter and empathy. Zian proved to be not only an honorable soldier but a compassionate companion, and the forbidden feelings between him and Mei blossomed into profound love.
Their enchanting romance unfolded like a beautiful melody, until one day, their secret was unearthed by a suspicious courtier. The forbidden love between the Princess and the clay-turned-human soldier spread through the court like wildfire. Enraged upon hearing this, the Emperor, torn between his affection for his daughter and his responsibility towards the empire, ordered Zian to be returned to his terracotta form and be buried alive with the other soldiers.
The night before Zian's transformation, Mei and Zian spent their final moments in tearful silence, holding onto the promise of undying love. As the rooster crowed, signaling the dawn of the ill-fated day, Mei ran to the enchantress, begging her to transform Zian one more time - but the spell could not be undone. Instead, the enchantress offered Mei a sorrowful proposition: she could join Zian in his terracotta form, sharing his fate for the rest of eternity.
Quaking with fear yet firm with conviction, Mei accepted. The Emperor woke to the heartbreaking scene of his daughter cast in terracotta, arm-in-arm with her soldier. Although angry at first, he could not overlook their true love. With a heavy heart, he ordered the pair to be placed in his imperial gardens rather than the tomb.
To this day, it's said that the Emperor’s gardens hold two terracotta figures, forever locked in an eternal embrace. They stand as an undisputed symbol of undying love, capturing the attention of every passerby and whispering the tale of a soldier's valor and a princess's sacrifice.
For lovers who pass by and see them, they serve as a constant reminder that true love is courageous, selfless, and transcends the boundaries of life itself.