There is a saying about how love conquers all. Most dismiss it as the whims of a romantic mind, one that has been untainted by the troubles of real life. But there are moments when such sayings are appropriate. Ever since I was a child, one such time springs to mind. It is the tale of Lord Zhao Yun, the Little Dragon, and Lady Mei Li, the Tigress of the South.

Less than two turnings of the moon after Lady Mei rescued Lord Zhao, the two of them married in a small ceremony. Master Jiang Wei stood by Yun's side during the entire ceremony, his arm still in a sling. Many have said that it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever seen. There are even rumors that the great Ma Chao cried during it, although if you ask him he will blame his wife for spreading such nonsense.

The entire city turned out to celebrate the marriage. Lord Liu Bei called for a feast that lasted three days and nights. To outsiders, it likely seemed a frivolous occasion. The wedding of a famed officer should not include such fanfare. But they do not know the story behind it. They will never understand what kind of turmoil Lord Zhao and Lady Mei endured, and how many hearts bled at the thought of two beloved children of Shu dying.

Jiang Wei tells me that it's inconsequential. For him, the scars are just as painful. He endured his share of torture during the campaign that almost took his life. Yet he welcomes each day with the same vigor as his friends. He works on treaties and strategies with renewed energy. I've asked him about his side of the story. He usually laughs and shakes his head. To have been part of a legend, he says, was a great honor, and my part will be told in the tales. That does not mean I wish to be part of another.

So the tale of how Zhao Yun and Mei Li saved each other was added to the history books. I've heard many versions of it by now. The songstresses in particular tell it with much enthusiasm. There is one version, however, that still moves me to this day. It is the one my mother wrote while recovering from her injuries. She sings it to me to keep the nightmares at bay, to remind me that the love she has for me still conquers the shadows of my mind. The last part has always been my favorite.

Through fire and death,

They held on to something,

Neither had known before.

Through war and destruction,

They found each other

And discovered true destiny.

Through strength and virtue,

They shared a love that

Will live on through time

Until the winds fail to blow

And the flowers fail to bloom.

Signed,

Lady Zhao San, beloved daughter of Lord Zhao Yun and Lady Mei Li