Once upon a time there was a small tiger that lived in a splendid forest. The tiger was the strongest and most beautiful animal in the place and no one dared to rival him. The snake feared him, the lion respected him and the rabbit fled, and thus the animals of the forest lived in harmony. Those who could not protect themselves fled or hid, and those who had the strength were left at peace in their proper territories in the forest.
It turns out that despite being strong and beautiful, the tiger lived alone, the big animals respected him for his strength, but they weren't friends and the small animals feared him too much to get close. He was lonely.
One day a small deer got lost in his forest, to the luck of the little one the tiger was hungry, but the little deer was so cute that the tiger couldn't bear to eat it instead he decided to take him to raise.
All the big animals were stunned, the strong and beautiful tiger was raising a small and harmless deer.
And the days passed.
Despite the menacing fangs the tiger was kind to the little deer and took good care of him until the little deer's crows began to grow. When that happened the deer could no longer enter the tiger's lair and inevitably they ended up having to separate...
This was the story Qin Shao told Qin Ruan when they were little, what did he mean by that? Nobody knows, but he loved telling animal stories to the little princess and she loved it.
It was with these stories of tigers and deer, out of the fertile, childlike imagination of the prime minister, that the princess's heart was won. However, they were like the tiger and the deer, incompatible.
The princess was ordered to marry the crown prince of the kingdom of Nara and the prime minister was still a boy without influence or power in the imperial court at the time. Luckily for the princess and the prime minister the emperor died, hope this was unlucky.
When the former emperor died everyone was eager to send the princess to the kingdom of Nara for political peace, however Qin Shi, against all merit, ascended the throne and beside him were Zhang Xian and Qin Shao.
But the political marriage was still standing. Until Qin Shao solved the problem of famine in the northwestern region of the empire and developed the place for a literary power next to the capital and as a reward asked for the princess's hand in marriage.
The annulment of a political marriage came with consequences, but they didn't care. It was in the meantime that the discussion of another political marriage began, this time between the emperor and princess of the Nara kingdom. However, the princess was very young, so a three-year engagement was established. The princess was to be married on her sixteenth birthday as the third imperial consort, a very noble title, but powerless and empty.
Qin Shao and Qin Ruan got married and so far live happily.
On his wedding day Qin Shao finished the story of the deer and tiger of the forest for Qin Ruan.
"They live happily, even though the tiger is witless at times. The deer loves you."
This was the story Qin Ruan remembered as he walked home with Mulan. Every time the princess remembered this story she smiled unconsciously and it was a beautiful smile, Mulan thought.
- What kind of love story do you like? Qin Ruan asked suddenly.
- I don't know β Mulan replied, he had already read several love stories and studied several others. There were plenty of love stories for an Egyptologist to study, however Mulan didn't have a preference she preferred anatomy and history books β I don't have much experience with love.
It was true.
- So you won't mind the story I create for you and Zhang Xian? - Asked the princess.
"Honestly, I'm not in a position to opine on anything," Mulan confessed with a heavy sigh and looked out the carriage window. She had lost control of her own life over a stupid request.
- Putting yourself in a passive position won't help at all - The princess advised receiving a weak smile in return.
When they arrived at Prime Minister Qin Ruan's mansion, she demonstrated her ladylike powers and quickly set up a guest courtyard for Mulan. She provided everything from the finest clothes to the finest meals. As soon as she finished preparing everything she started talking to Mulan about the wedding.
- Don't worry about the wedding, I'll arrange everything! β She said excited to have a party β I'll clean your background and create a story for how you and little Zhang met. Now tell me, that bastard lied to me to cover for you, but I'm not an idiot. I know the husband I have. Who are you?
Mulan was surprised that the princess had caught the prime minister's lie, but while she must have seen many liars in court life and whoever was lying was her husband, it shouldn't be surprising.
- I don't even know - Mulan replied - I just know that