C1 The First Snow Fell in Chang'an

Snowflakes danced in the sky over Chang'an, while the area before the Vermilion Bird Gate was strewn with withered flowers in the still of the night. As the old Tang calendar drew to a close, the emperor soared on dragonback to greet his guests. Soon after, he took the throne, discarded the old ways, and ushered in a new era, granting amnesty to all under heaven. The common folk mourned, and upon the empress's ascension, she inaugurated the First Year of the Tang and was proclaimed Empress!

The First Year of the Tang, New Year's Day.

Since the late emperor's funeral, the city had been draped in white for seven days. Now, it was alive with festive lights and decorations as the people celebrated the dawn of both the Great Tang's new calendar and the New Year. Amidst the bustling streets, a nondescript alley lay hidden in the shadows, unnoticed by most. Tonight's snowfall was heavy, with goose feather-like flakes settling on the tip of a bamboo shoot, turning it a shade of red as the faint warmth transformed the snow into a crimson slush.

A young man emerged from the snowstorm, gripping a piece of green bamboo. His tattered clothes hung loosely on his frame, and his pale left hand clutched the green bamboo staff that was thrust three inches into the snow-stained ground.

This was a blind young man, his handsome face obscured by a pristine white cloth that covered his eyes. The cloth was stained with specks of red, resembling a beautifully embroidered plum blossom, standing out starkly against the snowy night.

Stepping out from the alley, the young man went unnoticed and seamlessly merged with the crowd. With each tap of his bamboo staff, he moved with surprising grace, navigating through the throng. Perhaps in the spirit of the New Year, his ragged attire was a vibrant red, the color so vivid it was as if it had been dyed by the finest workshop.

Clutched in his arms was a snow-white bundle, a precious gift from a kind-hearted soul who had generously bestowed it upon him in a drunken act of charity.

The blind young man cradled the bundle as if it were his most treasured possession. He made his way to a secluded corner and slowly sat down in the snow. Gently, he removed the white cloth from his eyes, revealing his gaze to the world.

The young man's eyes were bloodshot, so intensely red they seemed on the verge of bleeding. He let out a heavy sigh, and the warm breath from his lips turned into a beautiful white mist amidst the wind and snow. Gently, he pulled back a corner of the bundle, and the terrifying redness in his eyes softened. Inside the bundle wasn't treasure or jewels, but a tiny infant.

The baby, with his delicate, tender skin, lay quietly in the young man's embrace, adorably small and remarkably well-behaved, not having cried once throughout their long journey. His large, luminous eyes gazed up, and he ceaselessly sucked on a piece of white jade resting against his chest, his toothless mouth working it contentedly.

Upon seeing the young man's face, the baby's mouth broke into a grin. His little tongue pushed against the jade, popping it out of his mouth, and he offered the young man a sweet smile.

"So good..." the young man murmured, a faint smile gracing his refined features. Cradling the baby, he pressed down firmly with the bamboo stick he held in his left hand and rose from the snowy ground. He turned to look at the rows of bright red lanterns. On this night, every household, rich or poor, had hung a red lantern at their door. At the end of the lanterns' glow, the imperial city of Chang'an, ablaze with light, was likely buzzing with even more excitement.

After a brief glance, the young man turned away for the last time.

His grip on the bamboo stick tightened, reddening the back of his pale hand.

"We don't have a home anymore..." he whispered into the blizzard, continuing his trek, leaning on the bamboo stick. The frigid wind scattered his words, leaving it a mystery who they were meant for...