A novel set in early fifteenth century China. It describes the events leading up to, and the lives of, Hoong and Yiling, who meet and fall in love as teenagers during the early Ming Dynasty, but are separated by war. Hoong is captured and emasculated soon afterwards.Hoong emerges from the depths of despair with the conviction that his sacred task is to protect his country from its enemies. The courageous, talented youth rises from eunuch warrior, training soldiers and leading teams to extend and reinforce the Great Wall, to outstanding general, securing China's northwestern border in the Gobi Desert.Yiling becomes the young wife of an older aristocrat, not the life that she expected or wanted, but accepts. She is protected, loved and provided for, yet she cannot escape an inner emptiness. Intelligent, sensitive and perceptive, she devotes herself to the less fortunate. In a world where women are often disregarded, she had seen many abandoned wives. Her first charity was a home for such women. Yiling also has a deep-held belief that all female children are born free and should not be victim to the dreadful custom of foot binding. She does what she can to rescue young females from this painful, sometimes deadly fate.Hoong and Yiling are the young lovers who dared to dream and hope. They reached for happiness together, instead finding separation, sorrow and pain, even while making meaningful contributions to their society. But life also brings the unexpected. There is reunion. In their old age they find the bliss they dreamt of in their youth. They achieve contentment and peace. Love prevails.Love is timeless, so too sorrow and joy. Does it matter that the story is set in the fifteenth century? It could be the first century BC or the twenty-first century AD!
