宛如約

In a secluded mountain hamlet, a beautiful and erudite orphan named Zhao Rizi grows up surrounded by blooming orchards but bereft of brothers or a father’s guidance. Determined to honor her distinguished lineage, she teaches herself to read, writes poetry, and, feeling confined by village expectations, fashions a boy’s disguise to seek a wider world. With a modest bundle of clothes and a trusted servant, she slips away under a spring sunrise, heading toward the bustling county town.

Arriving at the famed garden of the esteemed scholar Si Kong, Rizi’s quiet confidence catches the teacher’s eye, and she is invited to join a small circle of young scholars for tea and verses. When Si Kong asks the gathered youths to compose a poem on “the thrush seeking a friend,” Rizi’s spontaneous lines astonish everyone with their fresh elegance. Her talent, bravery, and the whisper of a secret identity set the stage for a compelling journey of self‑discovery and poetic ambition.