Chinese GL

千年万岁，椒花颂声。

‘Even after thousands of years, may people chorus your name as I do.’

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In 2013, archaeologists found a gravestone epitaph that was labeled with, ‘The Great Tang’s Former Zhaorong of the Shangguan Family.’ The words carved into stone completely changed how historians view some aspects of Tang Dynasty history, they also gave baihe planters a new clue about a previously unmentioned couple in history: Shangguan Wan’er and Princess Taiping. They might be the highest profile, and the closest thing Chinese history will give us to a lesbian couple. 

For those who don’t want to read a history lesson, tl;dr:

Princess Taiping: Emperor’s Gaozong and Empress (Emperor) Wu Zetian’s youngest daughter, helped her brothers regain their throne after Wu Zetian’s reign but was killed by her nephew Emperor Xuanzong in a later power struggle. Dealt with Wan’er’s funeral, and on Wan’er’s gravestone epitaph she (most likely) commissioned these words: 

‘As if the flowing water halts, the mountains are listing and crumbling. As if the round pearls sinking, a city’s worth of jade shattering. Staring off at the pine in front of the tomb, listening to the wind. Even after thousands of years, may people chorus your name as I do.’

 (潇湘水断，宛委山倾。珠沉圆折，玉碎连城。

甫瞻松槚，静听坟茔。千年万岁，椒花颂声。)

Shangguan Wan’er: Wu Zetian’s secretary, previous servant, one of the most talented poets and authors Ancient China has seen (I’d say she’s the Chinese equivalent of Sappho, really). Dubbed the 巾帼宰相 (Prime Minister) despite not having held any true political position in the front court. Killed during a rebellion despite standing on the ‘politically correct’ side. Princess Taiping took care of her funeral, and wrote her gravestone epitaph. 

Ps: (巾帼 jin guo refers to the cloth many women wore on their heads, so generally it denotes women)

Yes, in history, in the end, they were a tragedy, similar to a lot of couples. 

Note: this is real history, and this entire relationship is very much not verified within ANY history books. It is simply the imagination/bits of subtle evidence that have been pieced together. That being said, history does often have a habit of pointing fingers at notable females and throwing the whole “Sappho and her friend were roommates” argument. Also, the later Emperor Xuanzong (winner who walked out of the period of political upheaval and went on to rule the Tang Dynasty) was quite against people like Wu Zetian, Wan’er and Taiping holding power, so….

So, in modern baihe media, there are some AUs that tell their story in a different way, that showcase a different side of them. Here is a list:

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2 (beautiful song)