TLDR: plot-bunnies for LiangGuang Romeo and Juliet inspired historical AU that I can never write because my extent of Chinese history knowledge is Chu Ying's back-story. :/ Throwing them out in case anyone feels inspired and wants to adopt the bunnies (as many or few details as you like)- I would love to read the finished product!
The blank verse is definitely a result of me thinking too much about Shakespeare recently. More specifically, the lines: "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? // It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." One of the most famous sun metaphors in literature, and Shi Guang being the sun and all.
So: Southern Liang era, the Chu's and Yu's are rival noble families vying for the esteemed role of Emperor's go tutor. 9 year old YL, heir to the Yu house, is wandering around town with his best friend /older brother/ bodyguard FX, with a go book or a clan emblem on his clothes (something that identifies him as a go player) when suddenly a commoner boy runs into him. "Play go with me!" "No." "You're scared that you'll lose to a commoner who's only been studying for a few months!" "NO." They play, YL barely loses, FX is about to catch and interrogate the boy when BC suddenly appears to whisk the boy away (possible FXBC side-plot?) YL can't stop thinking about that boy. Simultaneously, rumors go around the court that the young master of the House of Chu, who'd adamantly refused to marry because he can't forget the princess who went north, instead recently adopted a child on the street to teach him and make him his heir.
6 years later, Chu Ying finally presents his heir in public, and of course it's SG! YL instantly recognizes him (how? canon YL, how did you do this?) They're enemy families, so they can't be together officially, so YL stalks/chases/persuades SG to play with him anyway. They get together at night secretly to play go (maybe do other things too, who knows). Other stuff happens. They're found out. SG decides to give up go if he can't play it with YL, the person that he loves (playing with) the most. YL decides to give up go instead, because it's a bigger sacrifice to the world if SG doesn't play. Everyone realizes how tragic it would be if both SG and YL gave up go. Happily every after.
Starring: YL as Romeo, SG as Juliet, CY as Capulet, YXY as Montague, FX/Suyong as Mercutio/Benvolio, BC as Tybalt, HH and/or SYL as Nurse, Sang Yuan as Friar Lawrence (personal fave casting choice haha, although Lazy Monk would also be good). Maybe YZ or MQC as Paris.
