One beautiful autumn day, a young Tang scholar was strolling along the outside of the palace walls. Band and forth beneath the walls flowed a sparkling stream. Suddenly he spied what to e a perfectly formed maple leaf with writing on it. He plucked it form the stream, and saw a poem inscribed in a delicate style obviously by one of the emperor's concubines, lamenting her solitary existence behind the royal walls. Much moved by her words, he selected his own perfectly formed maple leaf, and wrote a verse in reply to hers. This he floated on the water and watched as the stream transported his message to the woman on the other side. A year or so later, the emperor released two thousand of his concubines with his thanks. Our young Tang scholar was fortunate enough to have a marriage arranged with one of them. On his wedding night, he brought out the maple leaf that he had cherished for all this time, showed it to his new wife, and asked if she recognized the handwriting. He told her his story, and wondered if she could shed some light on the woman who had penned the poem. Without another word, his bride reached into her garments and brought forth the corresponding maple leaf on which he had written his reply so many months ago. Destiny had realized the dream of two soul mates first brought together by that messenger of love, the maple leaf.