In the end，Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty eliminated the State of Chen and arrested the prince。The princess had also been caught and sent to the prime minister Yang Su's dwelling。The old prime minister had followed the Emperor to fight for the throne。He then had a striking privilege over mon people，since he'd taken possession of the princess。He felt delighted and kept her as his most favourite。But the princess was far from being content。She missed her former husband day and night。
Xu Deyan was then also roaming in the capital，and went to the street to see the lanterns show at the festival。He took out his half mirror and shouted to sell it，and asked for a high price。Selling a broken mirror in the broad street turned out to be quite a laughingstock。Gossip about it reached the prime minister's house。Princess Lechang was both overjoyed and sorrowful。Immediately she sent a man there taking the other half of the mirror to join with Deyan's half and make a whole。
When he saw it，Deyan was as happy as a lark in the sky，and set his hand at once to write a poem。Having read Deyan's emotional poem，the princess cried and cried like having a bath of tears。When Yang Su was informed of this matter，he resolved to help them to reconcile。He had Xu Deyan called to his house，and gave him a very warm wele。He asked the princess to write an answering poem，and let the two again be husband and wife。
This idiom implies a split marriage can be reunited once again，just like the broken mirror matched its other half。