Spring's Embers

[Blurb]

In October, flames consumed Youzhou. The Northern Frontier Army was defeated at Shuijian City, and its commander, Lu Tianming, gave his life for his country. By imperial decree, the young general escorted his coffin back to the capital, enduring hardship all along the way.

Lu Qingyan fell to her knees before the towering palace, using the last of her strength to withstand the wind and snow soaking her to the bone. She heard the chief ministers berate the frontier army for its blunders, and traitors accuse the Lu family of colluding with the enemy and betraying their country. Furious, she screamed, like a dying wolfhound begging for her life in a desperate plight.

Xie Mingyi had earned her degree as a child prodigy. As a close aide to the emperor, she watched coldly as ministers schemed against one another in court and danger lurked beneath the surface. She felt compassion and confusion, and was moved by a fate so much like her own, yet one she could not accept.

In the divine capital, people lived in luxury. In the Northern Frontier, corpses littered the ground. Fate had trapped the two of them here, weaving a beautiful dream to disguise the peace. They were each other's sharpest swords, and each other's lifeline.

"If the divine capital is truly beyond saving, then let's burn it all to the ground."

Gentle, scheming top × pure-hearted, loyal bottom

Notes

1. For the purposes of the story, the heroine Lu Qingyan disguises herself as a man, but her identity is revealed fairly early.

2. This is a fictional setting, with plenty of original worldbuilding. Official titles follow the Song dynasty system. Please don't criticize the historical accuracy; I'm a sensitive soul.

3. A slow burn, and my first attempt at a historical baihe novel. Please be kind, thank you.

Theme: Fight for yourself, and fight against fate.