Ashes of Love: Yuan Shi (Yu Lu)

Blurb:

"Kuang Lu loves His Majesty. Even if everyone under heaven laughs at me for dreaming foolishly and seeking attention, what do I have to fear?"

"If Your Majesty finds the Heavenly Realm desolate, Kuang Lu will grieve alongside you. Let us swear to be together in life and death, and watch the years wax and wane."

"Your Majesty, Kuang Lu has exhausted all her strength and can no longer help you bear your burdens. I only ask that Your Majesty grant me permission to marry the one I love, so we may be a pair of mandarin ducks, together morning and night."

"Kuang Lu, I forbid it. Run Yu forbids it."

A little angst

HAPPY ENDING

Not a clean romance

A work-obsessed dragon whose career is a mess vs. a scheming second male lead (a villainous male supporting character)

Two endings:

Run Yu and Kuang Lu [Yu-Lu] ending

Original male supporting character Huo Xin and Kuang Lu [Snow-Lu] ending (extra)

Some of the wording is inspired by lyrics from the songwriter Gongzi Wuyang. The title of this story also comes from her song "Yuan Shi" (sung by Ge Qing Xiaoyao, lyrics by Gongzi Wuyang). She's a very talented lyricist, and I really like her. Mwah!