An Pingxi (Reborn)

[An early writing exercise. Not recommended for new readers.]

The sun rises in the east each morning; the moon sinks in the west each night.

She waited through countless days and nights, but not a single reply ever came. She had heard every kind of rumor, yet believed none of them. All she wanted was one clear answer from Yun Shi.

She was tempted to throw caution to the wind and demand an explanation, but in the end she couldn't bring herself to act so far beneath her station. Nor did she want to become a laughingstock again.

People would say, "See? Miss Anping really has gone mad. The Crown Prince would rather give up the throne than marry her, and she still ran into the palace to make a scene, without a shred of dignity..."

Words can destroy a person. She understood that better than anyone. She came up with a thousand, ten thousand possible explanations, but never imagined that his reason for refusing the marriage would be so absurd...

After Anping Xi died, the world breathed a sigh of relief. Only her second brother, Anping Yao, felt she had been wronged. He was willing to sacrifice his life and soul just to bring her back, but all he managed to create was an imperfect replica.

She watched the Kingdom of Nanyun fall, its people and royal house destroyed. She also watched the Crown Prince be offered as a sacrifice to the enemy nation's Imperial Preceptor. But he had been the one to refuse their marriage, so why did he want to be buried with her after death?

She wanted nothing to do with him and refused to be reborn. Her soul wandered the world for a hundred years, while the Crown Prince ferried unclaimed souls across the River of the Dead for a hundred years, earning merit in every lifetime and hoping only that they might meet again in the next.

1. A melodramatic, slow-burn, understated story. The reborn heroine doesn't get an easy power fantasy. The leads are unrelated by blood.

2. Set in a fictional dynasty, with no real-life counterparts. The characters are imperfect.

3. Both leads died young in their previous lives. Though they've lived twice, they have no experience with love. They're innocent, childish rookies muddling through together.

4. I'm really bad at writing blurbs o(╥﹏╥)o. A modern-day romance is planned next.

Theme: Love isn't about conquering or controlling someone. It's about cherishing and respecting them.