*1
In her previous life, fate played Zhu Yan a cruel joke.
The man she had chosen with her own hands became the cause of her tragic fate. In the end, her family was destroyed, her home burned to the ground, and she died with hatred in her heart.
When she opened her eyes again, everything had returned to the beginning:
the age of fifteen, when all of the capital was watching her marriage prospects.
*2
At the Commandery Princess's residence, batches of portraits of young men were carried in, then carried out again.
She looked at so many that her head spun and her eyes blurred. She got up and went out into the courtyard for some air.
The moment she opened the door, she bumped into someone and knocked him down.
When she saw his face, the corner of her eye twitched.
"Sorry. I mistook you for someone else."
She felt a taut string inside her: whatever happened, she would not repeat the same mistake in this life.
*3
Everyone waited and waited. No one's gate was decorated with bright red silk, but then the young lord of the Duke of Rong's residence arrived to propose.
He was asking for the hand of Rui Zhuyan, Commandery Princess of Ningyan.
This alarmed everyone.
Commandery Princess Ningyan was known for her cool temperament, while the young lord of the Nanrong family was a notorious block of ice who was hard to talk to.
A frosty beauty and a flower on a high peak?
W-would they even manage to say more than a few words to each other in a month?
*4
Everyone thought their marriage would never last.
But after waiting and waiting, what arrived was the coming of spring:
the frosty beauty had finally learned to smile.
The flower on the high peak had finally descended to the mortal world.
Whether he rose to become a powerful minister or she was falsely accused, they both understood that every step they took now was a step with no turning back.
They supported, relied on, and trusted each other, making it through countless sleepless nights.
At least Rui Zhuyan felt that in this life, she had finally learned to see clearly.
#Because they are each other's starlight, warm and strong#
*
[Bonus Scene]
Rui Zhuyan had caught a chill today and went to bed early.
She had forgotten that she was married now, and that a poor soul was pouting and knocking at the door outside.
She got up and lit a lamp. Warm light filled the room.
A neatly folded letter had been slipped through the crack beneath the door.
A crooked little fish had been drawn on it.
"It's so cold out here. May I ask the Commandery Princess to open the door for A Yu..."
Even through the door, she could hear how wronged and pitiful he sounded.
Kindhearted Rui: (opens the door helplessly) Fine, one quick hug.
*Set in an alternate Song dynasty, very loosely based on it
*Reading guide:
1. One couple, happy ending, only one lead reborn, a slow and gentle romance.
2. The two ice cubes will take a long time to melt. No artificial sweetness.
3. Alternate setting, entirely fictional. Don't take the historical details seriously. If you want to argue, please take it elsewhere. Thank you.
*Blurb written on 2022.11.15. Please do not repost.
vb: Gu Yunyun er
Theme: Live an ordinary life with both feet on the ground
