Peering at the Moon in Longzhong

Only on the brink of death did Venerable Chen Fang suddenly realize that her life had perhaps been set on a path toward an inevitable end the moment she swore brotherhood with someone.

When she swore brotherhood with Zhong Shuhuan, the second young master of the Ye Duke's household, she was just a poor little Taoist priest. Later, step by step, she made her way into the Wenhua Hall.

Ten years later, exiled to Longzhong, her only task was to organize historical records.

But in the bitter, cold land of Longzhong, she endured humiliation and torment until she died coughing blood.

In her final moments, she saw the entirety of one man's life.

The man who had once stood on the opposite side from her and Zhong Shuhuan, the man who had been alive in her memory only through rumors, the man she had doubted and glanced at askance, yet never wanted to understand...

Shi Jiyue would go down in the history books as a criminal, for he committed three heinous crimes: murdering his sovereign, burning the palace, and slaughtering a city.

A lone moon at court, daring to contend with Heaven.

On the Star-Picking Terrace, as a rain of arrows flew, he leaped from the high platform. Even his death was true to his nature: aloof and arrogant, leaving the world aghast.

He had been nothing more than a village sorcerer. At nineteen, he entered the Huangji Temple, and ten years later, he became the imperial preceptor.

Half a lifetime in the political arena, ending as dust in the mud. Neither he nor she got what they wished for.

Returned to the year she first arrived in the capital, she finally met the man who in her previous life had lived only in rumors.

Aloof yet passionate, his grace and refinement could not conceal the bloodlust within him. A red light shot toward the stars, and blood spattered three feet across the court.

In him, she saw a freedom she had never possessed: the conviction that life is for living to the fullest, even if you throw yourself into a game without considering the consequences.

She did not want to die far from home in Longzhong. And to him, how undeserved was that eternal infamy?

Back then:

Shi Jiyue: "Fangzun, a life together is too beautiful to bear, but dying together is no better. I don't mind dying. You must stay and watch him build his grand halls, feast his guests, and see them crumble."

Years later:

Shi Jiyue: "Fangzun's pipa can stir the soul. I only fear Fangzun will blame me for being too desperate to live."

Content warning: The story features a woman disguised as a man, and the male lead's story includes the imperial examinations. If you dislike either of these, feel free to pass on this one.

The leads are each other's first and only partners in both lifetimes. In their past lives, neither loved anyone else. In this life, they have eyes only for each other.

One-on-one, happy ending.

(The blurb has been submitted to my editor.)

I have chapters saved up and can update daily, but if there are too few favorites, I may update according to the rankings instead. Thanks for understanding! (bows)

Theme: People can triumph over fate.