Watching Lanterns in the Snow

Shi Ying died.

The female official who had always been by Song Jiudeng's side, inseparable from him like his shadow, was dead.

All she left behind was a book titled The Emperor's Chronicle.

When the eunuch at Song Jiudeng's side told him what had happened, he merely stared out the window at the heavy snow, lost in thought.

After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Bury her."

Shi Ying had been aloof and proud. She had only ever kept a quiet record of his life, never once taking the initiative to speak to him.

Now that she was dead, he found himself grieving.

*

Shi Ying was an abandoned girl.

She was cool and aloof, and reached the position of court historian through her talent alone. She had a photographic memory and a fine writing style, and Song Jiudeng valued her greatly.

Yet they had been like strangers, nothing like two people who had been inseparable for years.

Shi Ying had watched Song Jiudeng throughout his life. She had accompanied him to the battlefield and witnessed his ferocity and strength.

She had gone with him to Jiangnan and seen his brilliance.

She had watched him struggle through every step of his journey, facing the ministers alone.

She was Song Jiudeng's shadow.

When she awoke again as the pampered young lady of the Cui family, Shi Ying couldn't help watching him once more.

In the Cui family compound, she wrote countless notes about him. The Song Jiudeng etched into her memories had become an obsession.

Her mother asked her more than once, "Yao'er, do you have feelings for His Majesty?"

Cui Yaoxue shook her head in a fluster.

No, she didn't love him.

She was only used to him.

Later, when Cui Yaoxue entered the palace to offer birthday wishes to the Empress Dowager, she sneaked back to her own courtyard and saw Song Jiudeng standing in the snow, staring at her room, lost in thought for a long time.

He was like snow on a lofty mountain, noble and refined, sorrow filling his eyes.

When Song Jiudeng saw the young daughter of the Cui family, he found himself pouring out his bitterness to her. "When I first ascended the throne, it snowed that day. In the darkness, Shi Ying was the only one who came toward me with a lantern."

But he didn't love Shi Ying. He was only used to her.

*

Later, when Yaoxue of the Cui family entered the palace as empress, she still couldn't resist stealing The Emperor's Chronicle and secretly recording his words and actions. The book was her most precious possession, the result of years of effort.

But Song Jiudeng saw the book. He picked it up, leafed through a few pages, and raised an eyebrow. "I never knew the empress had been watching me for so long."

Cui Yaoxue hurriedly put the notes away. "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood. I want to become a court historian!"

Song Jiudeng smiled. "Shi Ying, you were doing just fine as empress. Are you going back to your old job so I can pay you a salary?"

Shi Ying froze. Had he actually recognized her?

Reading notes:

1. In her previous life, the heroine was the one watching. In this life, the hero is the one watching!

2. No pandering to men! The heroine gets all the love!

3. The hero helps the heroine heal!

4. The hero has no harem, and both leads are devoted only to each other!

Theme: Love led me to you