[The main story is told in third person. The "I" in the blurb is the heroine.]
The new dynasty was founded. With my strength spent and my life near its end, I passed on the throne and died of illness in the newly built Langyue Temple.
When I opened my eyes, I had not arrived in the underworld.
I saw a scholar in a vermilion official robe. When tired, he slept beneath ancient scrolls. When he awoke, he read the history books beside him word by word, tears streaming down his face.
The history book recorded my story: the annals of the founding emperor of Great Zhou.
I pushed open the little window and looked up. Langyue Temple was still bright, but the lacquered wood from my time had rotted. It looked beautiful and imposing, yet was on the verge of collapse.
How cruel. I had arrived at the end of the dynasty I had built with my own hands.
I met a civil official who was pouring his heart and soul into saving my dynasty.
"Founding Ruler * Last Dynasty's Civil Official"
A bit of looped-time fiction, and it shouldn't be very long
Open ending
"May snow fall on the green hills, may old trees meet spring, and may the moon shine tonight."
2023.11.16
Theme: Turn the tide when all seems lost, and prop up the great hall as it is about to fall
