Glowing Ice Flowers

A scheming, sharp-tongued beauty bent on revenge x a gloomy, loyal dog who overthinks everything

From acting against each other to saving each other.

Ever since the great fire when she was nine, Song Qianhe's life has been a play.

Onstage, she's the gracious and refined daughter of an aristocratic family in the capital. Offstage, she stays up late with her sword, plotting day and night how to drag her uncle from his pedestal and avenge her brother and sister-in-law, whom he murdered before stealing their property.

Qin Haideng also plays a role. Onstage, he's a servant of the Song family, eyes lowered and head bowed, putting the young lady first in everything. Offstage, he's the Empress Dowager's shadow guard. His apparent obedience is only the cold gaze of a man studying his prey.

On the eve of her coming-of-age ceremony, the setting sun is blood-red. A young man corners Song Qianhe in the accounts room. His pupils are black as ink, cold as a deep pool. Half threatening and half teasing, he says, "Why did you sneak into the accounts room to look at these old account books, Miss? Did the master give you permission?"

The girl raises her head stubbornly. "Are you going to tell the master?"

Seeing her cool and aloof expression, he smiles instead. "Never mind. Happy birthday."

At her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen, she announces in public that, to repay her uncle for raising her, she will never marry. The whole city is in an uproar. A certain Song family servant, however, laughs mockingly in a corner, as if he sees through it all.

Eight years later, Song Qianhe opens a school for girls and becomes renowned throughout the capital as a female teacher.

At her side is a capable steward named Wu Ling, who is considerate in every way and follows her devotedly, entrusting his life to her after just a few words.

"Whatever you command, Miss, I'll carry it out even if it costs me my life..."

That night, dressed in plain white, she enters the steward's room in the dead of night. In the lamplight, tears fill her eyes. "Wu Ling, help me."

"I want to enter the palace."

"Miss, the palace gates are closed. You'll be breaking into the palace."

"That's why I'm asking you. You have a way, don't you?"

Wu Ling draws the short sword at his waist and points it straight at Qianhe, the blade close enough to cut her throat. "...Do you know what your actions mean?"

Ignoring his ragged breathing, Song Qianhe steps closer and runs her pale fingertips along the blade, drawing tiny beads of blood. "You, who's been haunting my side all this time, should know better than anyone, shouldn't you? Young Master Qin?"

Qin Haideng stares impassively and grabs her wrist.

Song Qianhe pouts. "Young Master Qin, you're hurting me!"

"...So this is what you're really like, Qin Haideng. You'd give your life for me? Have you enjoyed deceiving me all this time?"

But instead of a reply, a clatter rings out and the lamplight flickers. Song Qianhe is already in his arms.

"Don't touch me. It hurts."

His voice is hoarse as he says,

"When have I ever deceived you..."

◆◆

Qin Haideng was born in the dark and raised in the dark. As a shadow guard, his story is unbearably dull, all blood and endless darkness. But other people's plays are rather interesting.

Take this young lady, for example. She's proper and polite on the surface, but irritable and sharp underneath.

He gets close to her, helps her, and indulges her, waiting to catch her when she falls.

He would let her fall into the darkness with him.

Unfortunately, the audience eventually becomes part of the play. One day, he suddenly realizes that he has begun to feel sorry for the heroine.

It's over. Everything is over.

He indulged her because he wanted her to fail and fall into the darkness with him.

But he never expected her to tear down the curtain and drag him into the open, where there was neither scorching sun nor abyss.

[Reading Guide]

☆ Happy ending, mutual healing.

☆ His identity is revealed about a third of the way through.

☆ The heroine won't be put through angst.

Theme: Build a healthy relationship, and be independent and strong.