How Could I Bear to See Him Crumble to Dust?

Yan Xinying is the daughter of the Governor of the Capital. She has older siblings and has led a sheltered life, but her love life has been full of hardship.

She has always insisted on doing something society condemns: being with a rebel wanted by the imperial court.

Yan Xinying is the daughter of a high-ranking official. She could choose any man in the world, and with her at a marriageable age, matchmakers are always at her door. There is no shortage of eligible men.

Yet she chose the hardest path, one even her own family cannot understand.

But after seeing him once so full of spirit, how could she bear to watch him fall into ruin?

*

The Duke of Zhao's family in the capital was falsely accused of treason. Only his son, Fu Huizhi, escaped. He is the man Yan Xinying loves.

Yan Xinying searched for Fu Huizhi outside the capital for six years without success. Just as she was losing hope and being pressured into a marriage by those in power, she saw him again.

They caught a brief glimpse of each other in the city and had no time to talk, so she and Fu Huizhi arranged to meet outside the city.

Seven years apart, with the world so unpredictable, she wasn't sure he would come. When she finally saw that familiar figure, warmth spread through her whole body in the cold, snowy night.

But he opened with, "This is the last time we'll meet. Say whatever you need to say, Miss." Her blood seemed to freeze all over again.

Many misunderstandings had arisen between them. Then she learned that her father had orchestrated her separation from Fu Huizhi. Heartbroken, Yan Xinying found herself trapped between a home she no longer wanted to return to and the man she loved, who kept her at a distance.

Yan Xinying could only disguise herself and stay by Fu Huizhi's side. They could clear up the misunderstandings little by little...

Seven years of hardship had turned the free-spirited man she once knew cold and suspicious. When he saw through her disguise, Fu Huizhi mercilessly told her to leave. Yan Xinying was completely at a loss, and even thought of doing as he wished.

But Fu Huizhi kept running into danger, and she couldn't abandon him in his hour of need. After he was seriously injured, he finally admitted, "How could I not have you in my heart, Ah Ying?" Tears streamed down her face.

At last, Yan Xinying was able to draw closer to him, little by little, until she finally fell into his arms.

One day, Fu Huizhi did not return all night. When Yan Xinying found him, he was silent for a long time before asking, "You're following me because you pity me, aren't you?"

On a warm summer night, Yan Xinying felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. She slapped Fu Huizhi and walked away, feeling like a joke...

But before she had even been angry for a few days, she received news that Fu Huizhi had died...

A devoted noblewoman who wants nothing but love, with everything going her way VS an upright "rebel" bent on clearing his name, who occasionally can't suppress his feelings

Notes:

1. One-on-one romance, happy ending.

2. Volume One begins with their reunion. Most of Volume Two and all of Volume Three are flashbacks.

3. The main plot is about clearing his name. The heroine is capable of building a career of her own, but that comes after his name is cleared. So the novel doesn't go into detail about a separate career storyline for her.

Preorder: "Watching Him Build His Tower". If you're interested, please add it to your collection

As the younger brother of the current emperor, Prince Xiang is still confined to the palace after coming of age and is not allowed to establish his own residence.

People assume the emperor is suspicious of him and that life in the palace must be difficult.

Who knows that he enjoys it?

His elder brother keeps him in the palace because he can't bear to part with him. He sneaks out all the time and lives a carefree life. His brother dotes on him, turning a blind eye and pretending not to know.

His brother sits securely on the throne, while he gets to live freely. Why would he fight for anything? His brother has never suspected him, either.

Until rebel forces storm the capital, the dynasty falls, and the imperial family is slaughtered to the last.

The whole country rallies to protect Prince Xiang, making him the only surviving royal.

Forced to bear the hopes of the people and the army, he travels from place to place and embarks on a long journey to restore the dynasty...

Theme: Justice will prevail; true love is destined