I Long to Hold the Bright Moon in My Arms

[The writing is too halting, updates will be irregular later on. Don't read if that bothers you.]

The day of Prince Ning'an's memorial service was the first time Xiao Yan saw Cui Zhi.

Fragile and helpless: those were his first impressions of the young princess dowager.

Beautiful, widowed, and sitting on a fortune, she would surely be devoured by the wolves surrounding her in these turbulent times.

He wasn't the only one tempted, he supposed.

Back in Linzhou, as he discussed with his confidants how to get his hands on this vast wealth, a letter marked "For the General's Eyes Only" landed on his desk.

"Appearances can be deceiving, General. You've misjudged her." Mei Daoli smiled, holding his horsetail whisk, his words full of teasing. "Why worry, General? In my humble opinion, the princess dowager is widowed and the General is unmarried. Aren't you a match made in heaven?"

"If it's your humble opinion, Daoist, you needn't share it." Xiao Yan burned the letter. "Strategist, do you have a solution?"

The strategist held a feather fan in one hand and stroked his handsome beard with the other. "Who knows when the court will replenish our military funds? If the General has no interest, then we'll have to follow the princess dowager's wishes."

The Tiance General's Manor in Linzhou and the Prince Ning'an's Manor in Liangzhou were barely a hundred li apart. After that, someone often traveled between the two with three or five subordinates in tow.

"This dagger was forged from the leftover material used to make Chengying. It's called Wangui. I give it to you today." Xiao Yan placed the dagger on the desk.

Cui Zhi picked it up and drew it from its short scabbard. Its blade gleamed coldly, reflecting her face. "But I don't know martial arts."

"Starting today, I'll teach you. In these turbulent times, you need to be able to protect yourself."

Who could have imagined that, just a few short years later, they would stand against each other with swords in hand?

"Was everything a lie? Were you deceiving me all along?"

Xiao Yan sighed softly. "A Zhi, your heart is too soft."

Reader's Guide:

1. Both leads have only been with each other. There is no coercion, and there's a reason, which will be explained in the story.

2. Before she transmigrated, the heroine was called Shen Ci. She'll gradually get used to her new name after transmigrating.

3. This is a slow-burn story. It starts slow, then heats up.

4. There are some ensemble elements, and every character has their own destiny.

Theme: I long to soar into the blue sky and gather the moon.