Gentle Radiance

Zhao Rou died in the winter of her nineteenth year.

Looking back on her life, she had walked on eggshells, always careful and cautious.

Orphaned as a child, she was taken in and raised by her great-aunt, the Dowager Lady of the Marquis's household. There, she met Wei Shichen, the Marquis's wife's younger brother, a young man who had just inherited a princely title: Prince Ding.

At her great-aunt's gentle urging, she called him "Uncle."

Later, she fell in love with him.

A young girl's affection was like a shadow beneath the moon: quiet and hidden, never daring to let anyone know.

Later, she obediently married a son born of a concubine in the marquis's household. After her great-aunt passed away, her husband favored his concubine and neglected his wife, secretly causing her death.

It didn't matter. She had never thought there was much point in living. But after her death, her soul lingered, and she saw Wei Shichen order her husband punished. He wept at her grave, saying he regretted everything.

So he had loved her too.

So... all his kindness had not been her imagination.

When Zhao Rou opened her eyes again, she had returned to a year earlier.

Wei Shichen, now a fully grown young man, stood before her. His features were as beautiful as jade, and his eyes were as still and unfathomable as an abyss. His emotions were impossible to read as he said, "If anything happens, come find me at the prince's residence."

Zhao Rou had heard Wei Shichen say those words many times before, but she had never dared to take them to heart. She would always lower her head and meekly agree. This time, she looked up and said, "All right."

-

In the winter of Zhao Rou's nineteenth year, Wei Shichen married her and brought home the woman he had cherished for so many years.

He had always had so many reservations: worried that society's judgment would hurt Zhao Rou, that the dangers of the prince's residence would harm her, that she might dislike it, be unhappy, or feel no joy.

But if no one else could take good care of her, then he would.

Theme: Never give up hope in life too easily. The world is vast, and there is always someone who loves you.