His Majesty's Paranoia Is Acting Up Again

[One-on-one romance + two female leads + devoted to each other + alternate universe + wild imagination] [Clear-headed and rational VS narcissistic and obsessive] [In love without realizing it VS in love but never says so] [Age 20 VS age 23] [Same-sex and opposite-sex marriages are both legal] [ABO setting] [Some angst, but a happy ending] Yongning Year Seven. The annual selection has come around again. Under pressure from the Empress Dowager and the Retired Emperor, the reigning Emperor Ying Yi'an has no choice but to issue an edict halting marriages throughout the realm and forcibly select beautiful sons and daughters from the families of officials and commoners to enter the palace. Xin Yun, the only daughter of the county magistrate of Fangyuan County, is among those selected and sent to live in the Cold Palace. Their feelings shift subtly as they investigate several cases. Five years later, Donghe and Xili rebel. Xin Yun follows Ouyang Guang to war for nearly two years, and they win. When rewards are distributed, Ying Yi'an appoints Xin Yun General Dingyuan. A year later, Xin Yun leads a campaign in Ouyang Guang's place, quells unrest in the Southern Kingdom and the various provinces, and is made Duke Zhenguo. From then on, her fame spreads far and wide. Four months later, news that Emperor Ying Yi'an is carrying a child spreads throughout the realm...