How to Speak of It

My Archrival Became the Emperor’s Consort? This Isn’t How the Plot Goes!

Two male leads! Two male leads! Two male leads!!!

Qin Shi (tsundere wolf-dog gong) x Jian Huai (scheming fox shou) | Both each other’s first and only love | Shou’s POV

A powerful duo | (Fake) enemies to lovers | Court intrigue | Deeply devoted imperial couple | Heavy fictional worldbuilding | Alternate ancient setting

Everyone at court knows that the Third Prince, Qin Shi, and the Right Chancellor, Jian Huai, are mortal enemies who can’t stand to be in the same room. Whenever they meet at court, they trade barbs and sparks fly, each wishing they could nail the other to the pillar of shame as either a “treacherous minister” or a “brute.”

Who would have thought that after lying low for three years, this “feuding pair” would join forces to topple the treasonous Crown Prince? Once the dust settles, the ministers have barely breathed a sigh of relief when they hear even more explosive news:

“What? His Majesty and the Right Chancellor are… getting married?!”

The ministers, eyes bulging in shock: “Your Majesty, please think twice! Our ancestral laws have never allowed a man to be empress!”

Qin Shi, his fingers tapping the hilt of his sword as a cold glint flashes: “Hmm? My ministers… what did you just say?”

The ministers instantly drop to their knees: “…We… wish the Emperor and Empress a harmonious union and everlasting blessings!” (Thinking to themselves: His Majesty will come to his senses eventually… right?)

The next day’s palace headlines:

For some reason, the new Empress has shut the new Emperor out of his bedchamber. The Son of Heaven himself… kneels on the steps for ages before he’s finally allowed inside.

The ministers, collectively petrified: …Why isn’t this going the way we expected?!

(Note: This is the author’s first attempt at this kind of story. Any similarities are purely coincidental. Please be patient if the writing isn’t great. I don’t accept writing advice. If you curse me, may you get a baked bun. The author is fragile, so if you don’t like it, please don’t be mean!)