The Sinking Fish and Falling Swallow

Dual male leads: Yan Qin x Jing Yu, emperor x grand general who guards the nation (regent)

In the second year of Beiyan, warfires blazed everywhere. The western cavalry of the Western Regions pounded at the passes, and the western frontier of Yan was on the brink of collapse.

Jing Yu, courtesy name Yu Xin, was the youngest grand general ever to guard the nation of Yan. With the Abyssal Sword in hand, he defended the country's borders. Clad in black armor, he fought through a hell of blood and sand, all to protect his homeland and the “peace” promised by his sovereign.

Yet after a hard-won victory, what he found in the arms of the enemy chieftain, Helian Xiao, was a sack of military provisions embroidered with Yan's imperial dragon insignia!

The bloodstained provisions pierced Jing Yu's convictions like a poisoned dagger. They made one thing clear: the deadly threat came not only from the scimitars howling beyond the passes, but might also lurk within the towering palace walls of the imperial capital. Who was supplying the enemy with the lifeblood of Yan's soldiers?

On the Golden Throne in the imperial capital sat the young emperor, Yan Qin, courtesy name Ye Ming. He ruled with an iron fist, and his thunderous methods kept the court silent. In the eyes of the world, he was an unquestionable “tyrant.” Yet his bold reforms gave the battered kingdom of Yan a chance to recover, and he showed the common people a rare degree of benevolence.