Snow Buries the Vermilion Tower, Surrounded by Wolves

(Historical Fantasy / Two Male Leads / Political Intrigue / Love Rival Showdown / Strong Leads / Playing the Fool to Fool the Enemy / Wish Fulfillment)

Shen Anyan, a young master from a fallen aristocratic family, is devastatingly beautiful, but has a reputation for being a womanizer.

The power of the Imperial Guard's commander, the might of the Northern Frontier's military lord, the wealth of the underworld's kingpin, and the medicine of the Imperial Physician's genius doctor.

He thinks he is the one pulling the strings, treating everyone else as a chess piece.

Until a fifth person barges headlong into his game, and the whole love-rival showdown goes disastrously off the rails...

Four people demand at once, "Who are you going to choose?"

Shen Anyan smiles. "I'm choosing none of you. I want this entire realm for myself."

Only later do they realize he was never a canary in a gilded cage, but an eagle wearing a canary's feathers.