After My Whole Family Was Executed, the Mad Hostage Offered Me the Empire as His Bride Price

A restrained, devoted, decisive Lord of the Northern Frontier × The gentle, resilient, beautiful yet tragic legitimate son of a marquis

Shen Qingyan, the most distinguished young lord of the Great Jing's foremost aristocratic family, was refined, dignified, and extraordinarily talented.

Xiao Jue, a wolf cub sent from the Northern Frontier as a hostage, was cold, proud, and always plotting several moves ahead.

A watch disguised as a “study companion” brought their hearts together amid the cold, dark nights of the imperial palace.

Shen Qingyan believed they could wait for peace to return and go to the waterways of Jiangnan to watch falling blossoms together.

But what came instead was coercion by the imperial throne, the confiscation of the entire marquis household, and the blood of his loved ones staining the palace steps.

In the Golden Throne Hall, the young man who had once kissed away his tears beneath the palace walls coldly drove his sword into Shen Qingyan's shoulder blade.

“I never loved you. I was only using you.”

In an instant, Shen Qingyan fell from the heights to the depths. Thrown into the death cell, he lost his pride, his legs, and half his life to wandering.

Years later, the Northern Frontier's iron cavalry broke through the capital of Great Jing, and flames of war engulfed the land.

The new emperor, Xiao Jue, stood at the city's gates, surrounded by the carnage of war. Yet his bloodshot eyes could see only the frail figure swaying atop the ramparts.

He cast aside the dignity of an emperor. His voice hoarse, almost pleading, he said, “Those who surrender will be spared. The only one who can live is the legitimate son of the Jing'an Marquis. Qingyan, I came to beg you to be my empress.”

[The beginning is a little angsty. If that's not your thing, proceed with caution.]