Blurb:
Yan Yan's streaming career has hit a rough patch lately.
Nobody watches when he plays shooters, and nobody gives him likes when he plays Honor of Kings. Then he opens the harem promotion game Record of Deep Palace Turmoil...
Comments: Is the streamer going to wear a skirt?
No way! He's here to build an empire for his precious son.
But here's the problem:
Why is this lousy game so weird about how you earn influence points?!
The prince invites him to drink under the moon?
"Two grown men being so mushy is embarrassing!"
But that's a hundred influence points... Fine, let's do it!
The general wants to spar with him and pin him to the ground?
"Get up before you talk to me!"
But if he wins, the general will give his son rare armor... Come on, pin me down!
The imperial physician personally feeds him medicine?
"I'm not sick!"
But once he drinks it, his son's intelligence goes up by 99... Open wide, good boy. Ah!
The Crown Prince gives him a jade token as a love keepsake?
"I've got nowhere to put it!"
But the jade can be pawned for provisions... I'll tuck it away. Crown Prince, brother, give me a few more!
He keeps grinding away while complaining, and his son becomes a well-rounded talent, with his influence steadily through the roof.
Then the foolish emperor listens to slander and actually wants to punish him! He calls him a treacherous beauty who's bringing ruin to the kingdom!
Yan Yan: "Wait! My son is about to become the Crown..."
Before he can finish, the prince surrounds the Golden Throne Hall with troops, the general kicks the imperial guards aside, the Crown Prince threatens to take his own life, and even the imperial physician pulls out a fake-death drug... The entire court descends into chaos over him!
The furious emperor shrieks: "You... What exactly is your relationship with him?!"
Everyone turns their burning gazes on Yan Yan. "Who will you choose?"
Without hesitation, he declares with conviction: "I choose my son as Crown Prince! I want to be the Empress Dowager!"
The whole scene turns awkward.
Emperor: ...I'm still on the throne, you know.
The comments burst into laughter:
[He really wants to be the Empress Dowager! He didn't even ask why everyone's helping him!]
[Does he know this is a dating game? He's raised everyone's affection to 99 and above.]
[Hahahahahaha, it's so entertaining watching a straight guy play a palace intrigue game. All he wants is to be the Empress Dowager.]
*
[Bonus Scene]
Timeline: Three days after the new emperor ascends the throne.
The new emperor pays his respects to the Empress Dowager.
[Empress Dowager: Your filial devotion pleases me.]
[Emperor: Filial devotion?]
Yan Yan hasn't even processed what is happening when the emperor in the game continues:
[All those years, watching Mother deal with all those men for my sake...]
[The emperor takes the Empress Dowager's wrist: Even then, I thought that once I grew up and took control of the court, I would make sure Mother looked at no one but me.]
The Empress Dowager pulls free, flies into a rage, and slaps him.
[Empress Dowager: You unfilial son! What nonsense are you spouting? I'm your mother!]
[The emperor rubs his cheek, his smile deepening: Mother, you hit me well.]
[But you ought to understand that in this deep palace, if I want something, I will have it.]
[Even if it's you.]
Theme: Hardship and adversity forge success.
