[Softhearted goddess, perceptive childhood sweetheart x pretentious for love, masterful actor, mad emperor]
The whole realm praises Xie Heng as a ruler whose virtue is unmatched throughout history.
Only Su Ci knows he's a madman who belongs to her alone.
[Childhood]
Ten-year-old Su Ci saves Xie Heng from cruel servants who have been abusing him.
Covered in bruises, the boy presses a piece of candy into her hand. "Cici, don't be scared. It doesn't hurt."
[Now]
The new emperor, Xie Heng, is gentle and benevolent, disciplined and courteous.
He fills the palace grounds with the white tea flowers Su Ci loves, and personally sees to everything for her, caring for her in every possible way.
The ministers all say that His Majesty treats the daughter of the Su family, who once saved him, with the grace of a gentleman and deep gratitude.
Su Ci believes it too.
Until she accidentally discovers that the benevolent, filial emperor is calmly mixing poison into the Empress Dowager's medicine.
The very stepmother who once abused him.
He looks up and sees her. The darkness in his eyes has yet to fade, but he curves his lips into his usual gentle smile. "Cici, come here."
Later, her parents arrange a marriage for her.
He comes through the snow late at night, his imperial robes carrying the chill with them as he embraces her.
His voice is hoarse:
"Cici, look. Everyone who tried to lay a hand on you is right there."
Su Ci follows his gaze out the window.
At some point, someone has been tied up in the courtyard, now barely clinging to life.
The finest performance Xie Heng ever gave was pretending to be a wise ruler for Su Ci.
He builds a splendid cage and lays a gentle trap, convinced he can keep it all secret.
But he doesn't know that from the first time he lost control because of her, his beloved childhood sweetheart had already seen the madness beneath his perfect facade.
Reading guide:
1. Both leads have no prior sexual partners, 1v1, happy ending, childhood sweethearts. The male lead seems gentle but is actually a madman.
2. The female lead is the male lead's only cure and his light. A healing story, and at its heart, an incredibly sweet romance!
Theme: My childhood sweetheart is a mad emperor.
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The Immortal Realm's Heart-Demon Crusher
One Kiss to Seal Immortality
The Old Crooked Tree's Last Stand
After Losing His Job, the Demon Venerable Switched to Raising Dragons and Fawning Over the Protagonist
I Became the Top Immortal in the Realm by Being a Stand-In