The public-facing setup:
At seventeen, Xiao Chen takes the throne in his own right. His very first secret decree summons his "frail beauty" of a cousin from the borderlands back to the capital.
Everyone at court knows that General Gu Qingyan is peerlessly beautiful but sickly and frail, a perfect pawn.
The emperor personally lays a trap, disguising himself as an admirer to marry into the general's household.
He intends to bring this beauty under his control, but gradually becomes captivated by his gentle eyes.
Until the night of the palace coup
Assassins spill blood across the courtyard, and Xiao Chen instinctively shields Gu Qingyan behind him.
But then he sees his "fragile, helpless" empress pluck a plum branch and unleash a sword flash like cascading moonlight.
In an instant, every assassin lies on the ground.
Gu Qingyan wipes the blood from his fingertips and looks back with a smile:
"Your Majesty."
"So, who is protecting whom now?"
The truth comes to light:
· The so-called "frail beauty" is a borderland death god who frightens small children into silence.
· The supposed "imperial scheming" was seen through from the very first meeting.
· The emperor who thought he was "controlling the game" is the one who has stepped into a gentle trap at every turn.
Xiao Chen grits his teeth. "You deceived me."
Gu Qingyan draws him into his arms and kisses the reddened corner of the emperor's eye.
"Your Majesty deceived me first."
"But now, "
"I want more than the empress's seat. I want a permanent place at Your Majesty's side in bed."
Theme: The master of the game falls into a tender snare; the one who moves the pieces becomes a pawn in the game.
