[I've changed my mind. I think I'll write this one. I'm working on the draft and will start posting once it's finished. If you like melodramatic harem stories with a beloved shou, come follow along qaq]
Shen Lian entered a Taoist sect at the age of seven, but he was slow-witted. Even more than ten years later, when his old immortal master ascended, Shen Lian was still just an ordinary mortal.
The old immortal master pitied his disciple, who would be left without protection, and couldn't bear to let him be ridiculed in the sect. He left him a token and told him to seek out his senior brother, who had entered the secular world years earlier to become an official.
Shen Lian traveled through hardship and searched in the capital for a long time, until at last he found the man: Xiao Han, the current emperor.
Beneath a warm, fragrant canopy of red gauze, the young emperor expressionlessly lifted the beauty's chin and examined him closely with a sneer. "A common mortal, but with a rare bit of beauty. Make him a consort."
Shen Lian had heard that Xiao Han was a tyrant, but he didn't know what that meant. He only saw Xiao Han sitting high upon the dragon throne, issuing a few words: remonstrating officials were demoted, rebels executed, and blood flowed beneath the palace steps every day.
Xiao Han crooked a finger and drew his little demon consort into his arms. Pointing at the officials below, who were trembling like leaves, he said, "Lian'er, who called you a monster? Point them out to me."
The young consort Shen was badly frightened. From then on, he served the emperor with even greater caution, gentle and obedient, accepting everything without complaint, like an exquisite doll at the emperor's mercy on the dragon bed.
Grievances spread throughout the court, and Xiao Han lost all popular support. The powerful clans no longer stood by him, and everyone under heaven believed that the young consort Shen was the only person in the world who truly loved the emperor.
After all, Xiao Han had built grand palaces for him and sought immortality through rituals, treating his subjects like fish to be carved up.
The night before the palace coup, he gripped Shen Lian's hand tightly. The youth bent down and kissed away his tears. Then a dagger flashed coldly against the emperor's neck.
"Those who betray their sect deserve to die. Xiao Wu Ming, your time is up."
Xiao Han looked grief-stricken. "I don't believe you don't love me."
He died by the hand of his beloved consort, watching with his own eyes as another person emerged from behind him.
Shen Lian asked innocently, "If I kill him, will he become an immortal? I love him very much. I hope I can see him again."
The other person smiled faintly. "You will."
The gong will come back to life. The plot just kills him for a bit.
There are supporting-character gongs. The story has an NP phase, but ends 1v1. The moody, unpredictable tyrant Xiao Han x the naturally dark Shen Lian, sweet-spoken but treacherous at heart.
Writing this blurb was difficult. The main text will give you a better idea.
An alternate world loosely inspired by the Northern and Southern Dynasties. All plot and worldbuilding serve the characters.
Theme: Judge others by yourself
