Playing the Tyrant's Second Male Lead in an Old-School Novel

A sickly, spoiled tyrant x an aloof, high-ranking official

*

Wuchan transmigrated into an old-school palace-intrigue tragedy.

The good news: The original owner had a terrible temper, but luckily she was the emperor. She could kill whenever she felt like it, her moods unpredictable, so she didn’t have to fight for power in the harem, and no one dared question her.

The bad news: This was a classic tyrant second male lead. Forced to pretend to be a man since childhood, the original owner became psychologically twisted, seized the male lead’s beloved and took him as a consort, then was beheaded by the male lead, Qi Xuan, after he endured it for years and launched a rebellion.

And the moment she attended court, she met Qi Xuan’s eyes, three parts cold and fierce, seven parts restrained. She knew he harbored a grudge over losing his beloved and had been plotting for years, waiting to overthrow her, the tyrant, in a few years’ time.

Wuchan: I may be moody, but I doubt I’m as unpredictable as this tyrant.

She immediately slapped the armrest of the dragon throne. "Guards, seize this traitor!"

Qi Xuan’s expression changed drastically. The court officials trembled, none daring to speak. Only one person stepped forward to object. "Your Majesty, humiliating a meritorious official without cause is improper."

Wuchan was about to fly into a rage when she looked up and suddenly came face-to-face with a stunning beauty.

Elegant and graceful, as clear and pure as jade, the saintly figure from the original story, Shen Tingwu.

*

Gao Yizhi came from a prominent family and had been friends with Shen Tingwu for years. They both deeply detested the incompetence of the current regime, believing the emperor’s court to be full of sycophants, flatterers, and groveling lackeys.

But at some point, he noticed that his friend was visiting the imperial palace more and more often.

Then, for no apparent reason, Shen Tingwu set himself against the military Qi family, going so far as to endure repeated assassination attempts and insist on uprooting the entire clan.

One day after court, the contemptible emperor walked barefoot out of the hall, without a shred of decorum. Her pale face was expressionless, and her dark eyes fixed coldly on Shen Tingwu.

Gao Yizhi was indignant. He was about to stand with his friend and denounce the tyrant’s cruelty to her face.

But then he saw Shen Tingwu walk straight over, lift his robe, and kneel before the tyrant. He took a pair of shoes from his clothes and said gently, "Your Majesty, it is bitterly cold. Even if you have come to see me, please take care of your health."

Gao Yizhi: ?

Sycophants, flatterers, groveling lackeys... What a disgrace!

(The female lead is probably meant to be a genuinely moody, cold-faced cat. I just want to write a story about a girl tyrant.)

Blurb dated April 11, 2026

Theme: I can’t think of one.