⚠️ Important warning: This novel features male pregnancy. This is a clear content warning. If this isn't for you, please don't read!
The worldbuilding is entirely the author's own, and pregnancy takes up half the novel. Please don't read if you can't accept this premise. Let's respect one another and read with courtesy.
[Two male leads, historical, evenly matched, reunited after a breakup, HE]
[In the Imperial Study]
Xie Yanyao: "Your Majesty."
Yu Yanci: "I... I knew you'd come. These past few days, I was taking a gamble, and it seems I won."
Xie Yanyao: "So what now, Your Majesty? Are you really going to kill me?"
[Beneath the gates of the capital, Xie Yanyao shields the emperor's coffin]
Chancellor (a man of Wei Zhongze): "Your Highness, we must personally take His Majesty back, or at least inspect the coffin."
Xie Yanyao: "His Majesty died in battle, a most tragic death. Does the Chancellor still intend to disturb his rest?"
Chancellor: "It seems Your Highness refuses to agree."
Xie Yanyao draws his dagger and presses it to the Chancellor's neck. "I refuse!"
Chancellor: "How dare you! If Your Highness insists on standing in our way, don't blame me..."
Xie Yanyao's gaze turns even more severe. "What can you do? I don't believe you'd dare defy all under heaven and force the emperor's widower to his death in broad daylight!"
He turns the dagger around and presses it to his own neck. "I advise you not to provoke me. His Majesty has died in battle. As his wife and the Empress of Great Yu, what have I to fear from death?"
The blade presses in, and blood seeps from Xie Yanyao's neck. The Chancellor doesn't dare stop him and has no choice but to let him into the city.
As they pass each other, Xie Yanyao's gaze is as dark as if steeped in poison.
Only after the Chancellor and his men leave does Xie Yanyao lower his hand. Tears spill down his face. "Back to the palace!"
Yu Yanci (gong) x Xie Yanyao (shou)
Long-planning, lovesick and obsessive emperor gong x restrained, composed minister shou
Theme: A promise between ruler and subject becomes a lifetime spent by each other's side.
