A short-tempered, deranged beauty of an emperor x a money-loving, death-fearing top scholar who disguises herself as a man
-
Xiao Yan, the Great Qi emperor, was a tyrant notorious far and wide.
At court, he'd draw his sword and cut people down at the slightest disagreement. His consorts trembled and dared not approach him. When the border rebelled, he personally led an expedition and kicked the rebels' heads around like balls.
No one in the entire imperial palace, from top to bottom, wasn't afraid of him.
Xiao Yan was very pleased about that.
After all, not one of the officials, the beauties in his harem, or even his kind-faced empress dowager wanted him alive. He might as well cut down one more.
The year the imperial exam results were announced, the new graduates entered the palace to pay their respects.
At the time, Xiao Yan was already furious over a plague, flooding, and a border rebellion, among a pile of other messes. He casually split the imperial desk with his sword, walked down from the dais, and prepared to give the newcomers a good scare.
The officials in the hall dropped to their knees in a flurry, crying, “Please calm down, Your Majesty!” and “Spare our lives, Your Majesty!” They crowded forward to proclaim their loyalty, afraid that if they didn't kneel close enough, they wouldn't seem brave enough.
Suddenly, Xiao Yan saw the new top scholar wriggling backward in an incredibly awkward pose, trying his best to get out of his attack range.
At the same time, a voice rang out in his head.
[Wow, this guy's really touchy...]
Xiao Yan's brow twitched.
What was that?
But the voice went on.
[Don't come near me, don't come near me, don't come near me! I'm only the third-place scholar, dead last among the top three. If you're going to chop someone up, shouldn't you start with the top scholar? You in front, yes, you, top scholar. Step forward and give His Majesty a reason to cut you down, please!]
Xiao Yan: “...”
He stared expressionlessly at Shen Fenghe, who was doing her best to maintain her persona as a composed and refined young talent, and slowly narrowed his eyes.
-
From then on, Xiao Yan began paying attention to the little top scholar.
At court, the officials spoke passionately.
In his ear: [Why is court still not over? I've got a sesame bun hidden in my sleeve. It'll go cold if we don't eat soon...]
The Minister of Works reported a devastating drought and demanded that Xiao Yan issue an edict accepting blame for heaven's displeasure.
In his ear: [Looks like the dog emperor's about to go nuts again... Where are the imperial physicians?! He's clearly got raging liver fire! He should drink tea with selfheal and chrysanthemum! Why hasn't anyone made him some cooling herbal tea? What's wrong with this palace? The service is terrible!]
Xiao Yan nearly lost his composure.
Later, Shen Fenghe grew bolder and bolder, coming up with a new way to insult him every day.
So the top scholar was promoted.
The top scholar was promoted again.
The top scholar became a grand secretary!
She rocketed up the ranks, leaving the entire court in an uproar. Officials impeached Shen Fenghe, accusing her of being a treacherous sycophant who was ruining the country.
Xiao Yan burned all the impeachment memorials. Shen Fenghe knelt on the floor to thank him for his favor, while the voice in her head wailed:
[Bro, don't burn those! What if they're right?! I'm getting promoted faster than Yan Song. Isn't this exactly the story of a tyrant's lackey? Is the next step getting purged in the name of clearing the court?]
Xiao Yan finally couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing in front of a room full of eunuchs.
Later, he discovered that there was someone in this world who would rush forward with her eyes closed when he was attacked.
[I'm doing it, I'm doing it, I'm doing it! The new emperor will definitely kill me if the dog emperor dies anyway! Charge! In twenty years, I'll be a hero again... Wait, heroine... Aaaah!]
Xiao Yan cut off the assassin's head, then turned over that sentence in his mind.
Wait.
Heroine?
[Reader's guide]
★ A lighthearted, ridiculous sweet romance told through inner thoughts.
★ Get promoted, get rich, and fall in love. The heroine coasts to victory with her inner monologue.
★ The hero starts out as a genuinely deranged tyrant, but the heroine's inner thoughts eventually turn him into a lovesick fool.
Theme: Live life with optimism
