[Quietly unhinged bottom, Yuheng vs. openly unhinged top, Jiang Huaichuan]
Yuheng was born posthumously to the former dynasty's imperial family. Used by all sides since childhood, he had long grown accustomed to a life of deceit and betrayal. He had also learned to make use of everything around him, including his own life.
When he had no choice but to go to the prince's estate and become Jiang Huaichuan's lover, Yuheng casually sneered to himself at the man who was pretending to be mad.
But when he was tied to a bed in the middle of the night, he realized the man wasn't pretending. He really was insane.
From then on, the two of them matched each other madness for madness. One killed while the other set fires; one murdered his mother while the other humiliated his brother; one won over former-dynasty ministers while the other pocketed the court's wealth.
Their hearts were crawling with venomous insects, leaving no room for kindness, yet somehow they found a sliver of balance in their standoff.
If they joined forces, they would surely get what they wanted, even without giving each other their true feelings.
When the court was thrown into chaos, Yuheng had achieved his goal and was ready to flee. Then he discovered that both the prince's estate and his own life were caught in a web of schemes.
After weighing it all up, he decided this was a good chance to die in glory. But as death drew near, he suddenly found himself reluctant to go.
For all his faults and all his heartlessness, that man was the only one who had ever treated him with respect as a living person.
Yuheng only stabbed himself once.
If he survived, he would keep helping Jiang Huaichuan fight for the throne. If he died, his arrangements would still help Jiang Huaichuan take a few more steps forward, and after the dynasty changed, Yuheng could clear his name of its infamy.
It was a pretty good plan.
Everything was fine, except that he didn't want to die.
Jiang Huaichuan often lost himself staring at the frail, sickly man. No one knew that from the moment he first saw him, he had wanted to make sure the man didn't die too soon.
His Yuheng's heart was a still, lifeless pool. He regarded all things as dirt, yet had somehow kept a sliver of genuine feeling for him, a madman. How fortunate he was to receive such an honor.
[Content Warnings]
1. The bottom kills people! He kills whoever he wants, and has killed plenty. He doesn't care whether anyone lives or dies except the top. If that bothers you, please don't read the story!
2. This is not a political-strategy novel. The court-related parts are quite naive, and the story uses elements of several dynasties' systems of government. Don't overanalyze them.
3. The top is genuinely insane. He hits whoever he wants, but he doesn't kill anyone, only beats them.
4. There are misunderstandings and near-death scenes. If you don't like angst, don't read!
Theme: Live well
