A Treacherous Minister, but My Husband Is the Tyrant Emperor

Brooding, domineering, old-fashioned top x cheerful, sunny playboy bottom

In the first year of the Qianqing era, the new emperor, Qi Xuan, bestowed the title of Marquis of Zhenyuan upon General Zhou Fangqi. With a hundred thousand elite troops at his command, Zhou Fangqi was suddenly at the height of his power.

In the third year of the Qianqing era, Zhou Fangqi grew too powerful and plotted a rebellion.

That night, the emperor set a banquet trap and summoned Zhou Fangqi to the palace. Who could have guessed that after half a cup of wine, the general would put an arm around Qi Xuan's waist and coquettishly say in front of everyone, "Honey, it's time for bed."

Qi Xuan, who was just about to force poisoned wine down Zhou Fangqi's throat: ?

*

Zhou Fangqi was born into a wealthy family and spoiled rotten from childhood. After he married, he had a fabulously rich husband who doted on him, too.

Everyone praised his good fortune: even in a poor neighborhood, he had managed to find himself a golden phoenix for a husband. Zhou Fangqi, however, thought nothing of it. After all, he had money and excellent taste.

But then an accident took his fabulously rich husband from the world, and the family business began to decline.

Who would have thought that when he opened his eyes, his husband would be alive again!

And now he was the emperor, with the power of life and death in his hands.

Overjoyed, Zhou Fangqi grabbed his husband, too excited to speak coherently. But the man who had once wanted nothing more than to hold him in the palm of his hand stared at him with an utterly unfamiliar expression.

Zhou Fangqi's heart sank. He sniffled, then flung Qi Xuan's hand away and said something astonishing: "You sweet-talk me in bed, promising to treat me well for all eternity, then pull up your pants and pretend you don't know me. You're a scumbag!"

The assembled ministers: ??!!

*

Once Zhou Fangqi realized that Qi Xuan really had forgotten him, he let himself go completely.

Qi Xuan used to keep him in line, so clubbing and drinking had been out of the question. Now that he was finally free, he was like a mouse let loose in a rice storehouse. He picked up all the bad habits Qi Xuan had once forced him to break, and then took them even further.

Watching the general stray farther and farther down the road to becoming a traitorous official, the assembled court ministers silently marked him as a dead man.

When news reached the palace that Zhou Fangqi had gotten drunk and flirted with the young prince for the third time, the usually inscrutable emperor snapped the brush in his hand.

The ministers standing nearby were delighted. They thought Zhou Fangqi had finally brought about his own downfall, and could hardly wait to set off firecrackers in celebration.

*

That night, the Marquis of Zhenyuan was humming a tune and strolling home with a wine jar when he was seized in the street.

By the time he was tossed onto the imperial bed, Zhou Fangqi was still drunk. He saw Qi Xuan, his face dark, taking off his clothes.

Zhou Fangqi chuckled, put an arm around the emperor's face, and gave him a loud kiss. "Are you new here? Do a good job and I'll make sure you get a generous reward."

The next day, Zhou Fangqi climbed out of the imperial bed, rubbing his waist and grumbling. He had barely gotten away when someone grabbed his ankle and dragged him back.

"Your Majesty's loyal subject, when will you give me the reward you promised last night?"

Zhou Fangqi: ...

*

The ministers, who had been eagerly waiting for Zhou Fangqi to lose his head, never missed morning court. They were afraid they might miss the spectacle of his downfall.

But why was everything getting stranger?

Why had the emperor given Zhou Fangqi a chair when he saw him groaning and barely able to stand? And why had he even carried Zhou Fangqi back to his chambers after court?

The ministers were left reeling. Meanwhile, Zhou Fangqi, in Qi Xuan's arms, wore a troubled expression and struggled irritably. "Your arms are so hard. They're digging into me."

Qi Xuan, whose memories had returned: "Hang on a little longer, darling. We'll be there soon."

Theme: Live life with determination.