In his previous life, Ye Weixing was the most dazzling prince of the Qi Kingdom, the nation’s one and only beloved darling. But when reinforcements never arrived, he fought until his strength gave out and died on the battlefield.
When he opened his eyes again, he was reborn as a sickly young man from an enemy kingdom, rejected by his own family.
After surviving a brush with death, the sickly young man seemed like a completely different person and turned the household upside down.
The eldest was thrown into prison, the second reaped what he had sown, and the third was left with both legs crippled.
His father decided that if he didn’t send Ye Weixing away soon, he might lose his own life too.
So a beautiful invalid arrived at the scholars’ academy, as still as a delicate flower and as graceful as a willow. On his very first day, he caused a sensation in the capital by beating up its notorious young bully.
Who would have thought that one slap would turn the bully into a hopeless romantic?
Rong Xu had lorded it over the capital since childhood. Even passing dogs got kicked by him. His family had been gentle, courteous, modest, and yielding for three generations, and then there was him, a complete menace.
Yet the menace was also gifted in every skill, with extraordinary talent. He was already conquering cities in his youth.
His father feared he’d keep fighting until he could crown himself king and unite the land, so he sent him back to the capital to continue being a menace.
That night, an old servant saw him sitting in the courtyard, holding his cheek with a handprint on it. The servant sighed, “Oh dear, someone else is in for trouble.”
He didn’t know Rong Xu could think of nothing but that pale wrist and the face with its reddened eyes when Ye Weixing was angry. He kept turning the same thought over in his mind: How can he even look so beautiful when he hits someone? My face is so tough, I wonder if his hand hurts.
Wanting to cater to Ye Weixing’s tastes, he asked what he liked.
Ye Weixing had uncovered the truth about his death in his previous life, and it was only right for him to reclaim everything that belonged to him. So he replied, “Ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains.”
The next day, a swift horse carried a secret letter to the border. The old marquis unfolded it and saw bold, flamboyant handwriting:
“Father, I’m going to rebel.”
The old marquis spat tea all over the wall and rode several horses to death on his overnight trip back to the capital, only to discover that what was happening was even more shocking than a rebellion.
He saw with his own eyes that the menace who dared kick the crown prince in front of the emperor would put his hands behind his back and smile at Ye Weixing at the slightest cough from him.
“I didn’t cause any trouble.”
Then he turned and took Ye Weixing’s hand, looking worried. “Why are you coughing again? Why are your hands so cold...”
The old marquis: ...
Fortunately, all Ye Weixing wanted was the Qi Kingdom.
On a diplomatic visit to the Qi Kingdom, the court was solemn with music and ritual. The young Grand Tutor stood at the head of the officials, speaking eloquently, but the instant he looked up and saw Ye Weixing, his voice suddenly failed. Through the shadows of pearl curtains across the hall, the man staggered forward, made his way through the envoys, and asked in a trembling voice, “...Your Highness?”
The ruler stared in astonishment, rising so abruptly that he tipped the table. A wine cup toppled over, but he didn’t even notice. “...You’re still alive.”
Ye Weixing cupped his hands in greeting. “It’s been many years, Imperial Brother.”
Ten years of snow and wind had stood between them, along with a kingdom and a dream from long ago.
Later, the old marquis found his menace seriously poring over books. He leaned over, frowning at the title:
How to Be a Proper Empress.
Reading Guide:
Hopeless romantic / maxed-out talents / spirited and confident / fears nothing but his wife / demon king top x sickly and frail / brilliant and gifted / the enemy kingdom’s late beloved darling / beautiful bottom
Both are strong, one-on-one, happy ending
Revenge after being reborn. Not traditional court intrigue. The bottom looks the same before and after being reborn.
A little scene from the Rong family:
The news reached the border.
The eldest Rong brother was the first to tear up. “After all these years, someone can finally keep him in line.”
When the second brother heard that Ye Weixing was in poor health, he quietly set up a longevity tablet for him.
The third brother immediately wrote to the entire clan: “Good news! We won’t have to take the long way around anymore.”
To the whole Rong family, Ye Weixing’s arrival was a ray of light, illuminating the years Rong Xu had made dark and miserable.
He was practically a guardian talisman, an anchor, a living bodhisattva.
Blurb recorded on August 5, 2026
Theme: Life’s meaning lies not in the past, but in the present.
