Gu Huan is a little eunuch, sickly for as long as anyone can remember. His saving graces are his good looks, pale skin, fine brows, red lips, and pearly teeth, along with a powerful godfather who has him covered.
So he lives a fairly comfortable life in the palace, waiting for his godfather to grow old so he can care for him until the end.
Then the new emperor ascends the throne, his godfather falls from power overnight, and Gu Huan's good days are over too.
A eunuch without power is lower than a stray dog.
Once, everyone respectfully called him Little Eunuch Huan. Now, they curse him as a filthy castrated dog.
Gu Huan hits one dead end after another. By the time his godfather dies an unceremonious death, he cannot even see him one last time.
At his lowest point, he recalls what his godfather told him on his deathbed.
“Eunuchs in this palace, if you want to climb all the way to the top, you need to find a patron.
And if you want to stand firm and stay there, you need a patron who is powerful and influential.”
So Gu Huan slowly raises his head. His gaze passes over the many palace halls and lands on the supreme new emperor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Gu Huan would rather have nothing than settle for anything less than the best.
*
Years after the new emperor's accession, the imperial harem remains empty.
Memorials urging him to select consorts pile up like snowflakes before the imperial desk, but the emperor does not even read them. He simply has them thrown out.
The one who throws them out is Gu Huan.
The court officials join together to denounce Gu Huan, accusing the castrated dog of disrupting the court and abusing his power.
At the time, Gu Huan is barefoot, his snow-white feet stepping over a floor strewn with memorials.
He boldly slips his feet into the emperor's arms and claims his embrace.
The red-lipped, pearly-toothed eunuch smiles and says, “Your Majesty, if they insult me, they insult you. Under the law of the land, what is the punishment for offending the emperor?”
Those who insult him have their tongues cut out, then are dismissed from office and exiled.
Later, Gu Huan goes from a castrated dog reviled by all to the new emperor's most favored subject.
He also becomes the most powerful man in the empire after the emperor, The Outcast.
Everyone in the palace fears Gu Huan.
When they see him, they respectfully greet him: “May you live a thousand years, Your Excellency.”
A gentle, beautiful, sickly little eunuch, who becomes a stunningly beautiful, sickly, unhinged one × a devoted emperor with a strong possessive streak and domineering patriarchal instincts
Blurb written 2026-09-10
P.S. The uke is beloved by all. The emperor is the seme, and everyone else who falls for the uke will spend their lives loving him in vain.
The feudal hierarchy is strict. This is not just a feel-good, sugary romance; it contains melodramatic scenes, some of which may be rather dark. Proceed with caution if that's not your thing. Wishing everyone happiness every day!
This story takes place in an alternate dynasty, inspired by historical dynasties but not an exact match. Please don't nitpick the history.
Theme: Climb step by step to the very top, second only to one and above all others