This Is a Gentleman's Paradise [Zhao Hede]

She was a temptress.

With skin like ice and bones like jade, she existed only to beguile the emperor.

But beneath that beauty, behind her gentle smile, who could know what she thought and felt?

"Sister, you are the person I love most. The throne will be yours, and so will he, as long as you remain my sister."

"I will never forget how, when we were struggling just to survive, you gave me half a sesame flatbread, your face smeared with tears, and half a broken straw sandal. Sister, you are my only family in this world."

"Liu Ao, a ruler's heart is vast. I don't need anyone's heart. It's enough to have them dance in the palm of my hand."

"You know, a poor girl who has spent too long going hungry fears two things most: having nothing to eat and having no one love her. As a Zhaoyi, I have fine clothes and food aplenty. Now I have you and my sister, so I have nothing left to worry about."

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The female lead is Hede, and the male lead is Liu Ao. Gentle and scheming Hede × domineering, flirtatious Emperor Liu Ao × fierce and jealous Feiyan.

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A short story, complete in under 30,000 words.

Premise: Living is about living well.