My Demon

As a puppet emperor whose position is hanging by a thread,

Xiao Yan only worries about how to keep himself fed.

Until one day, he discovers a dull gemstone in an underground chamber.

Inside the gemstone is a lich from another world.

His magic is depleted and his soul is torn apart, leaving him no choice but to dwell in a soul casket.

Even so, the demonic power he occasionally displays is extraordinary.

To restore the Lich King’s strength and protect himself,

the young emperor begins searching for sources of power for the lich.

One day, the lich finally gains the ability to take human form.

Pale skin, golden eyes, and a face as cold as the peak of a snowy mountain.

The young emperor suddenly understands what it means to fall in love at first sight.

He is my demon.

Years later, the young emperor turns the tide and saves the kingdom in its hour of need.

The people submit to him, the Mandate of Heaven is his, and he deserves his throne.

Yet the emperor, who has always risen early and worked late to attend to state affairs,

hands the government over to the capable ministers who have loyally served him for years.

He spends his days taking the lich out to enjoy himself,

drinking tea, brewing wine, and climbing towers.

Riding horses, sparring with swords, and boating across lakes and seas.

Wasn’t he supposed to become a wise and enlightened ruler whose name would be remembered for a thousand autumns?

The lich gazes with displeasure at the emperor, now grown into a man.

The imposing emperor smiles as he straightens the lich’s sash,

drawing the pale, bony hand from his wide sleeve.

Holding the lich’s wrist, he says slowly, “Your life will last as long as Heaven itself, but I have only a hundred years. Every day that passes is one less day I have.”

“I can’t bear to part with you.”

That night, the lich tears open space and slays the Frost Dragon that has ravaged the frozen abyss for years.

At dawn, a new dish appears at the imperial table: meat stew prepared by the lich himself.

The lich remains as cool and detached as ever. “This is dragon heart. Eating it will strengthen your body and slow aging.”

“With me, you will have more than a hundred years.”

Emperor shou, lich gong

My new historical danmei novel, “The Lucky Minister,” is now online.

Xie Yi became emperor before he was a month old.

At twelve, he joined forces with court officials and his imperial uncle to force the Empress Dowager, who ruled from behind the curtain, to give up her power. He took the reins of government without a hitch.

At fourteen, when foreign tribes invaded, he allied with furious frontier generals to eliminate the regent, who held absolute power and wanted only to negotiate peace.

By sixteen, he was the undisputed ruler of the Nine Provinces.

The emperor ruled with a light touch, leaving others to handle the details.

As he neared thirty, Xie Yi began to feel

that life was rather dull.

After being emperor for so long, he found little enjoyment in it and no longer wanted to live.

Until one day, in the capital, he crossed paths with Xu Chun, a notorious, spoiled young heir.

The young lord of the Duke of State’s mansion, Xu Chun, was eighteen and constantly on the lookout for a male lover.

He wanted someone a little older, someone considerate.

Someone handsome, of course.

And someone good in bed: the first time had to start off well, since getting started was always the hardest part.

Only then could he enjoy all the pleasures of romance!

After searching high and low, he settled on his ninth brother, the emperor, who was traveling incognito.

The two hit it off and somehow managed to build a rather happy life together.

Until one day, Xu Chun discovered...

that the fearsome emperor, enthroned deep within the palace,

was none other than the ninth brother who read him stories and coaxed him into writing flower cards every day.

He tucked his head down, turned on his heel, and ran...

Theme: Protecting one another, companionship, and growing together.