Yun Shao is slender and lovely, with a beauty that stirs the heart. Her family gives her to Prince Chu as a concubine to curry favor with him.
Prince Chu is cruel and has countless ways of tormenting people. Terrified, Yun Shao flees in panic. Soldiers from the prince's residence chase after her, and in her frantic escape, she crashes into a broad chest.
The courtyard falls abruptly silent. The vicious soldiers tremble and kneel all around her. Even Prince Chu, who hurries over at the commotion, lowers his head and dares not speak.
Yun Shao looks up in alarm. The man wears a brocade robe, but a hornless dragon is carved into his crown. He is dignified and noble, with an imposing presence even when he is not angry.
The current emperor is even more cruel and ruthless than Prince Chu.
Everyone thinks Yun Shao has offended the emperor and is unlikely to get away with it. After the emperor takes her to the palace, Prince Chu waits to collect her corpse.
But as he waits, no body arrives. Instead, word comes that the emperor favors Yun Shao night after night and intends to make her empress.
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Yan Xi has been on the throne for years. He is violent and bloodthirsty, yet uniquely gentle and indulgent toward the young girl he raised by his side.
At first, he took Yun Shao in because she was young and frail and he feared others would bully her. But as he raised her, he found he could no longer bear to be without her.
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The emperor is diligent in his duties and has never missed court. Yet one day, he breaks with custom and does not rise. When an attendant enters his bedchamber, he sees this:
The hibiscus curtains are warm, a beauty weeps softly, and tears fall in quick succession.
The ever-majestic emperor bends down to carefully kiss away Yun Shao's tears, gathers her into his arms, and gently coaxes her: "Don't cry. I'll let you have your way with me."
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The male lead is twenty years older than the female lead. At first, he is obsessed with his work and has no feelings. He only has a son to inherit the throne. Once he meets the female lead, he will never have another woman.
Theme: Love.
