The Marquis's Substitute Bride

[Starting this after finishing AA] The young lady of the Marquis of Dingbei's household was named empress by imperial decree from the Empress Dowager, and escorted into the palace in a grand wedding procession. Yet whenever court officials spoke of the new empress, their voices were full of regret. They were certain her days in the palace would be miserable. After all, over the matter of appointing an empress, the emperor, who had always been restrained and courteous in the two years since ascending the throne, had clashed with his ministers for the first time, then stormed out three times. Everyone said His Majesty would never favor the new empress, whose elder brother's achievements were so great they threatened the throne. Besides, rumors claimed the mighty Marquis of Dingbei had a hideous face, with blue skin and fangs. Surely his younger sister couldn't be much prettier. Who could have guessed that after the new empress entered the palace, the emperor would spend nearly every night at Fengqi Palace, and the rules of the imperial harem would gradually be broken one after another for her sake? When the Empress Dowager saw her pawn slipping out of control, she panicked and urged the ministers to remonstrate with the emperor, insisting he should share his favor among the consorts. The emperor said, "What business is it of yours if I favor my wife? I'm not like you people, who dote on concubines and neglect your wives." The ministers: ... Your Majesty, do you remember who once said he'd marry anyone but a daughter of the Marquis of Dingbei? "I had no idea Your Majesty was so unwilling to marry me back then." The emperor blinked. "I was unwilling to marry a daughter of the Marquis of Dingbei, but I never said I was unwilling to marry the marquis. You've given it too much thought." The Marquis of Dingbei chuckled softly. For the first time in his life, he was grateful to the woman in Taici Palace. Without the Empress Dowager, he and Shaoheng might have spent their lives gazing at each other from afar. In that case, he ought to send another offering of spirit money to Taici Palace this year. When the imperial decree arrived at the Marquis of Dingbei's residence, the marquis's younger sister wept as if her heart would break. The marquis rubbed his brow. "Stop crying." The young lady, who had revered and feared her elder brother since childhood, dared not cry anymore. Sobbing between hiccups, she said timidly, "E-Elder Brother, I don't want to be empress. There's someone I like." Then she gathered her courage and added, "Besides, I heard the emperor is frail and unfaithful..." "Watch your words." The marquis glanced at his sister. "The emperor is not like that." The young lady pouted. "But I heard the emperor is making me enter the palace so he can use me as a hostage and seize your military power." The marquis froze, then smiled faintly. "If he wanted my military power, I would offer it to him with both hands. Why would he need to do this?" The young lady stared, dumbstruck. Her elder brother had smiled! His smile was so handsome. The Marquis of Dingbei accepted the imperial decree and entered the palace as a bride in his younger sister's name. The few people who knew the truth were all astonished, thinking that the marquis truly had a soft heart beneath his cold exterior, and was willing to endure humiliation for his sister's sake. Only the Marquis of Dingbei knew the truth: this grand wedding procession was the youthful love he had cherished, and the love he had yearned for in vain over the following decade and more. -I promise you peace throughout the land. -You promise me a flourishing realm. * Zhao Chen (the emperor) x Wei Jin (the Marquis of Dingbei) * Mutual pining, childhood friends, two powerful leads, joining forces in palace and court intrigue. * The leads belong only to each other, and the harem is just for show. * Cross-dressing, palace intrigue, and secret identities. * Completely fictional setting. Please don't nitpick historical details. Theme: Govern diligently, and bring peace and prosperity to the realm.