I Traded the Empire for a Lantern

A paranoid, ruthless seme who was forced to endure persecution fantasies * a healing, resilient beauty of a uke who loves to talk dirty.

Crown Prince * top scholar. The uke is a guiding light in the seme's path to becoming a ruler, and the seme spends his whole life learning how to be bad from him.

Older seme, happy ending. Synopsis archived on 2022/3/14

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That year, the realm was in turmoil, and the Crown Prince was young and vulnerable.

When the powerful abandoned him as soon as his family fell, it was the top scholar, who had earned his title through the imperial examination, who helped him back to his feet.

He urged him to brave the storms, taught him to cut off his own escape routes, and lured him into hiding his plans.

The Crown Prince learned all the wrong lessons.

Years after they parted, the Eastern Palace regained control of the situation.

The Crown Prince had risen to the highest position in the realm. He was ruthless and impossible to read, and everyone feared him.

When Xie Mingzhi returned to Chang'an, everyone said he had been a dubious ally back then, and that the Crown Prince would surely want him dead.

When they met again, the Crown Prince was indeed red-eyed with rage. He hauled Xie Mingzhi over and interrogated him harshly.

"You swore you'd stay by my side and help me, then ran off the very next day!"

"And when you ran, you stole gold, silver, and valuables from all the imperial princes."

"Over the years, you returned everything to everyone else, but you still haven't returned mine!"

"What are you planning to do with my private belongings? Speak!"

The Crown Prince glared furiously and dragged him close.

"Mingzhi, what exactly did you steal my... underwear for?!"

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The uke seems pure and refined on the surface, but in reality he gets outrageously naughty. The seme can do nothing about it except try to keep up.

A little political scheming and a sweet treat. This isn't a serious story, just have fun with it~

Theme: Through wind, frost, rain, and snow, do not let the dust stain you