Scheming, laid-back prince gong x ruthless, cold eunuch shou
The Shen imperial house had fallen into decline, and the empress dowager held all the power in the inner palace.
Shen Zizhen was a prince in name, but little more than a mascot in practice. He'd learned early how to stay alive:
As long as he was useless enough, the empress dowager wouldn't remember to depose him.
So when the other princes staged a coup, he lay low.
When the other princes plotted to seize power, he lay low.
When the other princes courted allies at court, he lay low with the great beauty sent by the empress dowager.
And so Shen Zizhen became the old emperor's only surviving heir, and was immediately elevated to the throne.
Looking back at his successful, laid-back life, Shen Zizhen felt that things had gone rather well. His only regret was that the great beauty sent by the empress dowager had disappeared without a word after a night together. The beauty had been perfect in every way, but he hadn't even gotten a good look at his face.
Until the day of his coronation, when Shen Zizhen saw the empress dowager's most trusted aide standing at the head of the assembled officials.
He was the all-powerful, ruthless, and terrifying director of the Eastern Depot: He Chen.
Shen Zizhen thought he looked a little familiar, so he tried to strike up a conversation. "Why are you always looking at me sideways, Director?"
Palace attendant (whispering): "Your Majesty, could it be that Director He is actually glaring at you?"
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Everyone knew that He Chen, the eunuch director of the Eastern Depot, was as strikingly handsome as he was cruel.
Every official at court wanted to follow him and curry favor with the empress dowager, hoping to claim a share of the power.
But no one expected that even the empress dowager's attack dog would one day betray its master, personally helping the useless young emperor of the Shen family secure his throne.
The mood at court changed overnight. The old ministers who held grudges against He Chen abused their seniority and rushed forward to impeach him.
Officials: Your Majesty, this treacherous minister is wreaking havoc at court. He must be removed!
Shen Zizhen: Ah, yes, yes.
Officials: Your Majesty, He Chen has acted above his station. He is a traitor!
Shen Zizhen: Ah, right, right.
Officials: Your Majesty, please issue an order to eliminate this villain!
Shen Zizhen: Next time, for sure.
* One-on-one, happy ending, gong's point of view, equally matched leads
* An imaginary dynasty, very imaginary, with schemes and investigations at kindergarten level
* A silly story with no logic
Theme: Live optimistically, and be content with what you have
