The new emperor ascends the throne and issues an imperial edict: Hu Rong's prospective consort is cast into prison.
Hu Rong knows her younger brother has always disliked her. Because of the conspiracy surrounding their births, Hu Rong took the place of a member of the imperial family, while Shen Ji, the true prince, spent years hidden away.
With no other choice, Hu Rong goes to plead with him.
The gloomy, handsome boy of years past now sits upon the imperial throne, dressed in black and crimson, noble and impassive. His eyes lowered, he toys with a white jade thumb ring and slowly speaks:
"This man's crimes are no small matter. Can Royal Sister bear it if I make an even more outrageous demand?"
*
Rumor has it that the eldest princess has been implicated in her prospective consort's crimes and confined to her palace, where no one is allowed to visit.
Only the emperor comes and goes, questioning her through the night and leaving her so tormented that she needs constant medicine.
The emperor is ruthless. The whole palace laments her fate, saying the eldest princess is doomed to a tragic end.
Yet one of the servants attending her closely catches sight of the emperor kneeling with his head bowed, carefully cradling her delicate foot.
*
Shen Ji was once despised and trampled like mud. Hu Rong was the light in the sky he gazed at for years, and the prey he patiently watched.
For this despicable desire, he crossed mountains of corpses and seas of blood to claim the highest throne.
In the dimly lit depths of the palace, the young emperor leans beside the eldest princess's ear and murmurs hoarsely, "Royal Sister"...
"Grant me supreme bliss, or fall with me into the Avici Hell."
A sweet-faced, dark-hearted, unhinged younger brother × a beautiful older sister, gentle on the outside and strong within
* Both are each other's first and only, happy ending
* The leads are unrelated by blood and have no relationship barred by the rites. They were switched at birth and reunited before the story begins. The heroine's name is not in the imperial register.
* Coercive possession + regret and pursuit. The male lead is an obsessive, unhinged yandere; read with care if that's not your thing.
* Set in an imaginary world; please don't nitpick historical accuracy.
* Avici is a transliteration of "Avici," referring to the Avici Hell, the lowest level of hell.
(Former titles: Broken Branches and Jade Waist Calamity. The blurb has been revised.)
(Will begin writing at the end of March. A bow of gratitude to everyone waiting. Red packets for the first three chapters.)
Theme: Goodness
