After I Ascended the Throne, the Deposed Emperor Became My Devoted Servant

Three years into Meng Po's reign, she governs diligently and cares for the people, with many achievements to her name. Then, in a single night, remnants of the former dynasty kick her off the throne.

In the dead of night, Chen Sheng snaps her pipa bones and asks whether she loves him.

Meng Po is dazed and confused, and gives him a bitter smile.

Chen Sheng knows she hates him.

She rose up from among the common people, led tens of thousands of troops through three years of war, and only spared him, the former dynasty's Third Prince, because of an old promise.

For all three years, he thought constantly of how to possess her, imprison her, and make her willingly stay by his side.

Meng Po becomes his bedmate, and Chen Sheng is finally cured of his madness.

He schemes to make her carry his child for three months, only for her to abort it with a bowl of medicine. He struggles to keep hold of his power, only for her army to march south and restore her to the throne in a matter of days.

When her dagger pierces him, Chen Sheng gently licks the blood from her hand and laughs under his breath. "Don't dirty your hands."

Meng Po parts her red lips and gives him two words: "You're insane."

Later, the imperial authority is overturned and the great houses rise and fall. Chen Sheng runs to Meng Po in tears and tugs at her sleeve, asking humbly with red-rimmed eyes, "Did you ever love me?"

Meng Po says nothing and has the palace attendants send him into a pack of wolves.

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The male lead is a madman, hating and going wild for the female lead, banging his head against walls for her. The female lead is a ruthless, beautiful woman and the biggest boss in the whole story.

PS: Many of the female and male leads' everyday interactions are basically meant to mislead people. Happy ending, both are each other's first.

Upcoming novel on my author page: The Empress and Her Useless Man

Li Azheng transmigrates to ancient times and discovers that she's become the reigning empress. But her country has nothing at all. From the start, she's forced to sign a humiliating treaty with a neighboring nation, which also sends over an unwanted castoff to be her prince consort.

Looking at the ministers weeping before her, Li Azheng, who has just come back from the dead: "..."

"Your Majesty, if you die, who's going to pay back the money for our Qiong Kingdom? Waaaah~"

Li Azheng starts to worry. First, she worries she won't be able to return to the modern world. Second, she worries about her impoverished country and people who can barely make ends meet. Third, she worries about her useless prince consort.

Watching several neighboring countries reform and flourish, she changes her mind: Damn it, let's do this!

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Huo Jingchen was once the God of War of Wu. No nearby small nation could stand against his cavalry, until the ministers of Wu framed him and left him a cripple bound to a wheelchair.

Raised in the male-dominated kingdom of Wu, he is furious to hear that he's going to be "married off" to a female emperor. "A real man serves his family and country. How can I marry a woman as her wife?!"

But after he's actually "married" into Qiong Kingdom and sees the empress with his own eyes, Huo Jingchen clenches his fist and coughs twice, then pretends to be casual with his subordinate. "Ahem, this woman isn't bad."

Later, his subordinate sees him alone in the garden, plucking petals: "She loves me, she doesn't love me, she loves me, she doesn't love me..."

Subordinate: "..."

I really believed your nonsense.

Reading Notes:

A kingdom-building story, with romance woven into the plot. I'll do my best to keep it from getting dull.

The male lead is not severely disabled; his injuries will heal later.

A clingy, loyal puppy of a man with a surprising contrast x a doting, powerful, strategic woman.

The novel On a Cloud-Supported Branch is currently being serialized on my author page. If you're interested, please support it.

Theme: Fight back from the brink and bounce back after hitting rock bottom.