The Regent Stirs Up Trouble in the Harem

[Failed attempt at writing a flirtatious couple. I'll pick this up again if inspiration strikes.] [The novel is complete and unlocked.] [Please check out my other novel, The Scheming Novel's Male Lead Was Bent by Me.] As the crown prince of his country, Qi Zhaoyuan lost his mother when he was young. His maternal family was weak, the new empress had her eyes on him, and his brothers gave him no end of trouble. He was constantly on the verge of being deposed. He started out with nothing, with only a pretty face to his name. To claim the throne, Qi Zhaoyuan set his sights on Xiao Jing, a prince of a different surname who held great power. Step one: Get Xiao Jing interested in him. Step two: Earn Xiao Jing's sympathy. Step three: Confirm that Xiao Jing loves him. Step four: Get himself into Xiao Jing's mouth. Step five: Make Xiao Jing help him seize power. Qi Zhaoyuan's plan went very smoothly, except that there was a little problem in the transition from step four to step five. Not long after they spent the night together, Xiao Jing and Qi Zhaoyuan sat together at a palace birthday banquet. Before the emperor, empress, and assembled ministers, Xiao Jing maintained a solemn expression, while beneath the table, his hand rested on Qi Zhaoyuan's thigh. Qi Zhaoyuan: "?" Qi Zhaoyuan sensed trouble. After three rounds of wine, he made an excuse to leave. But halfway there, a tall figure cornered him behind a rockery and kissed him softly. In a husky voice, he asked, "Would Your Highness like this humble minister to help you ascend the throne?" Qi Zhaoyuan: "?" Which step of the plan had gone wrong? A seemingly gentle, ambitious crown prince x a ruthless regent who throws the court into chaos #A little sweet treat between two ruthless men# Possible content warnings: 1. The author is illiterate. All the worldbuilding comes from the author's pothos. 2. Sometimes the spider plant and the little rose join in the discussions. 3. The author and all the plants at home are hopeless romantics. The leads will have to work out their love life themselves. orz 4. The pothos says plants lose their leaves when people insult them. [Coming soon in my column: The Scheming Novel's Male Lead Was Bent by Me] Synopsis: Shen He hadn't even found a boyfriend when he transmigrated into a novel about a male lead's rise through political intrigue, becoming the ultimate cannon fodder. The male lead had raised this character himself, trusted him, and trained him to be his most important minister. But the character betrayed him, and the male lead eventually had him torn apart by chariots. Shen He: *trembling.jpg* He didn't dare become a powerful minister, and he wouldn't know how anyway. He just wanted to cling to the male lead's coattails, throw his weight around with the male lead backing him, and maybe find a handsome boyfriend one day. Shen He got to work diligently on clinging to those coattails. When he learned to talk, the first words out of his mouth were "Big Brother Crown Prince." When he learned to walk, the first person he ran to was Big Brother Crown Prince. When he learned to write, the first name he wrote was, once again, Big Brother Crown Prince. He kept at it for over a decade and became a veteran employee. All in all, he was pretty happy with the job. The benefits were excellent, and he only had one person to work for. When the male lead was busy, Shen He could throw his weight around wherever he pleased, relying on the male lead's influence to become the scourge of the capital. Once he turned twenty, he could retire with honors, take a fortune in gold and silver, and enjoy his golden years! He'd already picked the place: Jiangnan! He'd heard its beautiful scenery was good for the health, and he was sure he could find a gorgeous boyfriend there! * Shen He waited day and night for the male lead to get rid of every obstacle and ascend the throne, becoming the most powerful person in the world. Shen He was thrilled. "I'm retired! Woohoo!" That night, he packed his belongings, exchanged his savings for bank notes, and contacted his good friend to set off for Jiangnan together. His friend didn't show up. The male lead did. The male lead gripped Shen He's chin, his tone dangerous. "Hehe, I hear you want to buy a house in Jiangnan and settle down, and find yourself a handsome young man for a wife?" Shen He stammered, "C-can't I find a man?" The male lead smiled. "Of course. Find your big brother, and Big Brother Crown Prince will make you empress." #I just want to slack off, but he wants me to be empress# #Do I look like the kind of capital-city bully who can rule the empire as empress?# Theme: Moderation is key.