A Vassal Who Refuses to Serve

Before Li Yin turned seven, she lived in a palace overflowing with gold and splendor.

But she, the Ninth Princess, had never known fine clothes or good food.

She was treated even worse than the pugs raised by the favored consorts.

Her father ignored her, her mother disliked her, and the childhood friend betrothed to her despised her...

Li Yin wanted to grow up quickly, reach fifteen, choose a gentle and refined prince consort, and leave the palace to build a home of her own.

That beautiful dream was shattered by the blind deity Wei Feng, who lived in the sacrificial hall.

On Li Yin's seventh birthday, Wei Feng coaxed her with a persimmon candy. "Little Persimmon, be my eyes, and I'll give you fine clothes and delicious food."

"Okay." Li Yin, hopeless as ever, licked her lips.

It wasn't a very good bargain. Li Yin not only became his eyes, she also had to grind his ink, air his books, warm his bed, and hold his qin...

Wei Feng was handsome and graceful, cloaked in the image of a noble gentleman, and the women of the imperial capital all fell for him.

Only Li Yin knew that the Wei Feng who raised her was a sly, black-hearted fox.

Wei Feng planned to overturn the Yiguang Kingdom, and Li Yin was the one he pushed onto the dragon throne.

All because that was the lifelong wish of Wei Feng's late wife.

Li Yin would never be able to make out whether the Wei Feng lying beside her pillow whispered A Yin or A Yin when passion overtook him.

[Male Lead's Perspective]

I raised a child. She was ugly, crude, foolish...

She was the most disobedient brat in the world. Her name was Li Yin.

Before I took my vows in the sacrificial hall and withdrew from the world, I had a pitiful wife who died young. She was beautiful, poised, intelligent...

She was the gentlest woman in the world. Her name was Li Yin.

I wanted A Yin to grow up like A Yin, so I taught her to read and write, play the qin, and arrange flowers...

Just as I wished, A Yin grew more and more like that woman, in both appearance and temperament.

Only her heart toward me was different.

Oh, so A Yin had no heart.

Later, she wanted to escape.

I imprisoned her with an empire, and imprisoned myself, too.

By the way, my name is Wei Feng, and I am her devoted servant.

When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away.

When the hare is dead, the hound is cooked.

I gave her an age of peace and prosperity, and placed her high upon the imperial dais, where she would be revered for generations.

When the deed was done, I withdrew from the world and offered my neck to the executioner's blade.

This gamble began with love and ended with love. In the end, I lost, utterly and completely.

I deserve ten thousand deaths for my crimes!

Today we part, and our paths lead to life and death.

May Your Majesty's glory endure for ten thousand generations! May our kingdom stand firm for all eternity!

PS: Fictional setting, with the emperor's authority granted by heaven.

[Bonus Scene]

Wei Buchen: "The gods came to me in a dream last night and rescinded the vow I made before the divine statue. They commanded me to leave the priesthood and return to the mortal world."

Li Rushi: "Leave... leave... leave the priesthood? Buchen, the gods appeared before me yesterday and told me to shave off my three thousand troubles and take my vows as a Buddhist nun."

Wei Buchen: "Become a nun? Hmph... Little Persimmon, you must have misunderstood the gods. They meant for you to get married."

Li Rushi: "Get... get... get married? Who did the gods say I should marry?"

Wei Buchen: "Buchen."

Blurb revised on December 23, 2022.

Theme: May all your wishes come true