[A Give-Up-and-See-What-Happens Palace Maid and an Unfeeling Emperor]
The current emperor, Jiang Xian, holds absolute power over life and death.
In recent years, however, he's been plagued by nightmares and insomnia.
Then a foolish woman appeared in his dreams and died three times in a row. He sneered inwardly and watched with folded arms. He never expected her to barge into his dream and demand answers.
His expression turned displeased, yet he sensed his heart ailment easing. He held his temper and tested her.
The beautiful young woman in his dreams grew bolder by the day.
At first she was afraid of him. Then she lifted the beaded curtain, tugged at his sleeve, and smiled brightly at him. She even laid hands all over him, while he was unable to resist. Their physical contact grew increasingly intimate, until at last he saw her face.
When the woman's fingertips slipped open his robe and were about to touch his chest, he seized her and asked her name. Her face changed at once, as if she were facing a great enemy, and she stopped appearing in his dreams.
He sighed a little. A beauty's bones and a lamp of colored glass, it seemed, were no longer in the cards.
Jing Pianpian is a newly arrived palace maid with no connections and no money.
Even more strangely, though this is her first time entering the palace, she has died three times in a row in her dreams. What terrible luck.
After every death, she dreams of a man seated on the imperial throne behind a beaded curtain. Having died too many times, she can't hold back her complaints: Tyrant, can you even do your job? If not, I'll do it! Can't you keep your harem under control?
The man chuckles, his voice cool as jade. "Very well. Tell me your name, and I will personally come to the palace to fetch you."
Jing Pianpian is creeped out. She knows how ruthless this tyrant can be. While everyone else curries favor with the new emperor and looks for every chance to climb the social ladder, she keeps well away from him.
That is, until word reaches the new emperor that the two Jing princes have come to blows over Jing Pianpian. He looks at the two men kneeling before him, begging him to decide the matter, and at Jing Pianpian, who looks as though it has nothing to do with her.
He takes a sip of tea and says coolly, "Then I'll take her into the harem. That will settle it once and for all."
The two Jing princes: ??
When Jing Pianpian hears the terrible news, she promptly faints.
The new emperor: "Heh. There's no need to be that excited."
Her: ... I want to die.
A lighthearted, sweet little story. Comedic alternate history, no historical research. Both leads are faithful to each other.
#It'sAlwaysMeWhoDies#
#TheImperialPalaceIsReallyNoPlaceToBe#
Content warning: The male lead has a harem, but has never slept with anyone in it. Both leads are pure in body and heart; they are each other's first and only.
Theme: Have the courage to try again.
