After the Pretty Good-for-Nothing Was Forced to Take the Throne

The novel is complete. Coming soon: An ABO Sweet Treat About Marriage Before Love. Please add it to your reading list. Blurb at the bottom~ In the final years of the Li Dynasty, the political situation was turbulent and treacherous. The newly appointed Prince of Pingnan, Yun Yin, was ruthless and decisive, and on close terms with the crown prince. Then came a palace coup. The emperor died, and the crown prince was poisoned to death in the palace. Yun Yin led troops to quell the rebellion and personally beheaded the eldest prince, who had murdered his father and younger brother, on the steps. From then on, the throne stood vacant. Just as everyone wondered whether this powerful prince of a different surname would seize the throne for himself, Yun Yin entered the palace. Three days later, the new emperor, only seventeen years old, was enthroned. Beneath his crown was an astonishingly beautiful and striking face. - With the new emperor enthroned, the Prince of Pingnan stepped back and became regent, assisting him. The officials were both relieved and worried. They were relieved that although the new emperor had come from the Cold Palace, he was indeed of the imperial bloodline. They worried that he was beautiful but knew nothing about governing, a complete good-for-nothing. The officials whispered among themselves, all saying that the Prince of Pingnan still harbored treacherous ambitions. But some people didn’t see it that way. * Born in the Cold Palace, Li Zhaoyi was bullied by servants from a young age and treated coldly by the royal family. When he was little, Yun Yin saved his life. He remembered him for seven years, and Yun Yin became the best person in his heart. After being pushed onto the throne, he gave Yun Yin whatever he wanted. Yun Yin wanted him to be diligent, so he worked hard to learn statecraft. Yun Yin wanted him to be obedient, so he listened like a little cat. Yun Yin wanted him, so he gave himself to him, even though Yun Yin had never once said he loved him. He was simply puzzled about why Yun Yin had chosen him. Until one day, he overheard palace attendants whisper that, like the former crown prince, the new emperor also had a cinnabar mole on his wrist. Li Zhaoyi understood. What he’d taken for special affection was just Yun Yin missing someone from the past and seeking a little comfort. * Rumors about a romantic affair between the former crown prince and the regent spread throughout the streets, but Yun Yin paid them no mind. He had raised a kitten, beautiful and delicate, who trusted him completely. At first, he’d simply thought the kitten was well-behaved. But as he cared for it, he truly began to fall for it. Whatever Li Zhaoyi wanted, he gave him. When Li Zhaoyi was willful, he indulged him. He taught him the art of imperial rule and how to balance power, then taught him, little by little, how to relinquish his own authority. He was willing to bow down and submit, asking only for Li Zhaoyi’s lifelong dependence and affection. Then Li Zhaoyi ran away right under his nose. Yun Yin: . He’d spoiled him too much. It was time to rein him in. Notes: 1. Ruthless, calculating gong x beautiful, hardworking, slightly insecure shou who has a hard life. Older gong, seven-year age gap. Because of his upbringing, the shou is rather guileless and especially obedient toward the gong. The gong is a little controlling, but really just a lovesick fool. Neither character is perfect, so this may not suit readers who are particularly devoted to one side. 2. The dynasty is fictional, though inspired by history. Includes a little political scheming, but the story is mainly about romance. 3. One-on-one, each other’s first love, sweet and indulgent romance. Includes some mild angst and melodrama. The shou is a pseudo-replacement, but the gong and the former crown prince were only ever friends. 4. Original blurb posted 2022/10/7. Coming Soon An ABO Sweet Treat About Marriage Before Love The Lu family of City A was in turmoil. The head of the Lu family fell gravely ill and died. The old patriarch, senile to the end, left the family fortune to an ambitious adopted son who wasn’t even related by blood. Just like that, an outsider took over the Lu family. The gossip went on for ages. Besides the family’s power struggles, what drew the most attention was the passionate love affair between the adopted son and Lu Zhao, the Lu family’s most doted-on young master. Rumor had it that Lu Zhao was headstrong, spoiled, and domineering, yet he’d shown special favor only to the son of a servant. That had given an outsider the chance to take advantage of the situation. Not long after taking over as head of the family, Fu Wenshen publicly announced that he and Lu Zhao were engaged. Everyone thought it was all going according to plan, and that the new head of the Lu family would have both wealth and a beauty. On the day Lu Zhao returned to the country, Fu Wenshen went to meet him in person. But no one expected Lu Zhao to slap Fu Wenshen in front of everyone and walk away. The crowd was in an uproar. Once the news spread, some said Lu Zhao would be driven out of the Lu family and sacrificed in the struggle for power. Others said that, given how obsessed the new head of the Lu family was with the young master, Lu Zhao might end up a pretty bird kept in a cage. Everyone was eager to speculate about what would become of City A’s most spoiled and beautiful young omega. The following month, a new engagement announcement appeared in the papers. Young Master Lu was engaged. At his side was Jiang Yun Yuan, heir to the equally prominent Jiang family. * The family empire was on the verge of collapse overnight. His loved ones were gone, and his boyfriend had betrayed him. Lu Zhao hurried back to the country. While sorting through old belongings before moving out of the villa, he found a crookedly written childhood betrothal contract in an attic drawer. It named him and his childhood friend next door as the betrothed couple. His childhood friend was a pretentious, icy guy. Even as Lu Zhao dragged his suitcase out the door, the man just leaned against the door with his arms crossed, watching coldly, nearly sneering at how down on his luck Lu Zhao looked. In a burst of reckless courage, Lu Zhao flung the contract at him and sneered: “Are you going to take responsibility?” The other man scanned the writing, pondered for a long while, then said: “Fine.” 1. Jiang Yun Yuan x Lu Zhao. Cool-headed, in-control gong x cold and spoiled young master shou. Typical alpha and omega pairing. Two clever people falling in love. 2. A sweet treat about marriage before love. 3. The shou isn’t a lovesick fool and has no real relationship with the cannon-fodder gong. Theme: Hard work and confidence will help you shine.