Why Haven't I Lost My Kingdom Yet!

-- Jinjiang Literature City --

Qi Changhua died the day his kingdom fell.

Snow fell thick and fast as the rebel army stormed the imperial city. For the first time, he saw the rebel leader, the man said to have won the people's hearts.

After battling Yuan Yi for more than a decade, Qi Changhua finally admitted that this man was better suited to be emperor. He traded his own life for the safety of the city's people, and took his own life in the imperial city.

·

But when he opened his eyes again, Qi Changhua had returned to the year he first ascended the throne, still a young emperor with no real power.

His maternal relatives pressed down on him from above, corrupt eunuchs controlled the court below, the noble families wallowed in luxury, and the rebel army was as fierce as wolves and tigers.

Qi Changhua looked out the window. It was pitch-black at the hour of the tiger, and memorials were piled before him like a mountain, seemingly endless...

He sighed and came to terms with it.

Being a wise ruler as the empire crumbled was hard. Wasn't it much easier to be a useless ruler who let the kingdom fall?

Qi Changhua gave up completely and became the puppet everyone expected him to be, spending his days chasing cats and dogs, listening to music, and boating on the lake like a worthless ruler.

He didn't just play around himself. He dragged his ministers and generals along, practically wearing “I'm incompetent, I'm a terrible ruler” on his face. He almost wanted to grab them by the ears and shout, “Come on, rebel already!”

But absurdly, these people began swearing their loyalty and supporting him.

Qi Changhua shook his head again and again. “My dear ministers, you're hopeless.”

Since they clearly weren't going to rebel, Qi Changhua could only set his sights on the rebel leader.

He quickly put on a secret identity and personally delivered a map of the terrain, hoping Yuan Yi could change the dynasty without bloodshed.

After finishing this, Qi Changhua faked his death and slipped away, finally returning to the imperial city in peace to await the kingdom's imminent fall.

But a day passed, then two. Not only had the kingdom not fallen, but the people around him were feeding him until he grew plump.

The longer he waited, the more anxious the young emperor became. “Why hasn't my kingdom fallen yet?”

At last, news arrived: the rebel army was at the gates, and the traitor Yuan Yi was coming to purge the court.

Qi Changhua was relieved.

Purge the court? Obviously that meant a coup!

But the news that arrived was that Yuan Yi's army had entered the capital, swept through the city, wiped out the noble families, and executed the eunuchs.

Realizing something was wrong, he dropped the imperial seal and tried to escape, only to be cornered by Yuan Yi.

“I knew it was you.”

Yuan Yi was covered in the stench of blood, like an asura risen from hell.

Qi Changhua steeled himself and tried to take his own life again, but Yuan Yi easily seized his wrist and held him still.

Yuan Yi raised a hand and gently wiped the bloodstain from the side of his neck with his fingertip.

“This commoner said he was only here to purge the court.”

And, while he was at it, to get rid of all the suitors buzzing around his little emperor.

·

Later...

Qi Changhua: “Since you're not here to take the throne, I can make you a prince or noble.”

Yuan Yi: “I don't want to be a prince or noble.”

“Then what do you want?”

The rebel pulled his little emperor into his arms.

“I want to be your empress.”

--

Theme: May romance live forever