Bronze Sparrows in the Forbidden Court

[Ruthless Princess x Brooding, Obsessive Young Emperor]

One-line blurb:

After the younger brother I forced into a relationship goes mad, he turns the tables and forces me into one.

Su Youran was born into a family of military commanders. In a single night, she became an orphan. The emperor took pity on her lonely plight, granted her the title of princess, and brought her into the palace to raise her himself.

In the sixth year of Chongning, Su Youran woke to find that everything had changed. The once-favored Princess Changning had now been honored by the new emperor as the Grand Princess of the realm, and her influence was at its height.

The new emperor was decisive and merciless in front of outsiders, but toward her he was respectful and compliant, never overstepping his bounds. He cherished her even more than before.

Only she knew that Xiao Zhao, hidden beneath the emperor's dignified mask, was a violent, unhinged madman.

Pearls gleamed brightly, and candles blazed.

The golden hall became a prison, jade its bars; in the forbidden palace, a bronze sparrow locked away a beauty.

Within the spring curtains, a beauty breathed softly, the corners of her eyes wet with tears like shattered jade and scattered pearls. The rain fell without end, the water clock's chimes came slowly, and the night lasted until dawn.

This life was truly unbearable, Su Youran thought. She had to find a suitable husband at once and get away from this clingy madman.

Moonlight flowed like water, and a breeze stirred atop the high tower. During a quiet break at the palace banquet, the cool and distant chief councilor came walking beneath the moon, his voice clear as fresh snow.

"Your Highness, what troubles you? I would be glad to help."

Swords rang, and war drums carried news of victory. Returning in triumph, the young general presented an imperial decree, his feelings ardent and unrestrained.

"I beg Your Majesty to honor the late emperor's final decree and allow me to marry the Grand Princess!"

Su Youran felt that with Yan Shen, it was love at first sight, a heart drawn to him; with Lu Ling, it was childhood companionship that had deepened over time.

She thought both were wonderful.

That was until Xiao Zhao realized what was going on and confronted her in the dead of night.

"Have you forgotten, Imperial Sister? I, too, shared a first meeting and years of companionship with you."

"Why won't you look at me?"

*

Xiao Zhao was the crown prince, but when the late emperor died, the imperial sister he had revered since childhood seized power from him.

The beautiful woman, born to wealth and privilege, had him serve as a puppet ruler, but that wasn't enough. She also demanded that he share her bed.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked with a trembling voice, "Imperial Sister, is this really fun for you?"

Su Youran reclined on the couch, curling a finger to beckon him closer.

"Why take one night of pleasure so seriously?"

Her red lips breathed out softly as she spoke, word by word: "Im-per-ial broth-er."

At last, he saw clearly that there had never been any sincerity in her eyes. She had only been using him for amusement.

After a sudden turn of events, he got what he had always wanted: one night's pleasure became pleasure night after night.

But she had completely forgotten the wrong she'd done, and even tried to use her innocent, guileless appearance to trick others into helping her escape.

"So it's only fun when the other person doesn't want it."

"Isn't that right, Imperial Sister?"

Reader's Guide:

1. The male lead is Xiao Zhao. One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, and the heroine is two years older.

2. Most of the male lead and the male supporting characters are seriously unwell.

3. The leads are not related by blood, and the heroine's memories will return.

[Blurb screenshot dated 2023.5.5]

Theme: Strive relentlessly and take control of your own fate.