When Helou Yue was eight, he swore a solemn oath: once he grew up, he would return home, rebuild the army, conquer the lands of Great Liang, and tear that little bastard Crown Prince Xiao Ke apart limb from limb.
Why tear him apart limb from limb? To see just how much treachery was in his belly, and whether his heart had already turned completely black.
After ten years as a hostage, Helou Yue finally returned home as he had wished. But Xiao Ke had been deposed and had disappeared without a trace.
Some said he had died in prison. Others said the Empress Dowager had poisoned him in the palace. There were also rumors that the deposed crown prince had changed his name and was wandering the world, hoping to find allies and make a comeback.
Su Jingshu, the man who had changed his name, was now kneeling in the heir apparent’s hall in the Great Hui Dynasty, eyes lowered and obedient.
Helou Yue shot him a cold look. “Wretched slave, introduce yourself.”
Su Jingshu answered meekly. “This commoner, Su Jingshu, fled Great Liang and seeks refuge here. If Your Highness will give this slave a meal, this slave will serve you faithfully, even at the cost of his life, ”
“Stop pretending.” Helou Yue cut him off, dismissed everyone else, and calmly ordered him again. “Start over. If you tell even one lie, I’ll kill you on the spot.”
The slave below the dais paused, then dropped to his knees with a sigh. “My surname is Xiao, my given name Ke, and my childhood name is Jingshu.”
Helou Yue raised an eyebrow. “And?”
Xiao Jingshu swallowed. “I was once the crown prince of Great Liang. I fled to your country and became a registered slave.”
Helou Yue smiled in satisfaction, then turned cold again. “And you’re an old acquaintance of mine.”
“An old acquaintance,” Xiao Jingshu admitted frankly, then began to reflect on his own behavior. “I was born a treacherous, wicked wretch. I caroused and made a sport of tormenting Your Highness. When you cried, I laughed. When you were punished, I played music. When you were miserable, I grinned. If you want to settle our old and new scores, I...”
Helou Yue was growing annoyed. “You what?”
Xiao Jingshu pouted. “I don’t have anything to say.” He looked up again and asked unwillingly, “Your Highness, do you really hate me that much?”
Hate him enough to tear him apart limb from limb?
Helou Yue didn’t answer. He merely gave a haughty, cold snort, clearly hating him very much, then dragged him into the inner chamber and “tore him limb from limb.”
Xiao Jingshu was “taken apart” until he was panting and half-dead, his head full of questions. Yet Helou Yue stood stiffly, eyes glistening with tears, looking furious.
His expression was cold and ruthless. “I have other ways to deal with you. We have all the time in the world. I’ll torment you bit by bit, and sooner or later you’ll pay me back for what you owe.” He was truly vicious.
But what he was really thinking was: “Brother Xiao Shu, I have to take you apart and see if you ever truly loved me!”
Clever, delicate little fool of a shou (pretending) Xiao Jingshu X Haughty, cold, brilliant gong (also pretending) Helou Yue
Blurb saved on 2023-08-30
1. An entirely fictional dynasty, with no real-life basis
2. Royal power and court politics + light wuxia
3. One-on-one romance, happy ending
Theme: Stay true to your original aspirations, and you will reach your destination.
