Tyrant

Blurb:

Yin Zhi was the eldest legitimate son of Emperor Qianyuan of Great Wei. He was named crown prince at the age of two, and grew up arrogant, domineering, cruel, and ungrateful.

Then he was falsely accused of plotting rebellion by treacherous men. His enraged father stripped him of his title as crown prince, his maternal family was wiped out, and he himself was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court.

The revered crown prince became a pariah overnight. The court officials avoided him, and even the crown princess, who had repeatedly declared her love for him, abandoned him.

While Yin Zhi sat in the Imperial Clan Court waiting to die, only Jiang Xuan came to visit him.

Jiang Xuan was the younger brother of his former crown princess, as well as his study companion.

Yin Zhi was utterly despairing. When Jiang Xuan came to see him, he gave a bitter laugh. "Your master has fallen, and yet the dog hasn't gone looking for a new owner?"

Jiang Xuan lowered his eyes and said only, "You will always be my prince."

No one could understand why Jiang Xuan would rather break with his father and brothers than abandon the deposed crown prince.

Not until three years later, when Emperor Qianyuan reinstated Yin Zhi as crown prince and he rose to power again.

On the day he ascended the throne, Yin Zhi asked Jiang Xuan what he wanted.

Jiang Xuan's expression was complicated. After a long silence, he replied, "I have no wish of my own. I only hope for peace throughout the land, and clear skies over calm seas."

They spent their lives as a wise ruler and worthy minister. Yin Zhi governed from Weiyang Palace, while Jiang Xuan fought on the battlefield. Together, they ushered in an age when all nations came to pay tribute.

On the verge of death, Yin Zhi looked back on his life:

He seized the throne, executed traitorous ministers, drove back powerful enemies from beyond the borders, and crushed the great clans within. He never fell short of the bold spirit of Emperor Gaozu.

In his later years, he sought immortality, manipulated the court, drove the crown prince to suicide, let the empress's family interfere in government, and allowed eunuch factions to flourish.

Fortunately, he repented in his final years and paved the way for the new crown prince.

All told, seven parts merit and three parts fault.

The experience of being deposed left him forever suspicious and volatile. He tormented his subjects, his son, and anyone else who displeased him.

If he had even the slightest remorse in his heart... perhaps it was for Jiang Xuan.

One night, drunk, the two of them somehow ended up in bed together.

After that, they continued their unspoken relationship.

Later, Yin Zhi arranged a marriage for Jiang Xuan. Jiang Xuan defied the imperial decree and left to lead his troops into battle.

By the time Jiang Xuan died in battle, Yin Zhi had never managed to see him one last time.

Jiang Xuan's deputy general brought Yin Zhi a brocade pouch. Inside was a note: "For thirty years, through life and death, we stood together. For fifteen years, I failed to repay your deep kindness. My heart has always turned to the bright moon. Do you know it, my lord?"

Yin Zhi knew, of course. But the man he had been was afraid to know, and unwilling to know.

Because of betrayal, Yin Zhi had never been willing to trust another person's heart again. Yet Jiang Xuan spent his whole life proving his love and loyalty to Yin Zhi.

It was a pity that love through the ages never ends, and debts of passion are hard to repay.

When Yin Zhi opened his eyes again, he found himself back at the time when he had just been reinstated as crown prince.

In the end, he would have to repay this debt of passion.

Blurb written on October 19, 2023, and archived. The title and blurb are still being revised.

Reader's guide:

1. In his previous life, Yin Zhi was a real scumbag, the kind everyone despised.

Powerful, beautiful, and tragic emperor seme x gentle, refined general uke

2. I'm trying to write a sweet romance, so please don't hit me if it isn't sweet. Mutual devotion, one-on-one romance, with both a career plot and a romance plot.

3. The poems in the blurb aren't original. I'll credit them once the blurb is finished.

Theme: Cherish the person by your side