Branch of the Moon Palace

Jiang Jingling is the seventh prince, the least favored in the palace. His father deliberately ignores him, his older brothers bully and humiliate him, and the palace attendants are all sycophants. Though a prince, he lives worse than a servant.

Jiang Jingling puts up with everything, never competing or fighting back. After lying low for years, he finally finds a chance to climb the social ladder.

That chance is Jing Zhe, the most powerful man at court and the Director of the Eastern Depot.

They say eunuchs are often indifferent to gender, and Jiang Jingling has a face that inspires pity. He might as well put it to good use.

He's not afraid of the eunuch's twisted, ruthless methods. What he fears is spending his whole life hidden away in the palace, never seeing the light of day, while those who bullied, humiliated, and betrayed him get off scot-free.

After days of scheming, Jiang Jingling finally finds a chance to approach Jing Zhe.

The man is handsome, unlike the other eunuchs with their shifty eyes and fawning smiles. He exudes only a cold, murderous aura that makes people afraid to look at him for long.

Summoning his courage, Jiang Jingling grabs the hem of his gold-embroidered flying-fish robe and meekly lowers his eyes.

"Ling... begs Your Excellency for your mercy."

-

Jing Zhe has earned the emperor's trust and holds immense power at court. He climbed step by step to become Director of the Eastern Depot, and has long since seen the ugliness of the human heart.

Plenty of people want to curry favor with him. Jing Zhe has always scorned them and paid them no mind.

Until that winter solstice, when snow fell thick and fast, and the unfavored seventh prince knelt on an icy lake, his figure frail and slight.

Jing Zhe knows everything that goes on in the palace. Naturally, he knows that this seemingly harmless, lamb-like seventh prince is far from as kind as he appears.

But for reasons he cannot explain, when the prince kneels at his feet and begs for his mercy, Jing Zhe still reaches down and lifts his chin.

His thumb brushes the seventh prince's cold, soft lips.

The paper umbrella tilts, and from then on, it shields him from the raging snow.

-

He uses him purely for his own ends, then falls in love without realizing it x He sees through everything and knowingly succumbs

A cunning, pitiful-looking prince who plays the innocent but is secretly unhinged, the bottom

x

A ruthless, scheming, genuinely deranged Director of the Eastern Depot, the top

Both are deranged

The top is a real eunuch

(No dick, not in the main story or extras. Props are used for the explicit scenes.)

One-on-one, emotionally and physically. Main couple gets a happy ending.

Romance first, political scheming second

A mash-up of dynasties, entirely fictional with lots of original worldbuilding

Written to indulge my tastes, so please don't overanalyze

2024.4.11

Theme: Be self-reliant and treat everyone sincerely.