Toward the Heavenly Palace

● In the final stages.

[Novel Blurb]

(A ruthless, mad powerbroker who holds the court in his grip x a self-effacing, cunning prince who bides his time and conceals his abilities)

(A living King of Hell x a master of pretense)

At seventeen, Sixth Prince Xiahou Yao was out on an excursion when he was ambushed and nearly killed.

Yuwen Yuan, son of the Grand Preceptor, rushed to his rescue. He lifted the carriage curtain with his sword and fell in love at first sight.

The Sixth Prince was renowned as a frail beauty, sickly and delicate. He was timid and cowardly. Caught in a sudden disaster and still shaken, he asked between sobs, one hand pressed to his chest, "Who... are you?"

The young man on horseback, arrogant and looking down on everyone, gazed at the tearful youth in the carriage. The corner of his mouth lifted as he reached out to comfort him. "...Your humble subject is Yuwen Yuan. I arrived late to your rescue. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

At twenty-two, Xiahou Yao fought his way through every obstacle and was named Crown Prince.

That night, a figure entered the imperial palace and pushed open the door to the Crown Prince's residence.

The powerful minister leaned against the doorway, his smile beguiling. "Now that you've achieved your wish and become Crown Prince, shouldn't you... make good on the reward you promised me?"

The atmosphere was tender and intimate. Xiahou Yao sat at the edge of the bed, took off his Crown Prince's robe, and revealed a small stretch of smooth shoulder. His voice was gentle. "Be gentle."

The newly appointed Grand Preceptor, who had always been decisive and never suffered a loss, found himself unable to advance before such a breathtaking sight. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. "..."

Later, Xiahou Yao successfully ascended the throne with Yuwen Yuan's help.

On the eve of the new emperor's enthronement, Regent Yuwen Yuan, who had controlled the court for years and risen to the highest rank, handed back every military token and bowed in submission.

The entire court was stunned, and the people all over the realm whispered among themselves.

When something is out of the ordinary, there must be something fishy. The calm comes before the storm!

The madman who had once pointed his sword at the late emperor now obeyed the new emperor in everything. Whatever he wanted, Yuwen Yuan gave him; whatever he asked, Yuwen Yuan did. He even followed the new emperor around all day, coaxing and cajoling him into eating nourishing tonics and taking care of his health.

At court, the Chancellor suspected that this was one of the Regent's schemes. After all, "With Yuwen Yuan's talent and ambition, why would he be willing to remain a mere subject?"

The assembled ministers nodded. "That makes sense!"

Yuwen Yuan simply smiled when he heard this. "A-Yao is carrying my child. I merely wish to make His Majesty smile."

The ministers were dumbstruck.JPG

[Reader's Guide]

● One-on-one romance, younger top, evenly matched leads, happy ending.

● Men can marry men in this fictional setting. Old-school sweet romance, with political machinations treated like child's play.

● The worldbuilding is the author's own.

* Also known as "The Grand Preceptor Is Going Mad for Love Again Today!", "The Mad Minister Falls for Me", "The Ultimate Matchup Between a Fake Lovesick Fool and a Genuine Career Powerhouse", "He's Crazy, but He Loves Me So Much", "The Actor's Guide to Self-Cultivation", "Shocking! The Regent Is Pretending with His Majesty Again", "I Play the Pig to Eat the Tiger, and He Wants Both", "First Is the Devoted Childhood Friend, Second Is the Bickering Pair. I Choose Number Three, the Mad Baby", and so on.

! Two historical danmei previews!

(1)

"Shang and Shen"

[Preview]

Yan Ci loved nothing more than hiding behind a mask of benevolence while doing the vilest things.

When he was still a prince, Yan Ci rescued a child for his own amusement. The child had no name and no identity, a blank sheet of paper. Yan Ci scribbled all over him, successfully turning that blank sheet black. The wolf cub grew up wearing a sheep's skin, but inside he was black as night, his twisted nature inherited from Yan Ci.

The wolf cub learned everything from him, and gradually began to look at him with shining eyes.

When they met again, the wolf cub came with a sky full of crows. The people of Zhuyuan despised and reviled him, but no one could do anything about him, given his extraordinary strength.

Yan Ci had plenty of ways to deal with him, but couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him. As usual, he put on his benevolent mask and played the caring older brother, eager to see what the wolf cub was up to.

But as time went on, the wolf cub actually dared to betray him!

Qian Luoxue did not understand feelings, so he did not think that anything he did to Yan Ci could be called betrayal.

Yan Ci vowed to fight him to the death, and Qian Luoxue nearly lost his life because of it, but he felt no emotion at all.

Yet in the depths of night... His longing for Yan Ci tormented him until he went mad. He even regretted that he hadn't died at Yan Ci's hands. That way, he could have stayed with the man who raised him forever.

So, when Yan Ci later found himself in grave danger, Qian Luoxue rescued him. He swore he would figure out in bed just what kind of bewitching spell this man had cast on him, and how much longer this longing would keep him captive.

(2)

"Cangxuan Has a Voice"

[Preview]

Jiang Ling was out on a righteous demon-hunting mission when another cultivator stole his kill.

Before he could condemn the utterly unchivalrous behavior, his wicked and unlucky fellow cultivator dragged him into a trap as well.

Qing Ce: "For the sake of martial honor, Daoist, you wouldn't abandon me, would you?"

Jiang Ling: "I'll *you ** you *** what the **#+﹉,*!//.?-#=﹉+" (So angry his words turned to gibberish.)

When Jiang Ling woke up, he discovered that he could no longer feel pain.

He didn't feel pain, but instead made other people feel it.

Qing Ce: "*** I'll kill you!"

Jiang Ling: Smack! (He promptly slapped himself.)

A clear handprint appeared on Qing Ce's arrogant face.

Jiang Ling rolled his wrist and sneered. "Say that again."

Qing Ce's expression darkened. Without a word, he rewarded himself with a slap too. Smack!

Jiang Ling's smile increased by one.

They swapped... sensations?!

Holy frog, holy frog, frogs are delicious!

From then on, the two big shots began their "loving" journey of self-inflicted torment.

In a bait operation, Jiang Ling willingly offered one leg for a demon to take a vicious bite.

The next day, Qing Ce went right back to beating chickens and scolding dogs, but he was limping.

In a cooperative mission, Qing Ce risked his life to protect Jiang Ling, taking a demon's heavy blow all by himself.

Everyone saw the Daoist in his arms drenched in cold sweat and gritting his teeth. "Why, thank you..."

Qing Ce smiled faintly. "You're welcome, Daoist Jiang. It's the least I could do."

Wei Huasu: "Well... I have to ask... aren't you tired?"

The onlookers munching on melon seeds: "Those two are definitely together!"

The demon who forgot to run away: "Shipping them is so much fun..."

Qing Ce hated Jiang Ling. He hated his sanctimoniousness and arrogant aloofness. He hated him so much that he wanted to tear him apart, devour his flesh and drink his blood, and kill him as soon as possible.

Until one day, Jiang Ling got so drunk he mistook him for someone else. He draped himself over Qing Ce and hugged him, smiling and speaking gently in a way he never had before as he called him, "A-Ce."

After that, Qing Ce began to hate the person whose name differed from his by only one character, hating him so much that he wanted to tear him apart, devour his flesh and drink his blood, and kill him as soon as possible.

Later, as he gazed into those spring-bright eyes, repulsed by him emotionally but yielding to him physically, Qing Ce felt an incomparable satisfaction.

From now on, he wanted Jiang Ling to spread his legs only for him, call only him "A-Ce," smile only at him, and tell him every day that he loved him, liked him, and couldn't live without him.

Theme: Endure hardship and bide your time. Three thousand Yue soldiers can conquer Wu.