Since Ancient Times, Crybabies Have Conquered Yanderes

[Marriage Before Love]

Everyone says the current emperor, Zhao Che, is a tyrant through and through: sinister and ruthless, delighting in the fear of others and taking pleasure in their blood.

Forced into the palace, Sang Nian first sees the emperor seated far away on a high platform, gently waving a folding fan as he smiles at her with perfect courtesy.

Over the next few days, she is dressed in fine clothes and pampered lavishly.

Sang Nian decides that all the rumors about him must be lies.

Until one rainy night, she loses her way and enters the wrong hall, where she finds the once-arrogant favorite consort splattered across the walls with blood. Zhao Che, his fan tipped with blood, wears the very same smile he gave her when they first met.

Only then does she realize he has been pampering her so that killing her will feel all the better.

She bursts into tears on the spot.

*

Zhao Che has suffered from a derangement since childhood. Only when he kills does he feel that he is truly alive.

No matter how others weep and beg for mercy, he remains unmoved.

But when he sees that beautiful, timid prey crying so hard she can barely breathe, he instead feels a soothing warmth in his heart.

Such a fine remedy should be kept close and made to cry every day. He must never let her get hurt or die.

Much later, Zhao Che suddenly realizes that Sang Nian's tears have been fake for who knows how long.

And he has become a blade in the hands of this timid woman.

Later still, Sang Nian weeps in his arms as usual, and he only kisses the corner of her eye. "Enough. Stop pretending."

*One-on-one romance, happy ending, both leads' first relationship. The consorts were initially there for the male lead to indulge his derangement.

*A mad love story between a villainous couple. (Essentially the author indulging themself.)

*The novel's values do not represent the author's. Please don't read too much into them.

Theme: Saving each other