The Liaodong Crane

Handsome, dashing, tough and capable courtier bottom × emotionally resilient, gloomy ghost-king emperor top

Pei Rongheng, second son of the Marquis of Changping in Great Sheng, returns to the capital from Liangzhou. Thanks to his father's influence, His Majesty personally appoints him as a close aide to the Crown Prince.

Before he enters the palace, the Marquis of Changping gives him countless warnings: “Our family has a special status. Keep a low profile in the palace. Don't draw attention to yourself.”

The next day, Pei Rongheng strides into the palace in a bright red outfit, white pearls and green tassels dangling from his ears!

The Eastern Palace is lavish, and the Crown Prince personally welcomes him. But the first person Pei Rongheng notices isn't the sickly Crown Prince. It's the quiet, wooden-looking child behind him.

That's the Crown Prince's younger brother, Prince Rong, Zhao Zhengqi.

Pei Rongheng raises an eyebrow. So this is Prince Rong. He's pretty cute, but so frail. Looks like half a hand would be enough to crush him.

But later, Pei Rongheng realizes he'd misjudged him.

Because the quiet, wooden-looking Prince Rong can suddenly go berserk!

Prince Rong, Zhao Zhengqi, is the son of a mere maid in Empress Ning's palace. Born prematurely and frail, he looks like a prince without a shred of good fortune.

But he is exceptionally lucky. Though his birth mother dies young, he isn't passed off to an ordinary consort to raise. Instead, the empress takes him in, making him her legitimate second son.

Everyone in the palace knows that the empress and the Crown Prince dote on Prince Rong.

He has the finest food, clothes, and comforts, and wears a longevity lock forged for him by the Crown Prince himself.

It seems like a life with nothing to complain about.

Until his elder brother, Crown Prince Zhao Lang, dies.

Everything changes.

As the capital's number one wastrel and the court's most rebellious troublemaker, Pei Rongheng, Marquis of Changping and a man of immense influence, has three things to protect in this life:

First, the glory of the Pei clan;

Second, Great Sheng, a land drenched in blood and turmoil;

Third, the emperor of Great Sheng, seated high upon the throne: Zhao Zhengqi.

One-on-one romance, happy ending, younger top, five-year age gap.

Content warnings: Slow burn. It might count as turning a straight man gay. The leads chase each other in turn: the top pursues the bottom early on, then the bottom pursues the top later. It's a back-and-forth story of one running away while the other chases, until neither can escape. They both love and cherish each other deeply by the end, so it's mutual pampering. The top is not in great health and has no fighting ability, relying on the bottom for protection throughout, but he isn't weak-willed and is assertive in bed. Neither lead is perfect. I have unusual tastes, and this is a writing exercise. The plot may be unpleasant for fans of either lead. No swapping the top and bottom, no alternate pairings!

The dynasty setting is a mishmash and won't hold up to historical scrutiny. Just take it as me talking nonsense...

There's plenty of melodrama and outrageous twists. Please don't fight in the comments. Keeping the comment section peaceful and friendly is everyone's responsibility.

I won't abandon this book. My rule is that once I start a story, I'll finish it.

The cover uses character-design templates. Thanks for reading and for your support!

Theme: Hold my hand, and grow old with me.