What? The Groom Who Was Married Off as a Substitute Plans to Rebel!

[A beautiful scheming bottom who thinks his rebellion plans are flawless and works at them with utmost diligence x A powerful, physically formidable top who is dark and calculating, with plans of his own]

In his previous life, Xie Lanting was the kind of child everyone else's parents held up as an example. He worked late into the night to hit his targets and dropped dead from overwork, only to be reborn as the youngest son of the Grand General Who Guards the Nation.

Above him, he had a father with immense power and a mother of noble birth. Ahead of him were his talented elder brother and sister, accomplished in both letters and arms. There were no younger siblings behind him. As the youngest in a harmonious family, beloved by all, Xie Lanting decided to lie flat from the day he was born. For eighteen years, he was a useless playboy, taking no interest in worldly affairs and living it up in wine and women. Life was good.

Until one day, his father dragged him out of a brothel, stuffed him into a bridal sedan, and sent him into the palace to marry in place of his eldest sister and become empress.

His father, full of worry, reminded him over and over, "Don't let anyone discover you're a man. We'll work together from the inside and out, and we can surely reclaim this splendid realm."

Xie Lanting: "?"

Rebellion?

Me?

Knowing full well that a failed rebellion meant certain death, Xie Lanting nervously hid his identity and kept to his role as a spy, devoting himself wholeheartedly to being a thorn in everyone's side.

He had no talents to speak of, only a face of breathtaking beauty. So Xie Lanting decided to make the most of his one advantage, swearing to become a bewitching empress who would bring ruin to the realm. He would use Xiao Yu to do whatever he pleased and turn him into a foolish ruler who would bring about the dynasty's downfall.

The day his father led troops into the palace, Xie Lanting silently watched the handsome emperor place the whole realm in his hands along with his true heart. His conscience bled.

He held a knife to his own throat. "Your Majesty, you may yet have a chance if you take me as a hostage."

Xiao Yu: "?"

His father: "?"

Xie Lanting: "???"

Wasn't this supposed to be an inside-outside conspiracy to seize power and usurp the throne?

Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow. "Empress, it seems there are some things we need to discuss in depth."

Xie Lanting: "..."

They say the empress was subjected to the emperor's brutal interrogation that night. Screams rang out from Kunhe Palace for three days and three nights before finally stopping, and when the emperor emerged, he was beaming, clearly satisfied with the confession he'd obtained.

Xiao Yu: "You were the one who said you'd disband the imperial harem. Since that's the case, you'll handle all the harem's duties yourself, Empress!"

Xie Lanting: "..."

What kind of lousy dynasty is this? Hurry up and fall already!

Tyrant!

Bah!

Reader's Guide:

1. Both leads are virgins. Happy ending, one-on-one. The top has never touched anyone in the harem, and the bottom has never visited a brothel.

2. No angst.

3. Lighthearted and romance-focused. I promise there won't be glass in the candy, though there might be some lemon candy.

Thank you for reading my story.

Theme: True love conquers all