Jiang Yanzhou, the third prince of the Great Liang dynasty, was blessed with extraordinary looks and a mind so sharp he seemed almost demonic. He was gentle by nature, the son of the empress, and the eldest legitimate prince. He had everything going for him from the start.
Unfortunately, his mother died young and his father did not love him. The more outstanding this young legitimate prince became, the more he was a thorn in the emperor's and empress's sides. Luckily, he had no interest in the throne either, and was content to live a quiet life in a remote border town.
The frontier was wonderful: snow stretching for thousands of miles, a sight of breathtaking beauty. Jiang Yanzhou spent every day holed up in his military tent, fighting the Northern Yi, reading travelogues, and raising hunting dogs. His life was pleasant and idyllic.
Little did he know that the "Heavenly Dao" had secretly chosen him as a cannon-fodder moonlight figure, destined to provide luck for its beloved protagonist, the shou. In the plot meticulously prepared by the "Heavenly Dao," he would be caught in danger and rescued by the protagonist shou, then fall hopelessly in love and willingly offer up his heart. His intelligence would be forcibly lowered; even after being cheated on again and again, he would never learn his lesson. In the end, the protagonist gong would use the protagonist shou to kill him, making him the stepping stone to their epic romance. The protagonist gong would become emperor and the protagonist shou empress. Jiang Yanzhou's bodyguard, the strongest warrior in the world, would secretly fall in love with the protagonist shou and protect him from the shadows. The new Northern Yi emperor, Jiang Yanzhou's sworn enemy, would also fall deeply in love with the protagonist shou. Though he had a mighty army, he would send his entire nation as tribute just to make the protagonist shou smile. Even Jiang Yanzhou's innocent, devoted younger brother, whom he had raised himself, would be unable to control his love for the protagonist shou, beginning a true story of a younger brother inheriting his dead brother's wife. He would willingly bow down for love and protect the new regime. The Great Liang dynasty would then flourish for ten thousand years...
This was the perfect life the "Heavenly Dao" had prepared for its beloved son.
Jiang Yanzhou knew nothing about it. He carried on staying in his military tent, fighting the Northern Yi, reading travelogues, and raising hunting dogs.
The "Heavenly Dao" watched the plot unfold, satisfied as Jiang Yanzhou and the protagonist shou met as planned. Under its control, Jiang Yanzhou fell helplessly in love with the protagonist shou and moved step by step toward his sacrificial end.
But after Jiang Yanzhou died, everyone except the protagonist gong and shou went mad.
The bodyguard, the strongest warrior in the world, peeled the protagonist shou's face off and made him kneel before Jiang Yanzhou's memorial tablet until he died.
The new Northern Yi emperor, Jiang Yanzhou's sworn enemy, bided his time and invaded fifteen years later.
Jiang Yanzhou's innocent and devoted younger brother cut off his own legs and became a treacherous minister feared by everyone in the Great Liang court. Joining forces with the Northern Yi emperor, he gave the entire Great Liang realm to Jiang Yanzhou as a burial offering.
The Jiang dynasty fell fifteen years after Jiang Yanzhou's death.
The "Heavenly Dao" froze in shock, then panicked and fell apart. It used up all its power to send its beloved son back to before everything happened, determined to put everything back on track.
And Jiang Yanzhou still knew nothing. He carried on staying in his military tent, fighting the Northern Yi, reading travelogues, and raising hunting dogs.
Until one night, his usually calm and dependable personal bodyguard woke from a nightmare, knelt before him, and wept tears of blood.
Until the Northern Yi crown prince, rumored to be arrogant and tyrannical, sneaked into his military tent during a battle between the two armies and stared at his face, tears streaming down.
Until his usually obedient and innocent younger brother rode a thousand miles alone, then burst into tears upon seeing him safe and sound.
Only then did Jiang Yanzhou start to wonder: was something not quite right?
Warm on the outside, cold within, universally adored, saintly beauty, 1
One-on-one ending
(I haven't decided who the final 1 will be. I'll start writing once I have.)
Theme: Your fate is in your own hands.
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