Born into a time of chaos, Xiao Baoyu spent a miserable year as a puppet emperor.
She walked on eggshells, hiding that she was a woman, lowering her voice, binding her bones, and disguising her appearance as she struggled to survive amid threats from within and without.
At the same time, she endured a strange, shameful illness, suffering alone through restless, feverish nights.
She had the Regent, who held power over the entire court, to thank for all of it.
Pei Xingqi was ruthless, proud, and cold-hearted. Everyone in the capital avoided him like a demon, saying he had the face of a beauty and the heart of a king of hell.
He had helped her ascend the throne only because he needed a pawn to maintain the appearance of peace. When to depose her was entirely up to him.
Her life and death had never been in her own hands.
The bold get what they want, while the timid go hungry! How can you catch a tiger cub without entering its lair?
To stay alive, Xiao Baoyu steeled herself and decided to make the first move.
*
Before her plan could get off the ground, Xiao Baoyu never imagined her treacherous ambition had already been seen through.
Under a powerful force, her wrist went limp against her will. Her dagger clattered to the ground, jolting her back to her senses.
Pei Xingqi casually lifted the little emperor's chin with the cold back of his blade, his gaze as cold and sharp as a predator lurking in the forest.
A playful smile touched his lips. "Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?"
Once exposed, Xiao Baoyu felt relieved. She glared at him furiously. "I-I wanted to kill you... so you wouldn't get the chance to seize power and usurp the throne!"
"Oh? If you wanted to kill me, you should have done it cleanly and decisively. Why are you blushing and panting, Your Majesty?"
"...You speak such outrageous nonsense!"
"Your stupidity is written all over your face. You're unfit for the task." His mocking words were light, his gaze contemptuous.
Xiao Baoyu ought to have felt anger, humiliation, and fear. But the skin he touched sent an unspeakable shiver through her.
S-so good...
[Reading Guide]
1. They are each other's only partners. The heroine suffers from skin hunger, and the hero is the only cure. At heart, this is still a [Sweet Romance] [Fairy-Tale Love Story] [0% Court Intrigue].
Theme: Equality first, love afterward
