1

🌸 Hiii, just a little update! 🌸

I originally bought this book by accident. I had multiple tabs open while trying to buy another novel I was translating and I ended up purchasing two wrong books. One of them was this one! 😅

Right now, the author has only updated up to chapter 31 because she’s sick. She mentioned that she plans to resume updates in 3–4 months, but she’s not active on Weibo, so there’s no way to know for sure. 💭

At first, I wasn’t planning to translate it since it was an accidental purchase, but after reading chapter 1, I got hooked! ✨ So, I decided to share it. I hope you all enjoy it! Just a heads-up there’s no set schedule for future updates from the author. 📖💕

 The fragrance of dragon musk lingered, shrouded in veils of mist and silk.

Behind the clouded canopy, the young emperor was in disarray, his robes in dishevelment as he lay sprawled upon the beauty couch.

Layers of red skirts cascaded to the ground like waves, his snow-white shoulders forced into exposure. His already seductive features were now tinged with an unusual flush due to unbearable scorching heat, and his thin lips bore deep bite marks, so severe that they nearly drew blood.

Damn it.

That bastard.

That wretched, vile creature.

Which audacious fool dared to drug him with such an unspeakable aphrodisiac? Did they not believe he would have their entire clan, every last ninety-nine generations executed on the spot?

Jing Xuan clutched his palm tightly, cursing viciously while helplessly enduring the indescribable craving surging wildly through his body. It was as if he would perish if he did not act upon it.

But he could not die just yet.

He had to summon someone to save him.

And in the haze of chaos, it seemed that someone truly had come to his rescue.

The raging heat coursing through him was finally soothed, and the uncontrollable desire tormenting him found its release.

But damn it, why did it hurt even more now?

Moreover, that person had none of the softness or fragrance of a woman. Even their voice carried an aloof indifference, filled with an imperious detachment that was downright infuriating.

"Your Majesty, had you heeded my words earlier, you would not have ended up like this."

Jing Xuan was instantly even more furious.

Who are you? Why should I listen to you?

Once this poison is purged from my system, do you not believe that I will also have your ninety-nine generations executed?

With that thought, Jing Xuan swiftly turned around, intending to sink his teeth into the other person as retribution.

Yet, the moment he turned, he suddenly froze.

The five-clawed dragon embroidered in golden thread upon the other's black court robes struck him like a bolt of lightning on a stormy night, splitting through his muddled consciousness with a blinding clarity.

Because in this entire world, aside from himself, only one other person had the right to wear such an emblem.

Jing Xuan stiffly turned his head back, only to meet a pair of eyes that were all too familiar.

"……"

"Ahhh! Gu Fang! Go to hell!!!"

A sharp, uncontrollable scream tore through the air as Jing Xuan shot upright from the bed.

The inner layer of his imperial yellow garments was drenched in cold sweat, his jade-like face now pale as death. Large beads of perspiration slid down his forehead, clinging to his dampened strands of hair, hanging onto his long lashes—a sight both harrowing and heartbreakingly fragile.

Such a delicate and cherished young ruler, born into unparalleled luxury and status, ought to have been basking in endless fortune. So why was he plagued by nightmares night after night?

Beside him, the night attendant, Eunuch Fuchang, hurriedly presented a cup of calming tea, his voice filled with concern. "Your Majesty, was it that nightmare of Prince Xiangding again?"

A dream?

Jing Xuan lowered his head slightly.

Oh, so it was just a dream.

He let out a breath of relief, as if he had survived a disaster but then quickly realized.

Wait.

No.

Even if it was a dream, it was still unacceptable.

This wasn’t the first time he had dreamed about Gu Fang.

To be precise, ever since he ascended the throne at the age of twelve, he had been dreaming about Gu Fang every few days.

The first time, he dreamed of Gu Fang dragging him back from the snake den. The next day, he was spanked.

The second time, he dreamed of Gu Fang pulling him out of the opera house. The next day, he was spanked again.

The third time, he dreamed of Gu Fang hauling him away from the cockfighting pit. The next day, he was still spanked.

And so on, too many times to count. He had also dreamed of Gu Fang visiting the Minister of War’s residence, and a week later, the Minister of War hanged himself. Or the time he dreamed of Gu Fang rejecting a marriage proposal from the Duke’s household, and a month later, the Duke’s family was exiled.

Every single dream had come true, with all the details exactly as in the dream.

Which meant…

Gu Fang wouldn’t just form factions, conspire against the throne, and seize power in the future—he would even force him into women’s clothing, drug him with an aphrodisiac, and treat him as a personal plaything?

Jing Xuan’s already pale face instantly lost all color.

“Fuchang!”

“This old servant is here!”

“Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately and order them to destroy every single red palace dress!”

“Huh?”

“And every last drop of dragon musk!”

“Huh??”

“And find a medicine—one that can silently and permanently render even the strongest man completely… impotent!”

“Huh???”

Jing Xuan finally lost patience. “What are you ‘huh’-ing about? Just go!”

Fuchang was on the verge of tears. “Your Majesty, this old servant has never been capable in that way! Where am I supposed to find such a medicine?!”

Jing Xuan: “……”

“Figure it out! But find it!”

Not every dream he had necessarily came true, but even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he absolutely could not allow what happened in that dream to become reality.

Because the person in that dream… was Gu Fang.

Gu Fang, who was only eight years older than him, yet he still had to call him Royal Uncle.

Gu Fang, who had strictly disciplined him every single day since he ascended the throne.

Gu Fang, whom the world praised as pure and virtuous, yet in reality harbored wolfish ambition.

Even if he died, he would never have anything filthy or disgraceful happen with that man—let alone be the one underneath!

With that thought, Jing Xuan whooshed out of bed, grabbed a cloak, and strode straight outside.

Fuchang hurried after him, panicked. “Your Majesty, where are you going?!”

Jing Xuan charged into the night without looking back.

“Out of the palace to find Hua Ting!”

“What?!”

---

“Ah?!?!”

[Prime Minister Shi’s Residence, Courtyard of the Legitimate Second Grandson]

Wrapped in a quilt, Hua Ting crouched in the corner, eyes wide with shock after hearing the story.

“Your Majesty, you’re saying, you have a friend. His parents, before passing away, entrusted him and a vast fortune to his adoptive uncle. But that uncle turned out to be a heartless scoundrel, wanting to seize the inheritance. And now, he even plans to drug him and violate him. So your friend is planning to strike first, castrating his uncle in advance to eliminate the threat?!”

Jing Xuan, gritting his teeth, sat on Hua Ting’s bed. His originally bright and alluring face, due to shame and anger, was now even more vividly sorrowful. “Exactly!”

Hua Ting: “……”

This story sounded so familiar.

He cautiously probed, “Your Majesty, your friend’s uncle wouldn’t happen to have the surname Gu, would he?”

Jing Xuan: “....”

What a sharp mind.

“Impossible!” Jing Xuan blurted out without thinking. “I am the number one warrior of the Great Yan! Even if Gu Fang had a hundred lives, he wouldn’t dare!”

His face was red, his heart utterly guilty.

Hua Ting, however, nodded naturally. “That’s true.”

Jing Xuan: “?”

Hua Ting said, “Besides, Prince Xiangding is almost thirty now. Not only has he never married or had children, but he doesn’t even keep a single maid or concubine in his residence. His entire life consists of official business, pure and abstinent like a monk. He definitely wouldn’t do something so filthy.”

The public’s opinion of Prince Xiangding had always been quite high.

Jing Xuan’s face immediately darkened.

Hua Ting quickly declared righteously, “Of course, that’s definitely not because he has noble character, but because he must be incapable!”

Jing Xuan’s expression finally eased slightly.

But recalling the dream, he felt that Gu Fang’s problem wasn’t “incapable” but rather very capable.

The kind of capability that could kill a person.

But that wasn’t the point!

Jing Xuan suddenly realized that he had been completely led astray by Hua Ting.

The reason he ran out of the palace in the middle of the night to find Hua Ting was because, based on his years of experience, as long as the key factors in a dream ceased to exist, the dream would naturally collapse.

And since he couldn’t eliminate Gu Fang yet, he could only start by eliminating Little Gu Fang.

Hua Ting had been his study companion since childhood. Though not particularly bright, he was someone he knew well and was loyally devoted. His maternal family was Jiangnan’s most renowned medical family, and with what he had picked up over the years, Jing Xuan thought he might have a chance.

Yet here he was, arguing with him about whether Gu Fang was capable or not.

Jing Xuan’s ears turned even redder as he snapped, “Why do you care whether Gu Fang is capable or not?! I’m asking if you have a medicine that can make someone permanently impotent!”

“I don’t!”

“Then go die!”

“???”

What kind of tyrant is this?

Hua Ting, in a desperate bid for survival, quickly said, “But I know who might have it.”

Jing Xuan: "?"

"It's that Liu Chou'er who lives at the end of Zhangtai Alley. It's said that he is most skilled in strange techniques and debauchery, especially in the arts of pleasure. When it comes to matters of intimacy, there is nothing he doesn’t know, nothing he can’t do. So if Your Majesty—hey, hey, hey! Where are you going?"

Jing Xuan did not hesitate: "Of course, I’m going to find that Liu Chou'er right now and eliminate the threat once and for all."

Wrapped in his quilt, Hua Ting hurriedly followed. "But it’s already the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). If you don’t return to the palace now, what about morning court?"

"Morning court is garbage, even dogs wouldn’t attend."

"My dear ancestor, today’s morning court is to discuss your marriage! If you dare to skip it, we’re both doomed!"

"Doomed how? With me covering for you, how could you be doomed?"

"Oh, there are plenty of ways!" In his urgency, Hua Ting blurted out, "Do you even know your own limits right now?"

Jing Xuan, enraged by embarrassment: "I weigh 128 jin and 6 liang, how would I not know?! Besides, didn’t you just say you’d devote yourself to me, serve me until death?!"

"My own death is fine! But every day, you make me accompany you in chasing cats, teasing dogs, indulging in debauchery. The court has already started impeaching my grandfather, accusing the Hua family of lacking discipline, saying I’m some seductive fox scheming to imitate Deng Tong and Dong Xian, and even spreading rumors that you prefer men!"

Hua Ting was beyond distressed.

"If Prince Xiangding finds out that not only did you secretly meet me in the middle of the night, but also skipped morning court to visit a brothel with me, then those rumors about you liking men will be confirmed—and my entire family will be doomed!"

By the time he finished speaking, his voice was already trembling with tears.

Because he was genuinely terrified of Gu Fang.

But the more he feared Gu Fang, the angrier Jing Xuan felt inside.

He was the legitimate heir of the imperial family, the Son of Heaven!

Yet Gu Fang, simply by being the late-born son of Grand Elder Gu who had been his father’s mentor when his father was still a prince, ended up being his senior from birth.

By the time Jing Xuan was five and Gu Fang was thirteen, Grand Elder Gu had sacrificed his life to save his father from the previous emperor’s hands. His father, in turn, adopted Gu Fang as his sworn brother and rebelled with him.

Later, Gu Fang followed his father into battle, displaying extraordinary talent and earning countless military merits. There were even several times he nearly died protecting his father.

So by the time Jing Xuan was nine and Gu Fang was seventeen, his father ascended the throne. Gu Fang was granted the title of Prince Xiangding, given the best fiefdom, and specially permitted to remain in the capital indefinitely.

Then, when Jing Xuan was twelve and Gu Fang was twenty, his father having spent years waging war, exhausting both body and mind passed away at the prime age of forty. Before his death, he left an edict naming Jing Xuan as his successor.

At the same time, he personally appointed Gu Fang as the Regent, Imperial Mentor, and bestowed upon him the privilege of wearing five-clawed dragon robes, signifying that until the emperor assumed full control, Gu Fang's authority was equal to that of the throne.

This unparalleled honor made Gu Fang the highest-ranking non-royal in the history of the Great Yan dynasty. It also made him Jing Xuan’s teacher, his imperial uncle, his political overlord, his greatest obstacle and for the past eight years, the inescapable shadow and nightmare that loomed over him.

And now, he even dared to covet his beauty and body.

Absolutely outrageous.

For the sake of protecting his royal rear, which had already suffered eight years of Gu Fang’s oppression, Jing Xuan had to castrate that man today.

With this thought, his confidence soared.

"Don’t worry, if anyone is doomed, it won’t be you. And besides, I am the sovereign of this nation, the true Son of Heaven, the emperor decreed by fate. Even if that old bastard questions me in court tomorrow, I’ll just admit that I do like men! What can he possibly do about it?"

With that, he kicked open the courtyard gate.

Majestic. Unyielding. A king through and through.

Then, the night wind poured in, freezing everything on the spot.

Because at the exact moment he kicked open the courtyard gate, he clearly saw,

Beneath the last faint light of dawn in the early autumn night, amid the flickering bamboo shadows cast by the resplendent lanterns of the Prime Minister’s residence, a man dressed in a cyan robe and crane cloak stood quietly at the small courtyard entrance, holding a simple and elegant lantern.

There was no moon beneath the eaves, making his face indistinct.

Only his hand, illuminated by the lantern’s warm glow, appeared long, well-proportioned, and with distinct knuckles yet still as cold as the eternal ice of Cangyu Mountain.

Just like this person.

Clearly, he should have been a gentleman with flowing black hair and wide sleeves like drifting clouds. Yet simply standing there, he exuded an endless chill and sharpness, like the plum blossoms of the southern mountains, their branches weighed with frost and snow—waiting for the cold wind to pass through, spreading a solitude and desolation accumulated over countless years.

And only the flamboyantly dressed young emperor before him could make him slightly lift his gaze, cast a distant glance, and then indifferently ask,

"This unworthy old man dares to ask, does Your Majesty truly favor men?"

"…"

🌸 Historical Note 🌸
This is from Chinese history and does not relate to this novel.

Deng Tong (邓通) – A beloved courtier of Emperor Wen of Han, who deeply adored him. Some believe their bond may have been romantic. Deng Tong was gifted a copper mine but died in poverty after the emperor’s death.

Dong Xian (董贤) – The lover of Emperor Ai of Han. Their relationship is one of the most famous same-sex romances in Chinese history. The “cut sleeve” story, where the emperor refused to wake Dong Xian and cut his own sleeve instead, became a lasting symbol of male love.

Next