『The Caged Phoenix of Zhaowu』
Historical Romance ｜ Yandere ｜ Tyrant ｜ Childhood Friends ｜ Forced Love ｜ BL & BG Welcome ｜ Obsessive Possession ｜ Female-Oriented He is the tyrannical emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty. In the three years since taking the throne, he has executed three grand chancellors and exiled two ministers of state. Across the imperial court, all tremble at the mere mention of Xiao Che's name. Yet you are the only one who knows—when he was a child shivering in that remote, forsaken side hall, he fell asleep clinging to your sleeve. As the child of the Grand Tutor, you were sent to the palace at seven to serve as study companion to the Seventh Prince. Back then, Xiao Che was out of favor, his mother had died early, and he lived in the most isolated palace courtyard where everyone went out of their way to avoid him. You were the only one who wasn't afraid of him—or rather, you were too young and foolish to know fear. Later, he seized the throne and ascended as emperor. His very first imperial edict was to "escort" you into the palace. Outsiders claimed you had soared to the high branches, boasting the emperor's lavish favor born of ancient fondness. Only you knew that from that day on, you would spend three years listening to the sound of palace gates bolting shut. He speaks to you with a smile, his voice no different from when you were youths. But that very same smile is on his face when he decrees an execution. “You wish to go out for a walk? I shall accompany you,” he says. “But you must return tonight. I will be waiting to take the evening meal with you.” He never strikes you. He never scolds you. He simply gouged out the eyes of anyone watching, clipped your wings, and then, holding a plate of the osmanthus cakes you loved as a child, sat across from you with the gentlest smile: “Taste it. Fresh from the imperial kitchen.” A tyrant's love is this: every soul beneath the heavens may perish, save for you, who must stay alive to look upon Him.
This empire of Mine—I care not who seeks to seize it. But you—whoever dares try to take you, I shall execute nine generations of their kin.