The Darker the Night, The Brighter the Stars

In the inner palace of Zhao Country, a tall figure in black and gold brocade was walking towards the hall with quick yet unhurried footsteps.

Court Lady Choi who saw the tall and imposing figure was surprised but she quickly bowed and announced his arrival to the Empress Dowager.

"His Highness, Prince Jing has arrived!"

Fu Yanqing walked calmly inside and met the gaze of his biological mother. They seized each other up then his eyes landed on a young girl no older than fifteen sitting beside her.

"Big brother!" Fu Tian Su was Fu Yanqing's younger sister from a different mother. Although she was Concubine Ning's daughter, Fu Tian Su was a very loveable girl who likes to follow him around. She was sheltered and wasn't like the detestable women he had met.

She was also more close to Empress Dowager than her real mother, Concubine Ning. Empress Dowager was also fond of Fu Tian Su since she was the only girl among three siblings.

As for Fu Jinlou, the youngest, they didn't care.

Although he was the current Emperor, Fu Jinlou was merely a figurehead and Fu Yanqing who was Prince Regent was the real ruler behind the scenes. Because of this, Fu Jinlou was the youngest, and first-ever puppet Emperor in Zhao Country's history.

Fu Yanqing who has power over the military force of the country was unshakable in his position. Even the court officials and ministers were afraid of him. He could end a person's life with just one look if he wanted to.

At the age of fifteen, he entered the military, climbed the ranks at a fast pace, earned merits during the war, and led the country to countless victories. He was a well-respected military figure and war hero.

By the age of eighteen, the country's military power has easily fallen on his lap. His incompetent father only knows how to fool around with the women of the harem while Fu Yanqing risks his life in battle.

Fu Yanqing's experiences in war have made him a cold and unfeeling person. When he came back to the capital, he spared no effort in cleansing the inner court and exposing those big-bellied officials who were embezzling money from disaster relief and development funds. The corruption was so deep that it took him a lot of years and effort to get rid of those ministers and officials.

He went in and out of the palace repeatedly, traveling long distances, and encountered dozens of assassination attempts every month because of the accumulated grudges from all the people he had offended.

Of course, those fools ended up six feet under the ground after their failed attempts at ending his life.

His younger brother, Fu Jinlou who was only eleven years old this year was his father's favorite son because he was born from his father's most favored concubine, Concubine Xiang.

Fu Yanqing wasn't keen on having a battle for the throne. It was already glaringly obvious that Fu Yanqing was the most suitable candidate as the next Emperor. It was only because of Fu Yanqing that the county hasn't collapsed due to its incompetent emperor.

It was also thanks to Fu Yanqing's efforts that the Zhao country has repelled every attempt at invasion from the neighboring countries. Of course, Fu Yanqing didn't spare the losing countries and he made unreasonable conditions that benefited the Zhao Country.

He was merciless to his enemies because he couldn't afford any error that would risk Zhao Country. Although he was a cold and indifferent man, Fu Yanqing cares about Zhao Country.

It had been his life goal to ensure that the country remains a military powerhouse with prosperous days for hundreds of years. It was all thanks to his incompetent father who made Fu Yanqing strive to be the best.

Fu Yanqing who was only five years old before and was poisoned by his father's concubine was awakened to the harsh reality that the world wasn't kind to anyone.

When he first saw his mother pleading for his father to visit Fu Yanqing, and witnessed him refusing without even a glance, Fu Yanqing immediately knew that he could only rely on his self.

The palace wasn't a kind palace. It was the most dangerous place other than the battlefield.

His father had never cared for him.

His younger brother had lied to him.

Concubine Xiang who has repeatedly toyed with his father and tried many attempts to eliminate Fu Yanqing...

His father's other concubines who wanted to use him...

The court officials that tried to scheme against him...

Even his Empress Mother who had wanted him to fight for his place on the throne...

These people have always made his life difficult. Even when Fu Yanqing thought that he had the grasp on the throne, there were still many obstacles that came his way.

Though he had killed his own father, his younger brother who was only eleven years old stabbed him in the stomach while Concubine Xiang hired assassins to poison then kill him.

Even when he thought he had done everything, Fu Yanqing was still caught off guard.

Ah, and it was all because he couldn't get rid of one single woman.

What made it harder for him to accept was that this woman who saved him was shameless enough to ask him to leave as soon as he had recovered.

"I don't need your money or gratitude. Just never ever show yourself to me ever again." She had told him.

No one had ever been bold enough to say such outrageous words in front of his face. They would usually be too scared to meet his gaze or approach him.

Yet this woman...

Not only did she saved him, but she was also stubborn enough to force medicine down his throat and threatened to kick him out if he wouldn't cooperate.

"I have spent the whole month taking care of you. Your only responsibility is to help yourself, why are you being so stubborn? You don't like the taste of medicine? What are you, a child?"

Even though she was scared of him, she had sincerely and patiently made sure he ate and drank his medicine on time.

And all this because she wanted to get rid of him immediately.

"Be good and get better soon. That way, you can go home." His naive savior who didn't know him made this careless remark without knowing its consequences.

Even under his icy glare, she could still stare back and glare just as viciously.

"You bad...bad man..." He heard her muttering when she turned her back on him.

Fu Yanqing couldn't help but demand more things after seeing this. An urge to play with her making its way deep inside him.

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