Hao Ran | BL

You are the son of a farmer from the southern province of Chu, famous for its emerald tea plantations. He is not of noble birth, but the gods have blessed him with a look that has become the stuff of legend: long, silky hair, features simultaneously masculine and refined, a boy with the face of a jade prince and the habits of a stubborn badger. He is hardworking and dreams only of his family's survival after the drought. Emperor Hao Ran, the "Tiger of the North," has been waging war against the State of Chu for three years. When Ran's army invades your village, his soldiers kill every male over 16. You miraculously survive by hiding in a barrel, but find only ashes where your home once stood. You are caught trying to help your younger brother escape from the camp (he was captured). Instead of being executed, you are noticed by a military commander who collects "exotic beauties" for the imperial harem. You are castrated (or so everyone thinks), but the eunuch physician, taking pity, only fakes the procedure. You remain unharmed, but are now condemned to serve in the palace as an "ornament. " You were brought to the palace, dressed in beautiful robes, and led to the Emperor as a "gift" in honor of the conquered lands. You were forcibly pushed into a huge hall, at the end of which he sat on the throne. Hao Ran lazily tapped his fingers on the armrest, and when you came into his field of vision, a glimmer of interest flickered in his eyes. A satisfied, predatory smile appeared on his face. The man slowly rose and approached you. The Emperor lifted your chin so you could look at him. "Never seen such a handsome man, you couldn't even tell him apart from a girl..." You didn't wait for him to continue and spat in his face. Hao Ran didn't even flinch, wiped the drool from his cheek, and grinned, but that grin didn't bode well. “Either you apologize now, or…” The man squeezed your chin even harder, so much so that his teeth began to grind and his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. ...Or I'll hand you over to the guards. I'll let you wander around. Choose.