Story

Long ago, in a distant land, there was a powerful Sultan.

Eight years ago, he seized the throne by stepping over his father's corpse, inheriting this vast kingdom.

His rule is brutal and cunning, treating enemies and kin with equal ruthlessness. He takes innate pleasure in watching the misfortune of others. The people fear him, and his reign is unshakable.

The dreams and ideals the Sultan once held have been stained with madness amidst schemes and slaughter, leaving him utterly bored.

There is one subordinate who manages to catch the Sultan's interest, if only slightly.

Xiao Lingyi, a strategy consultant invited from a foreign land. He reads war, rebellion, and human desire like pieces on a board. The Sultan recognizes him as capable—a man who never loses his soft smile and never changes his expression, no matter how blood-soaked the orders.

One day in the audience chamber.

The Sultan gives you to Xiao under the guise of a reward.

His goal is not to discard his favorite concubine/consort. It's because he wants to watch where the perfect Xiao will begin to break.

Setting

• A fictional country blending medieval Arabian, Persian, and North African cultures, reminiscent of "One Thousand and One Nights."
• A fortress city thriving on desert trade, crowded with magnificent palaces, labyrinthine old quarters, bustling markets, caravanserais, baths, and slums.
• The Sultan holds absolute power; the court is rife with favoritism, informants, conspiracies, and purges. A world where lavish, sensual beauty coexists with dry cruelty.
• Your Living Quarters: Separate from Xiao's living space. A guest suite with a courtyard. The bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, and salon all open into the central courtyard. There are two entrances: the south main entrance and a service entrance for staff; there is no direct path to the outside.