(BL) The Ugly Empress

Smh... That stupid sister of TY's, not only is she making XJL wear a green hat (cheating on him), she also gets persuaded by her lover to set TY's (Empress') building on fire. It's yet another plot by TY's blood family.

As advised by TY, XJL had already left capital to help out refugees from TY's home country. They're so grateful that they built shrines to him lol. XJL was making his rounds when a eunuch came over and told him the news -- that Empress!TY had burned to death......

XJL in a towering rage. TY wakes up (transmigrates) to body of a prisoner in Imperial jail getting whipped for punishment. He's not supposed to die easy because he's the 'person who murdered the Empress.' He hears some news from the jailers about death of Empress. TY is not happy that he's died at the hands of his blood relations for like the umpteenth time.

Teng Sang is also p-ssed off. He was originally grateful to the Teng family because they adopted him when he was young and a beggar on the streets, but this is breaking his last straw. First it was TY (the original body) dying, then it's his friend the Empress (he doesn't know TY was the Empress) dying.

Flash to XJL being very sad among the things left behind by TY (Empress), like the war plans/maps he was working on and such.

Practically dead!TY (prisoner) brought in front of an angry XJL. But when he speaks, he talks about some things that only Empress knew since XJL had told him some things about his own past. XJL gets some kind of gut feeling and tells the Imperial doctors to keep him alive or else. TY's life is saved but he's covered with scars as he was in his original body -- 'kept alive' doesn't mean cosmetic makeover lel. Later, there is conversation between XJL and TY concerning the war. TY is bewildered at how XJL seems sad one moment and angry the next, but gets XJL to promise to give him some people/troops to help him out in the war. XJL still feels like something's up... so he gets the Empress' 3 close aides to tag along with TY. The aides are also super heartbroken over Empress' death.

There are two side couples in the story (both BL). One is Teng Sang and his lover, the other one is about the king of this poor country sandwiched in the middle of all these fights and his general (who is also someone planted by XJL). Teng Sang and his lover don't have any more problems because Teng Sang thinks the Teng family are all slag because of what they did to TY and the Empress. The king guy (Feng-something, I'll just call him Feng) has this heartbreaking romance with the general (Zhao-something) -- for instance, Feng is the one bottoming in exchange for Zhao's expertise as general but somehow there are real feelings. Zhao gets called the king's boytoy when the situation is actually the opposite...... and later on, when Zhao's real allegiance is revealed and relationship broken off, Feng is sick (coughing up blood) but he's still king and has to do his stuff. He sends a broken qin instrument to Zhao. Admittedly, this kind of enemies-in-a-relationship thing makes TY think of XJL and him.

At one point while facing off with XJL, TY's emotions run too strong for his beaten up body and he faints. Doctors examine him and explain that his injuries and his weakened heart mean that he shouldn't be angered, etc. too much or he'll really die. While unconscious, he calls XJL's name (which is huge taboo, not anyone can call Emperor by name). Doctor tries to cover for him because doing so is treason = death. But second time happens after doctor leaves. XJL is stunned because TY (as Empress) called for him the same way. XJL doesn't know what to make of this. He makes a deal with TY -- TY can help him out in exchange for living; XJL would grant him amnesty and TY would be demoted (his body is that of Teng Nan Hou? I think?). His further treatment would depend on how he conducted himself.

Somehow XJL has been talking with TY more. TY is confused. LOL 

Maybe TY become the Empress again after the second transmigration. Or more like Consort.

At this time, did XJL already know about the empress being TY? How?

And it leads to the downfall of the nation. And the sister is blood-related too. Some people thinks they're clever. 

Ten years ago, on a battlefield, Teng Yun looked at Xue Jun virtuously opening up new territory and protecting and supporting the entire country while he (TY) ended up with an arrow though his heart. When he woke up again, Teng Yun had become that person's ugly/disgraceful* empress...

He was a prince that had surrendered himself and was reborn as the enemy country's disgraceful/ugly empress. He had married this black-hearted king. They mutually hated and loved each other. They used every possible method. Chickens flew and dogs jumped. There wasn't any peace from the harem to the imperial court. At the end of the their story, they brought peace and stability to the country.

*丑 can mean ugly or disgraceful, so I wasn't sure which one to use. 

What's actually happen w/ TY's face (as ugly empress), i tried the first chap, and it feels like the face become like that bc poisoning . . . ??? or what ?

Also, i wonder why the title is Ugly Empress, when later he's transmigrated to other male body, and no longer an empress? 

MC dies, transmigrated into woman(empress) body, die again and is transmigrated into a male body
First Volume has around 45~ chaptersSecond volume starts after he dies and is transmigrated again 

How did MC die in first volume? 

More fluff as XJL arranges a medicinal bath for TY. XJL about to leave, but TY stammers that it's okay for XJL to get in too. In his black belly heart, XJL is cheering. He goes for a hug, TY is frozen and embarrassed, but he clings onto XJL even as he massages oil on his skin. At one point, it gets a bit much for him and TY bites XJL's neck. XJL just thinks: 'ah, my collar isn't going to cover that up.' LEL

LOL at XJL flirting with red-faced TY in front of his scheming relative (I think it's XJL's relative -- he also has surname Xue in pinyin; seems like he's ambitious) like he doesn't know he's there for a very purposeful moment.

TY also fond of little prince. His defense of little bun in front of big bun XJL has him telling him he's going to get jealous. LOL. XJL does stop when he notices he's teasing TY a bit too much.

Blah blah going to skip over war and some slow-moving relationship development stuff. It's mostly XJL and TY learning to be codependent. There's also a part where the servant tells TY about Feng & Zhao's past. When young, Feng had run to his family for shelter at one point (incognito I think), but it was enough to implicate them and get all but Zhao killed. Around this time, he was recruited by XJL. As hidden agent, Zhao stayed (presumably for revenge) and rose through ranks. Feng always felt guilty towards Zhao and tried to help him, though he never told Zhao since he didn't want to be hated. Then they somehow got into a relationship. And the relationship break-up we know of course.

Teng Sang gives XJL the Talk. LOL. Except he tells XJL that if he mistreats TY, he's going to persuade TY to leave him and find someone better. XJL of course swears that he'll always be good to TY.

Some slight angst and fluff as XJL goes to war for real. He's reluctant to send out TY because last time, he thought TY was dead and felt like his world collapsed. They talk it out with some hand holding. <3

Blah blah war, some complications as TY faints because of poison (again). He's in a coma but news is hidden to prevent Feng from taking advantage. XJL takes to the field and appoints his son as his successor in case of death. Just when XJL arrives, TY wakes up and staggers out, but in a bad state. Royal doctor brought along says poison is not an issue (cut off that bit of flesh I think), TY fainting was because of excessive blood loss and exhaustion. XJL nurses and hugs TY, it's super cute~ And they also try to get it on but fail because TY's injured~ Poor XJL lol, he must have blue balls.

XJL's fair reputation precedes him lel. Feng common people surrender without a hitch and they have clear path to the capital city. Feng and a small band of people flee the city and disperse. Projected time for entire city and country to fall is 3 months and it's hopeless anyway. Feng goes to the shores of the lake where he met Zhao, walks into the water (presumably to commit suicide). By the time Zhao gets there (he wanted to ask for clemency for Feng), Feng is unconscious and unresponsive in the water.

Takeover is a victory, XJL gets one of TY's relatives (a nice one) who'd proven himself in the war to manage the country while he and TY head back home. On the way back, XJL cons TY into getting into the carriage for a change of clothes, when in reality he wants to 'eat' him...... TY absolutely doesn't want to be heard by those outside so he's constantly stifling his noises. XJL finally 'eats' TY this time lol. It's around page 90-92 in sto.cc site raws. TY also fails to keep quiet because, uh, XJL's prowess?

So Feng is not dead. Zhao picked him up and managed to save him, but he's unconscious still. A lot of angst as Zhao feels that Feng won't want to see him but that he'll also go mad if he doesn't save him. Zhao was cold and shaking and afraid to even check if Feng was still alive when he pulled him out of the water. He stands outside the house while doctor goes about his work.

XJL uses TY's victories to promote him to Empress position, even though he's male.

Zhao tries to ask for clemency for Feng, but this of course makes XJL super, super angry. By all rules of common sense, he should be killing Feng because he's a loose end. Zhao is pretty much sentenced to death until a bunch of panicky underlings run to TY to get him to persuade XJL. TY and XJL end up having a good talk (Zhao not going to die anymore, better thank your Empress lel) and that leads to... cough, doing the deed, cough, but they get cock-blocked by another messenger.

Zhao is in prison. He's freed pretty soon, but he does cry over Feng since he thought Feng was executed. He soon asks to retire from service (granted). Later conversation between XJL and TY reveals that XJL knows that TY had them both released.

Last note is a sort of historian's note: Dynasty was prosperous and well-known for having a male Empress. The Empress' building was renamed later to Teng Yun Palace/Temple.

THE END 

Could you elaborate on those 3 titles? Asking for educational purposes.