I really want to read about a ruler and his minister: the closest of companions, yet the most distant; trusting each other completely, yet always on guard. Behind Xue Shao's devotion to the affairs of state lies a surging love he will never be able to confess in his lifetime. Han Ye knows. Han Ye pretends not to know. Han Ye dares not know. And so it goes, for a lifetime.
Xue Shao, the Grand Chancellor who never married, became an eccentric old man in the eyes of others, and the only person bold enough to glare and shout at the emperor in court. Plenty of people envied him, and there were no shortage of petitions accusing him. In his early years, some even claimed that Chancellor Xue and a certain prince were plotting rebellion.
When Han Ye was at his most suspicious, he once had covert agents stake out the chancellor's residence. But Chancellor Xue did not conspire with any prince, nor did he even have any especially close disciples. Every day, he returned from court and shut himself in his study, reading books and submitting memorials with wise counsel. He had neither a lovely wife nor a concubine at home. Grand Chancellor Xue was a man of perfect integrity. When no one was around, the covert agents secretly read his manuscripts. By the lamplight, among the old books and scrolls, they found a few slips of paper, each bearing the same line: “The farther apart we are, the deeper my endless sorrow, flowing on without end like spring waters.” The agents stole one and presented it to Han Ye, believing Chancellor Xue had a beloved far away and was consumed by longing.
As clever as Han Ye was, he understood in that moment. The person Xue loved was not far away in another land, but close at hand, so close that it tormented Xue Shao, yet so far that he could never reach him. Han Ye stared at the slip of paper, sitting motionless until dawn.
After that, Xue Shao remained the boldest minister in the realm when it came to speaking frankly and remonstrating, while Han Ye remained the wisest and most sagacious emperor. Their names would be recorded in the histories forever, their reputations lasting through the ages.
That spring water, endlessly flowing beneath a thin veil of concealment, sank into every inch of Xue Shao's bones over the years, becoming loyalty and heartfelt devotion. It lasted until both he and Han Ye had grown old.
The writing style is humorous, but the only flaw is that the plot is not complete enough. It is like trying to write about three lives and three worlds (temple, heaven, and modern times), but it ends abruptly without an ending.
The writing is very good and has a dream-like feeling () but the story seems to have not been finished here. The subsequent extras seem to be separate chapters with different backgrounds.
The writing is good, the emotions are delicate, and the characters are deeply portrayed. It's not finished, there are pitfalls in some places, please fill them in [sending my heart]
I haven't finished reading it, but after more than 20 chapters, I can feel that the story is not complete, but there are no problems in other parts, it's pretty good (๑•̀ㅂ•́)ﾉ➹♡