Dual Male Leads | Substitute | Raising and Nurturing | Older Man/Younger Man | Sickly, Naive Younger Bottom x Cold, Obsessive Older Top
On his deathbed, Ye Ling entrusted his closest friend, Xin Xin, who had always depended on him, to his elder brother Ye Tinglin, begging him to protect Xin Xin for the rest of his life and let him take Ye Ling’s place.
From then on, Mu Lingxin, the seventh imperial prince and rightful heir who had been kidnapped and lost his memories, became Ye Lingxin, the young master of the Duke of Mao’s manor.
Frailer than most and always sleepy, he was naive and pure. He had no idea he was someone else’s replacement, and relied wholeheartedly on his adoptive elder brother, Ye Tinglin, the one who had saved him.
A prodigy who had placed first in the imperial examinations at sixteen, Ye Tinglin gave up his official post to study medicine. For ten years, he kept the truth secret and bore the pain of losing his infant brother alone, carefully raising the foolish little brother he had taken in.
After ten years together, their brotherly affection had long since crossed the line. He concealed his obsessive love, asking only to protect him and keep him safe year after year.
When the false young master appeared, with treacherous hearts and political enemies plotting against them, Ye Lingxin mistakenly believed his brother had grown to hate him and fled in disgrace.
At the brink of death, he shielded Ye Tinglin from a poisoned arrow. As he lay dying, all the memories sealed away for ten years came flooding back.
At last, he remembered his beloved friend’s tragic death and realized he had stolen someone else’s life. Overwhelmed with guilt, he decided to leave.
But everyone knew the entire Ye family doted on him beyond measure.
His cold, restrained elder brother cast off his disguise and pursued him with obsessive devotion: “You were never a substitute. You are the only person I have ever loved.”
When his true identity was revealed, he turned out to be the imperial heir who had gone missing thirteen years ago. Palace conspiracies and court intrigues followed one after another.
This time, he returned to official life, ready to overturn the world for him and protect him from all worry, year after year.
