Spring at the Imperial Terrace

Lu Tingzhang x Xiahou Shuo

A minister forced to serve the emperor, the top x an emperor who falls for his looks and takes what he wants, the bottom

Lu Tingzhang was born into a poor family. He had an elderly mother and a young sister to support.

The whole family placed their hopes in him. The year he came of age, he finally lived up to their expectations and passed the imperial examination.

He rode through the streets to cheers and was showered with flowers, fruit, and handkerchiefs.

Grateful to the emperor who had personally named him the top scholar, Lu Tingzhang resolved to serve him faithfully for the rest of his life and devote himself to the people.

At the Qionglin Banquet, the emperor saw him for the first time. His gaze was inscrutable as he smiled and called him his dear subject: "You look truly splendid in red, dear subject. Your elegance fills the whole capital. Even I can't compare to you by the smallest measure."

Lu Tingzhang dropped to his knees in trepidation, insisting he was unworthy.

The emperor slowly descended from the throne and helped him up with his own hands.

In that instant, everyone at the banquet understood that the young top scholar's future was bound to be limitless.

Only Lu Tingzhang felt as if he had plunged into an icy lake, chilled to the bone. No one but him heard the noble emperor's ambiguous whisper as he helped him up.

He said, "Dear subject, I will have my bed prepared tonight and await your arrival."

Theme: Be wary of workplace harassment