As a prince who was content to coast through life, Qin Mo had little interest in the throne.
To prove he posed no threat, he had himself sent all the way to the northwest desert to serve under Chu Yuheng, the young general who had been made a marquis in his teens. Then he shamelessly refused to leave.
He learned military formations and horseback combat from Chu Yuheng, and the other man grew more indulgent toward him by the day, while Qin Mo's feelings only deepened.
But Chu Yuheng was as dense as a block of wood.
Qin Mo tried every way he could to tease him, making suggestive remarks and even brushing their fingertips together when handing him a waterskin, yet he couldn't even get so much as a glance in return.
The more setbacks Qin Mo faced, the more determined he became.
Until news arrived from the capital: his father wanted to arrange a marriage for him, and the bride was none other than Chu Yuheng's younger sister.
Worst of all, Chu Yuheng strongly supported the match and kept trying to push him away.
What was this supposed to be?
He had worked so hard to get close to Chu Yuheng, not to become his brother-in-law.
Qin Mo was dumbstruck.
If the imperial decree could not be disobeyed, then perhaps it was time for someone else to become emperor.
*
Chu Yuheng, the celebrated young Marquis of Pingnan, was Yan Chi's youngest general.
The Minister of Rites' daughter wanted to marry him, the Vice Minister's daughter hoped he would propose, and even a princess from a neighboring kingdom who had come to marry for political reasons boldly professed her love for him at a banquet.
Yet he paid no attention to any of the women in the capital who had fallen for him.
People said he was virtuous and chaste, but they had no idea he had fallen in love at first sight with someone long ago.
That person had been at his side for four years. He watched him outgrow his youthful inexperience and stand on his own, watched him devise strategies and lay his plans.
He was hopelessly in love, but did not dare cross the line. All he could do was pretend to be blind and mute.
Only when warm lips pressed against his collarbone and the young man, eyes red, demanded in a hoarse voice, "You clearly love me too. Why do you insist on pushing me away?" did Chu Yuheng finally realize that love could never truly be hidden.
Reading Guide
1. This story uses a fictional system of three dukes and six ministries and is set in an imaginary ancient world. There are many other fictional elements, so please don't overthink them. The author has limited writing skills, and this is my first ancient-setting novel, so it has many shortcomings. The story focuses on romance. Many thanks to everyone who collects and reads it.
2. Both leads are people of the ancient world, with no transmigration or golden finger. They have known each other since childhood, and the gong is four years younger than the shou.
3. A bold and flamboyant prince gong x a celebrated general shou
Theme: Nation, family, and the world
Damn, how many words are expected to be completed?
I focus on scanning articles late at night, and ghosts float by [Cat's Claw]
Hahahaha emperor and matchmaker
The setting is so interesting~~I like it!