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Pei Yu has a former lover who is a famous courtesan, and a sworn enemy he must never befriend.
One day, he discovers they're the same person.
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1. Pei Yu's parents guard the country's borders, far away from the emperor.
To reassure both sides, Pei Yu is sent away from the frontier to the capital as a "hostage," becoming a precarious piece of "jade."
When he first arrives in the capital, he meets the famous courtesan Yaoniang at a brothel.
What? Yaoniang is a man?
So what if he's a man? No one ever said a famous courtesan couldn't be a man.
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2. Yaoniang leans against the doorframe and coos, "Pei Lang, marry me."
A man can be that coquettish?
Pei Yu thinks that his main purpose is to reassure the emperor and his parents. As long as his in-laws have no power or influence, it won't make much difference whether he marries a man or a woman.
Marrying a man could even show the emperor that he has no intention of producing an heir.
He says, "All right. I'll marry you."
The next day, he hears that the famous courtesan Yaoniang has died.
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3. Pei Yu prepares to mourn for a year.
At the Mid-Autumn banquet, the emperor's maternal uncle, Meng Jiuzhou, is surrounded by courtiers as he performs a sword dance for the emperor and empress, his movements graceful and fierce, blending strength and softness.
But that face... The more Pei Yu looks, the more he thinks this is the wife who died before they could even marry.
Damn it! It really is him!!!
He was tricked!
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4. Later, Meng Jiuzhou nearly dies on an assignment and escapes with the second prince, arriving at the gates of Pei Yu's private residence. The second prince is welcomed inside. As for Meng Jiuzhou?
Pei Yu taps the threshold with his foot and says coldly, "Want to come in? Crawl."
Huh?
The second prince is stunned, his eyes opened to a whole new world. He stammers, "Uncle, you... he..."
Meng Jiuzhou says lightly, "Oh, it's nothing."
"I dressed as a woman and said I wanted to marry him. After he agreed, I died the next day."
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[Meng Jiuzhou (top) x Pei Yu (bottom)]
[A powerful minister who behaves wantonly but holds fast to his principles (top) x A gentle, steadfast general who acts decisively (bottom)]
Theme: Be a good official
