Binding the Minister: The Little Bitter Gourd Grand Tutor's Diary of Madness

[Devoted Tyrant Cang Anlin × Unhinged Tutor Shen Qingyan]⭐ Secret identities revealed

A 25-year-old Grand Secretary? ❓Don’t ask. He really did get the job through connections. ✔

Though Shen Qingyan was born into an aristocratic family, his career in government went remarkably well. The old emperor took a liking to him at a young age, appointing him as the Secretariat Director as soon as he entered public service, then making him the Crown Prince’s tutor before long. The problem was that the crown prince was a little monster who rebelled against his teacher and his ancestors. Shen Qingyan was still too young and didn’t think things through. Armed with a feather duster, he kept the little monster, Crown Prince Cang Anlin, thoroughly in line.

Did Shen Qingyan never consider that this crown prince would inherit the throne one day?

His younger brother could only sigh again and again. [Brother, you’re the one who left him no room to maneuver. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. What kind of person spends two or three years as the crown prince’s tutor and beats him for a thousand days straight?]

Shen Qingyan’s face crumpled. [Waaah, why is my life so miserable?!]

At last, the day arrived. The once unruly crown prince ascended the throne.

[Tutor, hehe.]

[Waaah... No, Your Majesty, please hear me out!]

He wasn’t going to listen. Hadn’t Cang Anlin wanted the throne because he was infatuated with Shen Qingyan? Now that he was emperor, how could he let Shen Qingyan get away?

[Tutor, would you rather have your entire clan accompany you to your death, or obediently marry me?]

Sorry to disappoint, everyone. I’m a pushover. I’m not cut out to fight back.

[In that case, Your Majesty, it’s not as if I can’t marry you...]

--End of the skit blurb. The regular blurb follows--

The tyrant Cang Anlin had been unruly since childhood, picking fights with the heavens, the earth, and his teacher. But every wild horse has its tamer. Ever since Shen Qingyan became his tutor, Cang Anlin’s eyes sparkled whenever he saw him. The throne he’d once disdained became irresistible: if he inherited it, he could marry his tutor!

But Shen Qingyan was a career-minded man with his heart set on his country and its people. When the tyrant Cang Anlin took the throne, Shen Qingyan thought he was unworthy of it and, utterly lacking in romance, tried to rebel. Instead, the tyrant pinned him to the imperial bed and asked, “Tutor, would you like to be empress?”

...Not particularly.

Shen Qingyan really wanted to refuse, but his entire clan was at stake.

Shen Qingyan took it in stride. If that was how things were, he might as well enjoy himself.

So Shen Qingyan bowed and said:

“Your Majesty, I want to be the Secretariat Director.”

“I also want a phoenix crown and robes, and a ceremony to make me empress.”

“I need a big mansion too. My parents kicked me out, and I have nowhere to go.”

“My older brother wants to be a Minister of Works. My younger brother wants to get married, so please grant him permission.”

Unfortunately, Cang Anlin had no real power and was dead broke. Seeing that he wouldn’t be able to marry his beloved, Cang Anlin panicked.

“Just you wait, Tutor! I’ll go seize power for you right now!”

Shen Qingyan was delighted and continued concealing his secret identity while playing the tutor.

But then Cang Anlin provoked the empress dowager, got caught up with rebels, and went around causing trouble. Shen Qingyan was exhausted from cleaning up his messes. Cang Anlin just grinned. “Tutor, don’t you think I’m wise and mighty?”

Shen Qingyan: ??? Well... you are pretty mighty. Your Majesty, perhaps I shouldn’t be empress after all...

Cang Anlin: ??? How can that be?! Just wait. I’ve caught someone important lately! If I bring him down, you’ll be able to become the Secretariat Director!

Shen Qingyan had a vague sense that something was wrong, until he realized his secret identity had been exposed...

Cang Anlin! You’ve torn off my disguise!!!

Shen Qingyan was close to tears. [Making me marry myself seems a bit unnecessary...]

--★★ [First-person narration and internal monologues ahead]★★--

★Behind layers of masks, which one is real?★

If I hadn’t noticed, Tutor, were you planning to hide this from me forever?

--I had no choice.

Why did you hide it from me, Tutor? Why did you endure so much?

--So you still haven’t answered me. Why are a hundred thousand Imperial Guards surrounding me alone?

Shen Qingyan!

--Why are a hundred thousand Imperial Guards surrounding me alone?!

A peach-soft face, eyes like still water, three smiles that cherish old love in this life.

A lonely heart in sorrow, who schemes against whom? A red robe that will be remembered for all ages.

This story belongs to the Delusion series. From the perspective of the factions: the State of Xiao.

★This is not a comedy.

★Completely fictional setting, independent world, part of a series.★

A deranged story with no literary merit, just the author going wild and writing whatever comes to mind. I’m a new author and getting started is hard. Please leave polite comments and add it to your collection!

Also featuring four other works in progress:

Modern romance, Cloud Disperses series:

#10544880 “When Zhiyang Meets Chen Dust: The CEO Falls for Me, a Freeloader” 1v1, mutually devoted, happy ending. The possessive, obsessive CEO Shen Zhiwan × the capable golden canary Lu Chenyang, who’s trying not to be a freeloader.

Historical romance, Delusion series:

#10560390 “Ink Stains the White Isles” (to begin after “Binding the Minister” is complete) [Mutually devoted and equally matched, two ministers skilled in both letters and arms, reunited lovers + bickering enemies + mutual crush]

Uncategorized sci-fi, Starshine series:

#10694044 “Commander, the Speed Limit Is 800. Step on It! [Magic Mecha] Shining Star, Glowing Firefly” (magic + mecha + a touch of space opera). Mutually devoted, equally matched. Female lead, third-person narration. Genius commander × ace pilot.

Theme: I will give myself completely and never fail my mission.