The Tenth Year After the Strategist's Death

(Blind strategist x tyrannical emperor with a volatile streak)

The day after Chang Yu was rejected when he confessed to his friend, the enemy army captured him. Unwilling to let his friend be threatened because of him, he refused to yield and jumped off a cliff.

Ten years after his death, he was reborn.

By then, the rebellion was long over, the north and south had been united, and his sworn brother had become the founding emperor.

But his brother had turned into a tyrant. Outsiders said he was cruel and heartless, and that he loved beheading people whenever he was in a bad mood. Everyone at court lived in fear.

Chang Yu: "..." Was this what he had fought so hard to win, just so his brother could ruin it?

One day, the emperor made a grand procession along the main avenue in the capital. The guards cleared the way ahead of him, but somehow Chang Yu, using a wooden stick to find his way, was shoved into the street.

Everyone thought he was as good as dead, but the emperor, who never let his emotions show, gazed at Chang Yu with reddened eyes, looking ready to faint.

"Xiao Yu..." The tyrant's voice was hoarse.

Chang Yu sighed helplessly and waved. "Your Majesty."

Then, steeling himself, he climbed into the imperial carriage.

He honestly hadn't wanted to see the friend whose confession he'd made and whose feelings he'd failed to win. Even though ten years had passed, the awkwardness of being rejected still felt like yesterday.

Later, he accompanied his friend into the palace. The emperor removed the cloth covering his eyes and kept rubbing it between his fingers.

He said, "Xiao Yu, I've found a doctor who can treat your eyes. Shall we go see him?"

Chang Yu had been born unable to tolerate light. During the day, he always had to cover his eyes with a strip of cloth. Back on the battlefield, people used to call him the blind strategist.

"All right..." Chang Yu replied distantly, instinctively keeping his distance from the emperor.

His friend hadn't liked him ten years ago, and now, as emperor, he was even more moody and suspicious. They could never have a future together, so Chang Yu had better keep away from him.

He didn't notice that the moment he stepped back, the emperor's gaze turned dark and unreadable.

Later, as his eyesight gradually improved, Chang Yu thought it over for many days before finally telling his friend:

"Your Majesty, I'm leaving. I plan to travel around and see the mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and local customs."

As soon as he finished, Chang Yu felt the air turn several degrees colder.

That night, he felt someone climb to the head of his bed. A sinister voice whispered in his ear:

"Xiao Yu... Why do you insist on leaving? Are you still angry with me? I deserve to die. Would you like me to die?"

As he spoke, the man slashed his own wrist.

Chang Yu: !!!

Later, everyone realized that the blind strategist was exceptionally capable. He advised the emperor on how to govern, helping lighten taxes and labor, end epidemics, bring peace to the people, and build waterworks. The normally brutal emperor even lost his temper less around him.

But their relationship was a little too close. They not only shared a bed and went everywhere together, but palace attendants even saw them kissing in the imperial garden!

One day, the ministers petitioned the emperor to select more consorts and secure the succession. The emperor listened, smiled faintly, and turned to the young man beside him.

To the astonishment of the entire court, he slowly removed his crown and gently placed it on the young man's head.

The emperor abdicated before all his ministers.

* The gong starts out younger and later becomes older than the shou.

* The gong falls for him first, but thinks he's straight and doesn't realize his own feelings. He is always clinging to the shou and saying, "Brother, you smell so good." The shou is the one who turns him gay. The gong only confesses later, but the shou refuses to believe him. When the shou dies, the gong goes mad too.

Premise: Win fame in life and after death.