[In progress]
Cool, beautiful minister and master of training dogs, the bottom × an obsessive, gloomy wolf-pup emperor, the top
In the third year of the Jingzhi era, the new emperor Xiao Zong changed the era name to Xuanding. He favored eunuchs, stripped ministers of power, purged the Empress Dowager's faction, and finally forced the Grand Secretary to confess to a crime with an imperial decree.
Grand Secretary Du Heng, born into a poor family and exceptionally clever, rose to the highest position through his ruthless methods and pushed forward reforms. But he never expected the newly enthroned puppet emperor to turn the tables on him.
A purge intended to bring down Du Heng destroyed the reform plan he had spent years arranging. Though Du Heng was not convicted, he was imprisoned in the Office of Imperial Guards. Xiao Zong secretly came to visit him with poison, but the poison not only failed to kill Du Heng, it instead brought about an outrageous incident that shocked them both.
After one passionate night, Xiao Zong couldn't bring himself to kill him.
Months later, Prince Rui led troops back to the capital in rebellion, pointing his sword at Xiao Zong. "Where is Ruofang?! Where have you locked him up?!"
Xiao Zong smiled. "Du Heng is mine. Don't even think about it."
Prince Rui gritted his teeth. "Fine. Then whoever is emperor gets to decide."
As the two faced off, someone arrived with another elite unit and surrounded the great hall.
When Xiao Zong and Prince Rui saw him, they both cried, "Ruofang!"
Du Heng's belly was slightly rounded. He walked calmly to the front of the hall, still wearing the same cold and proud expression as before.
"Both of you, shut up. The one I choose is the emperor."
A little scene:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince won't stop crying and is demanding to see Chancellor Du."
"The Crown Prince wants to see Chancellor Du?" Xiao Zong pressed his fingers to his forehead and closed his eyes, speaking in a muffled voice. "Tell him the Chancellor is busy investigating the annual taxes. I can't get so much as a glimpse of him all day. Crying won't help."
"Your Majesty..." The attendant hesitated, frowning. "His Highness is still young, and he hasn't eaten for half a day. He needs to be fed, but the wet nurse can't get near him at all..."
Xiao Zong seemed to remember something and suddenly opened his eyes. "Quick, bring the Crown Prince here. I'll take him to see Chancellor Du myself!"
● One-on-one, happy ending, both leads each other's only partners. The top is nine years younger than the bottom.
● Alternate history, with the imperial system modeled on the Ming dynasty.
● There is some political maneuvering, but not much. Later on, the emperor does whatever the Grand Secretary says.
Theme: There is always a way forward
