My Two Adoptive Fathers Became Enemies

In the sixth year of the Jiachang era, the emperor died, the crown prince disappeared, and the ninth prince hastily ascended the throne.

The long-running struggle between the Xie and Wei factions exploded all at once. From then on, the two sides dropped all pretense and became sworn enemies.

Everyone knew that Xie Shen and Wei Xu had known each other for years. Everyone knew that the orphaned heir of Marquis Ji'an had been raised together by Xie Shen and Wei Xu.

And everyone understood that by now, the two men had to fight to the death, with no room for retreat.

Xu Mingqing had no choice but to return to the capital six years later. No one knew that he was the child from back then.

As soon as he returned, the new emperor appointed him Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

When the imperial edict was read aloud in court, the whole assembly erupted. Xu Mingqing's mouth twitched, and he instinctively glanced toward the two figures standing at the front of the steps.

The objections were loud, but somehow the matter caused not the slightest ripple.

After court, in the imperial study, the young emperor sat upright on the dragon throne as Xu Mingqing bent at the waist and bowed deeply.

"Look up."

Xu Mingqing looked up and met Wei Xu's gaze. At some point, Wei Xu had come to stand right in front of him.

Xu Mingqing paused, lowered his eyes, and looked away from him. In a distant tone, he said, "Your Highness, Prince Wei."

He kept his body facing the emperor. The young emperor watched Prince Wei being casually ignored, his eyes darting back and forth.

His imperial uncle was fierce and cruel! This man was unbelievably bold!

The young emperor was on edge, but his uncle showed no anger. Only after steadying himself did he raise his hand at his uncle's prompting. "Please rise, my subject."

Xu Mingqing had barely left the palace when someone intercepted him. He fell onto the padded seat of a carriage, nearly landing on top of someone.

"It has been a long time." Xie Shen pulled him upright and said coolly, "Have you forgotten how to address people?"

Xu Mingqing opened and closed his mouth. The words were stuck in his throat, and it took a long while before he managed a quiet, "Little Father."

The Grand Secretary Xie was satisfied. Smiling warmly, he stroked Xu Mingqing's head. "A Lin has just returned to the capital. Come home with Little Father. You can stay at my place."

Xu Mingqing forced himself to endure the awkwardness and refused. "I have my own residence..."

Xie Shen let go, leaned back against the carriage wall, and stopped smiling as he stared at him.

Xu Mingqing kept up his composure and replied just as distantly, "Lord Xie, I will observe the proper conduct of a subject and do my job well. I take my leave."

Xie Shen glanced at his hand, his breathing growing heavier. At last, he gave a rough laugh and left just like that.

He really had grown up. Nothing about him was the same anymore.

Prince Wei and Grand Secretary Xie each held immense power, enough to blot out the sky.

Their factions struggled against each other, keeping each other in check, until a sudden and world-shaking turn of events threw everything into chaos.

That little bastard Xu Mingqing had actually dug up their past behind their backs and turned everything upside down.

Wei Xu was furious and stormed straight into the Xie residence to seize him.

Xu Mingqing knelt between them, waiting for someone to teach him a lesson.

He had always been more afraid of Wei Xu. Wei Xu was far more fearsome than Xie Shen.

Who could have known that this time, he wouldn't be the only one to break.

With nowhere to run and unable to bear it any longer, Xu Mingqing babbled, "It hurts... Little Father, godfather..."

Wei Xu gripped his chin. Xie Shen couldn't even force a smile this time. His voice turned icy. "Is that all you have to say?"

His eyes were red, but he was still shameless, brazenly declaring, "I did nothing wrong. You're the ones who are wrong."

Xu Mingqing lay on the ground, barely alive. His eyes were open, but he no longer looked at anyone.

The balance between his two adoptive fathers seemed to have reached its limit too, and it shattered today as well.

They were at each other's throats, and the situation was perilous.

His Little Father and godfather each held sway over one side, forcing him to choose.

Xu Mingqing curled his lips into a smile, but a tear rolled from his eyes. He tilted his head back and said defiantly, "Godfather and Little Father... both belong to me."

"..."

[Basically, it's the vulgar setup of a uke who says he's scared but can't actually live without older men controlling him, and who takes advantage of their indulgence to keep pushing their boundaries, pushing two people's limits at once.]

[Note]

- Main pairing: one bottom, two tops. Everyone is chaste.

- The two adoptive fathers feel nothing but hatred for each other, with no romantic feelings. They raised the bottom together in the early years because of his biological father.

- The bottom seems mild but actually has a terrible temper. When he's being especially nasty, he goes berserk and attacks everyone indiscriminately, so naturally he gets beaten up.

The author's older-man kink is vulgar. The tone swings between disturbing and sweet doting.

Theme: Please be a good person.