The Crown Prince is excellent in every way. He excels at both scholarship and governance, is ruthless in his methods yet still has a sense of benevolence, enjoys the support of the court, and gets along well with his brothers. He’s very much like His Majesty was in his youth.
His father doesn’t like him crying, so he’s hardly shed a tear since childhood.
Once, he let a few tears fall in front of the general in private, complaining about his troubles. The very next day, the general went to ask for a favor and got him out of his predicament.
Having found a way to get what he wanted, the Crown Prince began dropping by the general’s side whenever he had something on his mind. When nothing was wrong, the general was his riding and archery instructor. When trouble came, he would secretly redden his eyes and dab at the corner of one with his sleeve, pretending to wipe away a tear.
As long as he was willing to cry, the general would do anything for him.
Eight times out of ten, he was faking it, but the general never noticed.
Until one day, while chatting in bed, the general complained that he never looked convincing when he pretended to cry.
[Bonus Scene]
The general says that although the Crown Prince often sheds tears in front of him, they’re always fake. He’s never seen him cry in earnest and would like to.
Not even two days after he had the thought, word came from the palace that father and son had quarreled. The Crown Prince had taken twenty strokes and was carried back to the Eastern Palace.
The general hurried over to see him. As the Crown Prince cried while they applied medicine, the general’s heart broke. He had always been afraid of pain, and this was the worst beating he’d ever taken.
The general never wanted to see the Crown Prince cry again for the rest of his life.
[A swaggering general outside, a bit of a softie inside × a decisive Crown Prince outside, a whimpering sweetheart inside]
Theme: Only those who excel at both civil and military affairs can stay together for the long haul.
The Well-Behaved Young Master and His Everyday Mind-Reading
After Being Captured by a Big Shot
After I Transmigrated into a Book, the Villainous Tycoon Pursued Me
Bringing Home a Delicate Rose
Marrying into My Ex-Boyfriend's Family Through an Arranged Marriage
The Little White Bird's Red Plan
My Ministers Can't Read