Rumor had it that the Crown Prince of Yunxiao, who had lost both his parents as a child, was born weak-willed and ignorant. Thanks to the Regent’s protection, he managed to ascend the throne at fifteen.
The Regent, Long Yan, was ambitious and held power over the entire court. He was handsome, but everyone could tell that his mood was far from pleasant, though no one knew why.
When he was fifteen, the first time he met the little Crown Prince at his family residence, his father gave him strict instructions: “Yan’er, stay by his side and keep him safe. He will be the hope of the whole realm one day.”
So he taught the Crown Prince literature, strategy, and the art of war, turning him into an emperor. Yet after years of painstaking effort, what he had raised was a good-for-nothing!
But what made him even more unhappy was that, for all his uselessness, the boy had an extraordinary talent for attracting admirers!
And so, day after day, the Regent’s mood swung between hot and cold, while an inexplicable gloom and sourness gradually welled up inside him.
The Regent was baffled.
His aloof, pale moonlight smiled. “He has feelings for me. Regent, you should know your place.”
The prince of a neighboring kingdom flicked open his folding fan. “I can’t control what other people say. By the same token, anyone who thinks they can control me is dreaming. Regent, step aside.”
The Imperial Preceptor lowered his eyes and delivered a startling diagnosis. “Restlessness caused by deficiency, with yin unable to restrain yang. His complexion is pale. This is a deficiency syndrome and needs treatment. He’s too weak. Not good.”
His archenemy said, “Either kill him or take him. If I have to choose, I’d rather take him. He looks so sweet. It would be a shame not to take a bite, don’t you think?”
“...”
The Regent was practically spitting blood.
Then, one day, the Regent’s mind went blank.
He stared at the round, black head of the emperor, who was bent over the desk, laboriously reviewing memorials. He seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.
The little emperor glanced back with his round, black eyes at the Regent’s twisted expression and stammered, “My dear Regent, did you want to say something?”
The Regent’s mind short-circuited, and he blurted out, “I want to touch you...”
Straight-laced, beautiful little emperor, the bottom * Regent who is learning to love, the top
+++++++
Theme: The realm is boundless and beautiful
