The World's Greatest Puppeteer

For now, updates are scheduled for around midnight each day. (I was so busy before that the story went on a long hiatus. I beg forgiveness for vanishing, and I'll finish it in one go from here on out.) Blurb: Controlling puppets is an exceptionally advanced art, and in this day and age, puppet masters have all but vanished. Lu Xianran is a puppet master and an assassin. To buy the costly materials needed to repair his battle-damaged puppets, he has no choice but to take on a major job: infiltrate the imperial capital alone and assassinate an "official's son." Only after the mission fails and the Imperial Guards hunt him throughout the city does he realize he's been tricked. His target is actually the Crown Prince. Through a twist of fate, he gets caught up in the vortex of power. Lu Xianran: I'm just an ordinary passerby. The Crown Prince pulls out a puppet finger. Is this yours? Lu Xianran, heart bleeding: No. The Crown Prince pulls out part of a puppet arm. Meteoric iron is priceless. Are you sure this isn't yours? Lu Xianran, feeling as if he's being cut to the bone: No. The Crown Prince pulls out a puppet head. This piece seems to have a little Jade Snow Crystal Dew mixed in. Lu Xianran, heart turned to ashes: No. The Crown Prince: Guards, burn all this stuff. Lu Xianran, drawing his blade: I am the assassin! Stop right there, damn it! Later, at an auction house... The Crown Prince: What does Shiyi want? Lu Xianran, clenching his fist: I want it all. The Crown Prince: ... Loyal puppy shou x arrogant gong P.S. 1. One-on-one romance, focused on loving and fighting each other. Both leads are ruthless. 2. The gong gets a brief taste of the crematorium treatment at the start, but I promise he's a good gong. He can't fall in love with an assassin right away, after all. He won't spoil the shou early on, and they'll sabotage each other. 3. There's not much political scheming. This is a tasty little snack, so don't expect a meticulous political drama. 4. Coming soon: Rescued by a Flashy Creditor When I Was Starving to Death, The Underdog Moon Rabbit's Comeback, The Disciple I Picked Up Turned Out to Be My Archrival Theme: Respect others and try to understand them