Please Behave Yourself

My new novel, The Book of Celestial Officials (the title comes from Records of the Grand Historian; it's also known as The Court of Judicial Review. Feel free to check it out if you're interested.)

Yan Suiyuan, Minister of Justice, is as straight as a bowstring, never bending even when it might break.

Cheng Cangzhi, military governor of Hexi, is as crooked as a fishhook and wouldn't straighten up even if you beat him to death.

They have served at court together for three years. Yan Suiyuan faces Cheng Cangzhi's daily advances and can only tell him, "Please, have some self-respect."

Later... Yan Suiyuan looks at the sleeve Cheng Cangzhi is holding, which has been torn from his own robe, and hesitates between beating him to death and giving in to his own desires.

[Excerpt]

"Military Governor Cheng, if you have time, you should marry soon."

"So you've finally been moved enough to marry me?"

Yan Suiyuan takes three steps back to avoid being harassed. He speaks sternly, "I am a man. I can marry, but I will not be given away in marriage."

Cheng Cangzhi takes three and a half steps forward, gazing at him tenderly. "Then I'll marry you."

"..." Yan Suiyuan closes his eyes and falls silent. After a brief moment of despair, he pushes away Cheng Cangzhi's wandering hand. "Please, have some self-respect."

[Highlights]

1. A pseudo-political intrigue story (please refer to the excerpt).

2. Pairing: A sharp-tongued, secretly affectionate, scheming bottom x a shameless, flirtatious, scheming top. One-on-one, happy ending, sweet with a little angst (please refer to the excerpt).

3. The official system is borrowed from various dynasties. The setting draws on the late Tang warlord rebellions and foreign incursions, so readers who care about historical accuracy may want to skip this.

Theme: Of a life filled with a hundred thousand people, there is only you, who has seen me through bloom and wither.