The Substitute Finally Came to His Senses

Originally titled The Golden Jade Cage In the first winter of the new Emperor Qin Gou’s reign, Fu You, born into a family of court poetry collectors, entered the palace for the first time to present his poems. Fu You knelt outside the curtains as the musicians played. They sang just one line, “A round little yellow sparrow,” and Qin Gou lifted his eyes from behind the curtains, his sharp gaze falling upon him. “He looks like a sparrow preparing for winter.” Qin Gou said he liked him and wanted him to stay in the palace. Fu You had no wish to do so. He had made plans to meet again next spring, when he would collect poems with the farmer at the village entrance, the teacher at the foot of the mountain, and the fisherman by the lake. But when Fu You saw Qin Gou’s lonely predicament, caught between the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain and the ministers coveting power, his heart softened. The yellow sparrow was locked inside a golden jade cage. Three years later, Qin Gou imprisoned the Empress Dowager and reformed the government. He stood before Fu You holding the hand of the young master of the Yan family. Only then did Fu You realize he had been nothing but a human shield for the young master Yan. He wanted to escape the golden jade cage. He wanted to go out and collect poems, but he couldn’t get away. Later, he climbed to the top of a tall building. Qin Gou stood below, eyes bloodshot, arms outstretched as he tried to catch him. Fu You looked down at him. “Who am I?” Qin Gou was confused. Fu You said, “I’m a little yellow sparrow. I’m going to fly out of the palace.” Fu You asked again, “Your Majesty, who am I?” Qin Gou hurriedly said, “You’re a little yellow sparrow, flying to me…” Fu You murmured, “I’m a sparrow? No, I’m Fu You. Spring is here. I’m going to collect poems.” “Your Majesty, I’ll see you in winter.” · Classic melodramatic groveling pursuit and rekindled love · Happy ending · The substitute plot is fake, and the top is pure in both body and heart [This doesn’t mean the top hasn’t committed other wrongs; there are ample reasons for him to suffer]. The bottom will have family, friendship, a career, and love that make the top jealous to death (literally, though that would be a spoiler). Theme: Wherever you are, dare to be yourself