This Scholar Has No Heart

This is being revised, and the timeline will probably change significantly.

Yun Xiu, the top courtesan of Jinlu Tower, was rumored to be both talented and handsome, but frail and rarely seen in public.

Even so, dignitaries eager to meet him were as numerous as fish crossing a river, traveling thousands of miles just to win a smile from the beauty.

Prince Jing Yuan met Yun Xiu by chance, and the two hit it off at once.

Jing Yuan treasured Yun Xiu's extraordinary talent and could not bear to see it wasted in the pleasure quarters. He bought out his contract, freed him from his lowly status, searched far and wide for renowned doctors to nurse him back to health, and supported him every step of the way.

The prince treated Yun Xiu exceptionally well, and Yun Xiu lived up to his expectations. After placing third in the imperial examination, he became Jing Yuan's foremost advisor and helped him secure the position of Crown Prince.

When Jing Yuan fell seriously ill, Yun Xiu risked his own safety to care for him in person.

When Jing Yuan took command of the army, Yun Xiu became his strategist.

When Jing Yuan went missing, Yun Xiu went alone to the enemy nation to rescue him.

Everyone said theirs was the model relationship between ruler and subject.

But there was another version of the story.

Yun Chuxiu, the son of a disgraced minister, was cunning and highly skilled in martial arts. Seeking revenge, he befriended the enemy nation and became its spy in the capital.

Yun Chuxiu carefully plotted his way into an "accidental" meeting with Prince Jing Yuan, the man most likely to inherit the throne, and gradually became the advisor Jing Yuan trusted most.

To dispel Jing Yuan's suspicions, he arranged for someone to infect himself with a terrible illness, then personally nursed him day and night.

To wait for the chance to exact his revenge, he sent information to the enemy forces, leading to Jing Yuan's capture and disappearance.

To ensure the dynasty could never rise again, he used himself as bait to lure in Crown Prince Jing Yuan, then personally denounced him in the Golden Throne Hall, leading to Jing Yuan's deposition.

Yun Chuxiu advanced step by step, gradually uprooting the foundations of the mighty dynasty.

When he stood alone at the highest point of the dynasty, looking down at the man shackled in iron chains, he said only one thing.

"Your Highness, I told you long ago that I have no heart."

Reading guide:

1. Being a top courtesan is simply an identity the gong uses to get close to the shou. He bought Jinlu Tower to gather intelligence, and deliberately promoted the courtesan title. Others will continue using the title after the gong leaves Jinlu Tower!

2. The gong has never received clients. Many of those dignitaries are his own people, placed there by him. The people at Jinlu Tower sell their art, not their bodies, and he will leave the brothel as soon as possible.

3. This is a gong-centric novel. Yun Xiu is the gong and Jing Yuan is the shou. Be sure not to mix them up.

Below is another gong-centric novel available for preorder: This Script Is a Little Sweet

The famously well-regarded actor Shen Lan suddenly accepted a melodramatic romance series, starring alongside Lin Bei, a popular idol who was constantly caught up in dating rumors.

Lin Bei's fans were thrilled, setting off firecrackers to celebrate: "Just as we thought! Nobody can resist our baby, not even Actor Shen!"

Shen Lan's fans, on the other hand, were not having it. They demanded that the CP be forcibly split up: "No way!!! Our pure and genuine leading man must never become one of Lin the Player's conquests! Never!"

As filming drew closer, the deeply divided fanbases began to realize something was off.

First, Lin Bei, who was always online, deleted all traces of flirtation from his social media, leaving only a photo with Shen Lan pinned to the top. Then Shen Lan, who normally couldn't care less about promoting his work, made an exception and posted three times in a row to promote the new series.

Shen Lan's fans: "Hmph. Think pretending to turn over a new leaf will fool anyone into forgetting he's a player? We're taking our brother home. No, no, no."

Lin Bei's fans: "Sure, keep dreaming. Our baby is only doing what's best for the bigger picture. It has nothing to do with your brother."

Later, the new series aired and the buzz never died down. The two appeared together on promotional shows, celebrated birthdays, and made every set visit.

Looking at the two of them, whose chemistry practically spilled off the screen, the fans who treated arguing like a daily check-in fell silent for the first time.

Lin Bei's fans cautiously tested the waters: "Could it be possible, and I'm only saying it's possible, that our baby really has turned over a new leaf?"

Shen Lan's fans looked mournful: "I don't know if he's turned over a new leaf, but I do know our iron tree has probably bloomed."

No one knew that Shen Lan and Lin Bei had been childhood friends. No one knew their homes were separated by only one wall. And no one knew there was a door in Shen Lan's wardrobe that led to Lin Bei's room.

Theme: Cherish the present, and don't let missed chances become regrets.