The Prince and His Loyal General

Before he turned eighteen, Xiao Ling was always the model crown prince.

After he turned eighteen, Xiao Ling started rebelling.

First, his own father the emperor stripped him of his position as crown prince, making it impossible for Xiao Ling to ever ascend the throne.

Xiao Ling holed up in Qianzhou, plotting every which way to make a comeback. Oh, right, he was always getting ready to rebel.

Unfortunately, the old emperor had a short life.

Before Xiao Ling could lead an army to the capital and pay him a visit, he died.

After the old emperor's death,

Xiao Ling's mother was promoted to empress dowager. The empress dowager then joined forces with others to encourage Xiao Ling to rebel. She was practically shouting at him:

"Be a good boy, son. Our rebellion is righteous!"

Xiao Ling's rebellious streak flared up again:

"Just because you tell me to rebel, I have to? Wouldn't that make me lose face?"

So Xiao Ling went back to plotting every which way to make a clean getaway, catch the rebels in their own trap, and lie in wait to snatch the prize:

"Once I capture the traitors, I'll be the most loyal patriot in all of Great Liang!"

So when Xu Yan appeared,

Xiao Ling thought the general his empress-dowager mother had couriered over to help him rebel had finally arrived.

Who was Xu Yan?

The third young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's family, young but already renowned for his military achievements.

He commanded the armies in the southwest, holding military power in his hands. The mere mention of "Xu Yan" was enough to scare the southern barbarians out of their wits.

Now that he'd returned to court after winning a battle, he was sure to receive countless rewards.

Unmarried young ladies all dreamed of Xu Yan as their ideal husband.

Yet Xu Yan promptly ran off to Qianzhou.

With Xu Yan's arrival came trouble.

Left with no choice, Xiao Ling had to team up with him to deal with it first.

[At the start]

Xu Yan: Your Highness, I hear you prefer men?

Xiao Ling glared: Nonsense! I'm straight as an arrow!

[Later]

Xu Yan: Your Highness doesn't like men, so I'll keep my distance.

Xiao Ling: It's fine. I... don't mind you.

[In the end]

Xu Yan: Your Highness, someone's been trying to arrange a match for me lately.

Xiao Ling rolled up his sleeves: Who?! Who's got the nerve? How dare they covet my man!

[At the very end]

Xu Yan smiled without a word. Everything was under his control.

Xiao Ling smiled too. Not bad. The overall plan stayed on track, and he even got himself a handsome, battle-ready great general for a wife. Perfect!

A disgraced crown prince who plays the fool to fool his enemies, has two secret identities, and is a prince who can't make money if he isn't a sect leader, tops X the general who is cheeky and sharp-tongued with him, cold and indifferent to everyone else. Oh, so he has two faces as well!

Please note:

1. The story is told from the top's perspective.

2. The martial world and the imperial court are two parallel storylines, with absurd comedy and serious drama switching at random.

3. There is a cute child.

4. The bottom is straightforward.

5. The cover was a gift from Bi Shui. Anyone can use it.

The completed novel in the same series, The Substitute Top and the Scum Bottom Emperor, is available now. Please add it to your library and subscribe!

A new project from Gu Dan: How I Got Together with Myself. A self-top-and-bottom story! Please add it to your library!

A new project from Du Dan: Not So Honest. An honest man X a dishonest man! A rough, muscular bottom, written purely for the author's own enjoyment! Please add it to your library!

Please add my upcoming new novel to your library:

How I Got Together with Myself

Blurb:

Self-top-and-bottom

The great demon lord died.

He died a spectacular death,

knocked into the Endless Abyss,

and perishing alongside the paragon of the righteous path.

But after the great demon lord died, he discovered that his death had been staged by someone else, and that it had been utterly meaningless.

As his wandering spirit drifted about, the great demon lord grew darker and darker.

He swore that if he ever got another chance, if death was unavoidable,

then he would make sure to die differently this time.

He'd make those people die with him.

Luo Zhiyu was that great demon lord.

He didn't care about anyone.

But when another version of himself appeared in this world,

that was a different matter.

One day, Luo Zhiyu came across his twelve-year-old self.

Not only was the boy badly injured, he had also become an idiot.

Luo Zhiyu stared at his twelve-year-old self, unable to remember: had he really been such an idiot at twelve?

The twelve-year-old Luo Zhiyu, now an idiot, loved holding Luo Zhiyu's little finger, looking up at him sweetly and obediently, and calling after him, "Big brother, big brother..."

Luo Zhiyu: ...

Being called big brother by himself really was...

Luo Zhiyu steeled himself: Even if it's me, I won't let myself stop my revenge!

Yet Luo Zhiyu not only failed to get revenge right away, he was also forced to change his name.

Luo Zhiyu said, "My name is Luo Zhiyu."

The idiot didn't understand. "Big brother, I'm the one called Luo Zhiyu."

Luo Zhiyu gave him a cold look. "I'm the one called Luo Zhiyu."

The idiot argued for ages but couldn't win. He burst into tears, sobbing so hard he could barely breathe. "Big brother... *sob*... do you hate me...? Big brother... Zhiyu likes you best... *sob*... Big brother likes Zhiyu's name... Zhiyu will give it to you... but then Zhiyu won't have a name anymore... *sob*..."

Luo Zhiyu: ...

Stay calm. If he slapped himself to death, there'd be no self left at all.

He let out a breath, crouched down, and wiped the idiot Luo Zhiyu's face. "That's right. You're the one called Luo Zhiyu."

The idiot Luo Zhiyu asked, "Then what's your name, big brother?"

Luo Zhiyu thought for two seconds. "My name is Yu Zhiluo."

Great. The villainous great demon lord Yu Zhiluo was born just like that.

Theme: Strive hard and make the most of life. Different lives, equally brilliant!