The Governor Is Hard to Pursue

Huo Xunye (top, fake eunuch) x Shen Liang (bottom, real eunuch) As the director of the Eastern Depot, Huo Xunye often handles cases alongside the Embroidered Uniform Guard's command office. Shen Liang is a lowly servant who bought his way into the command office to do the sweeping. He falls in love with the famous director of the Eastern Depot at first sight, falls even harder the second time, and the third time... ... He pays to have himself castrated and sells himself into the palace to become a eunuch too. The Directorate of Ceremonial has several chief scribes and attendants, all divided into deep-rooted factions, each ruling their own corner. In the inner palace, one wrong step can mean life or death. For seven years, Shen Liang rises from sweeping the corridors to serving at Huo Xunye's side. Dressed in the new robes of a junior eunuch, he kneels before Huo Xunye to be entered into the register, but Huo is too busy to spare him a glance. Things in the palace run increasingly smoothly, but Huo Xunye isn't happy about it. He senses some unseen force clearing obstacles for him, even... ...boldly laying out a path for him to become the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial. He orders an investigation, but the person behind it has left no trace. Then, at the New Year's banquet of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Huo Xunye suddenly notices a junior eunuch from the Directorate of Records who knows all his preferences, makes careful arrangements for him, yet never approaches him to offer a toast. Amid the mingling guests and clinking cups, this man keeps everything running smoothly, but goes out of his way to avoid Huo Xunye. On the day he becomes head of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Huo Xunye surveys the crowd prostrated in the courtyard. Of them all, Shen Liang is the most sincerely and happily prostrate. That night, he summons the junior eunuch named Shen Liang to his room alone and makes him account for everything he's done over the past nine years. Shen Liang: "This servant has overstepped. Please punish me, Director." Huo Xunye: "Anything?" Shen Liang: "Yes, anything." Huo Xunye: "Even getting into bed with me?" "... ..." Shen Liang: "Yes." Reader's guide: 1. A genuine one-sided love with no expectations, which becomes mutual (pure romance) 2. One-on-one, happy ending, both leads are sexually inexperienced 3. A chaotic struggle within the Directorate of Ceremonial, with political intrigue, set in a fictional world with no historical research required 4. No real-life counterparts Theme: Keep a clear head when it comes to love