The Cloud-Piercing Brush

At Rongzhang Academy's graduation examinations, held once every five years, Duan Yuanning once again pushed his rival Gu Tingqing into second place. He proudly accepted the Lingyun Brush from the dean, an honor bestowed only on the top-ranked student. Duan Yuanning and Gu Tingqing had never gotten along, even as children. Their families had always held opposing political views, and they fought tooth and nail in court. After both entered government service, things only got worse. Whenever they ran into each other, they would trade barbs for half an hour. Their classmates swore that if the two ever sat down and shared a drink in their lifetimes, the sun would rise in the west. Three years later, Gu Tingqing was imprisoned for his involvement in a major case. At the morning court assembly, Duan Yuanning stood up for him. After Gu Tingqing was released, he invited Duan Yuanning to dine at the most luxurious restaurant in the capital. Duan Yuanning happily accepted. Not only did the two sit down and drink together, they also embraced in front of everyone, as close as could be. Their classmates had to admit that sometimes, the sun really did rise in the west... * As the dynasty neared its end and change loomed, Duan Yuanning once thought Gu Tingqing was the person who understood him least. Only later did he realize that Gu Tingqing was the only one in the world who truly understood him. If he had never met Gu Tingqing, he would have spent his life with no one to appreciate the view with him, and no one to walk the road beside him. A young man brimming with pride and lofty ambition, with a brush that lets him stride across the world! P.S. 1. Gu is the top and Duan is the bottom. One-on-one pairing, starting as enemies who fall in love and ending with them choosing each other. 2. When I finished my first book, I made a wish: once my writing had improved, I would write another serious historical danmei political drama. Now I'm making that dream come true. 3. Saving a declining dynasty and pursuing reform and innovation. It may also touch on a global perspective, QAQ. 4. The setting is fictional. Please don't nitpick the history. Theme: Life is about striving hard.