They Say the Minister and His Highness Are Having an Affair

Gu Manxue: a peach-blossom face and a venomous heart, commander of the capital's three hundred shadow soldiers, and the court's most dangerous attack dog. One day, he discovers he's the original character in a palace supernatural novel. An outsider is supposed to transmigrate into his body, reform him and clear his name, then keep his head down and enjoy a double victory in career and love as he rises to the top.

Gu Manxue decides to sabotage everything and leave the transmigrator with an utter disaster to clean up:

He throws the court into chaos, racks up enemies, and puts a price on his own head.

He even provokes the one person in the Great Yan court he should never have crossed: his own uncle, Prince Huan Shi Xuanxi, the novel's hidden boss and the only person immune to the transmigrator's tricks.

In public, Shi Xuanxi is renowned throughout the court, rules as regent, and seems gentle and abstinent, devoted to fasting and prayer.

If his meridians hadn't been severed years ago, leaving him dependent on a wheelchair, he would have inherited the throne. In reality, he's a wolf in sheep's clothing, with blood debts piled high.

He hates anyone getting close to him. Anyone who tries simply disappears without a trace.

Gu Manxue dances all over his most sensitive spots.

He gets close, provokes him, flirts with him, and tempts him.

Within a few months, the whole world knows they're having an affair.

*

Gu Manxue thinks he's made himself as hated as possible, and that no matter how capable the transmigrator is, there's no way to turn this around.

But after all his self-sabotage, not only does the transmigrator never appear, the Great Yan court is put back in order.

And Gu Manxue, the man who threw the world into chaos, is exonerated and admired by countless people.

What's more, eight hundred versions of the "love story" between Gu Manxue and Shi Xuanxi are already circulating.

Just as Gu Manxue is about to set the record straight, Shi Xuanxi, whose meridians are supposedly severed, grabs his wrist and rises from his wheelchair.

In front of everyone, he confirms the rumors and makes them a reality beneath the red silk bed curtains.

Only then does Gu Manxue realize that this book seems to have quite a few hidden settings.

"Buried Bones"

The young general Chu Renxue's achievements threaten the throne, so the emperor grows wary of him. In the end, Chu dies on the battlefield and becomes a spirit bound to the land. Years later, as the dynasty nears its end, it cedes territory and pays tribute to foreign tribes, even sending a prince away as a hostage.

Chu Renxue watches coldly, wanting only to drive the prince, Gu Xianfeng, out of his territory.

He pushes the door open with a creak in the middle of the night, and persistently blows out the candles while Gu Xianfeng is reading.

One night, after Chu Renxue blows out the candle for the fifteenth time, Gu Xianfeng finally puts down his book... and looks up to ask what he wants.

So Gu Xianfeng has been able to see him all along.

Just what you'd expect from a descendant of the Gu family: sneaky and wicked!

Chu Renxue strikes a deal with Gu Xianfeng, teaching him the art of war and martial skills.

In return, Gu Xianfeng will gather Chu Renxue's remains and help his soul pass on.

-

Gu Xianfeng returns to his homeland, puts the court back in order, and reclaims the lost territory.

Chu Renxue has barely enjoyed a few days of freedom before his spirit is summoned back to the capital.

Gu Xianfeng, who has somehow grown a head taller than him, forces him to wear his own robes and keeps him by his side day and night, sharing his bed, and even wanting to take things further.

Chu Renxue grits his teeth. "A faithless ingrate, just as heartless as your ancestors!"

"The general needs more of the emperor's aura on him to stabilize his soul and replenish his yang energy," Gu Xianfeng says, rubbing his head against Chu Renxue's neck. "I'm obviously repaying you."

Theme: Stay true to yourself