#Top scorer A x third-place O, with the second-place finisher already working
#Not really ABO, that's the point
Lu Zheng was born into a scholarly family, poor but self-disciplined. After placing on the imperial examination list, he earned the second-place position.
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scorer at the head of the table was socially adept and spoke with effortless wit, while the third-place finisher below could hold his liquor and was a master of poetry and painting. Lu Zheng alone knew nothing of officialdom's ways. Before the chair in the Hanlin Academy had even warmed beneath him, he was summarily dispatched to the frigid lands of Beiming, to bitterly cold Cangzhou.
Since he was there, Lu Zheng made the best of it. He did his duty, pacified the Turks on the northern frontier, and opened trade routes in the East China Sea.
Just when he finally managed to return to the capital, trouble came pouring down like rain through a leaking roof. A vassal state in the south rebelled, and Lu Zheng hurried there, risking his life to remonstrate before the royal court. When a great disaster and epidemic struck western Shu, Lu Zheng begged for grain and medicine, vowing to live and die alongside the people.
After traveling throughout the Nine Provinces and surviving countless brushes with death, he rose to become Vice Minister of the Left, second only to one and above tens of thousands.
Looking back at the road he'd taken, he found himself saddled with countless romantic entanglements.
Prince Qi Yan, the General Who Pacifies the North: The Chancellor and I share a debt of gratitude. Our bond is as close as brothers.
Yu Lianqing, the ship king of the southeast: I only know that having Lu Yunshu would be worth more than a million pieces of gold.
Xiao Ran, ruler of Nanzhao: What does the world matter? I only want the Chancellor.
Yu Moyuan, an immortal of ancient Shu: After a hundred years, who among these ordinary mortals will still be by Chancellor Lu's side?
At a reunion banquet with his old classmates, Lu Zheng let slip a few complaints after drinking. Little did he know that two men of extraordinary talent had secretly been in love with him for years.
Lu Zheng fled in terror.
Who could understand? He really just wanted to do his job in peace!
In the Ganlu Hall of Xijing, reports of victory arrived one after another. The emperor set down the memorial in his hands, yet his brow remained furrowed.
"Keep investigating and reporting."
"Find out exactly when the second-place finisher will return to Chang'an."
◎What!? I heard it can be 1vN now!? This story is opening up the stock market immediately!!! I'll decide between a 1v1 or open ending when the main story concludes, and all five love interests will get the same number of extras, including both happy and tragic endings! Enjoy~
◎An imaginary dynasty, with some light xianxia and shamanistic elements
Theme: Worry about the world's troubles before others do, and enjoy the world's happiness after others do
