A Straight Man's Single Tear, Enough to Break the Emperor's Heart

Lou Kaiyun was utterly loyal, but he commanded a powerful army and had won countless battles. So the emperor didn't trust him, and the entire court believed it was only a matter of time before he rebelled.

When Lou Kaiyun was summoned back to the capital, he willingly returned his military authority and made a point of showing the emperor his concern. At his advisers' suggestion, he painstakingly pored over old books, determined to write a memorial personally declaring his loyalty.

Since he couldn't make much sense of the civil officials' flowery language, Lou Kaiyun simply copied whichever lines seemed sincere to him. In the end, he collected the best bits from earlier writers, pieced them together, and submitted his finished work.

The next day, at court, he noticed the emperor looking at him strangely.

It seemed His Majesty had finally been reassured by his declaration. Lou Kaiyun avoided the emperor's gaze, hurriedly lowering his head to hide his grin. His all-night reading and revisions had paid off!

Yes, he was a cautious and proper minister through and through.

The general commands the army and has won too much glory. I should never have allowed him to live.

But he actually sent me a love letter. The wording was a little affected, but his feelings ran deep. He said he was smitten with me and would never change, and that he had resolved never to marry, devoting his entire life to me instead.

...Ridiculous. I don't believe it!

So I observed the general.

When he sees me, he can barely keep from smiling with delight, yet he never looks up at me. He must be embarrassed.

Sometimes I even make surprise visits.

He chats and laughs with other people, but the moment I arrive, he immediately composes himself. He gets all flustered and fumbles around. He must have lost his composure at the sight of the one he loves.

Another time, still unable to figure him out, I pretended to be ill in the middle of the night and summoned him to the palace to attend to me. He came rushing in, weary from the road and stern-faced, yet somehow particularly handsome. He cared about every little detail of my condition. Ah, he must be terribly worried because I don't take care of my health.

Besides, he treats me with great reverence. When I asked him to stay the night, he looked incredulous and backed away again and again, stammering that he wouldn't dare.

Of course. I only said it out of guilt. I didn't actually want him to stay.

But the general said he was smitten with me and would never change. I believed him.

Thinking the emperor no longer suspected him and that their relationship was harmonious, Lou Kaiyun enjoyed his daily life. He was diligent in public and privately spent his time painting beauties, until the emperor summoned him to the palace once more.

A slender, pale hand tentatively rested in his palm, then brushed against his calloused hand without hesitation. The emperor's face remained calm. "Although I don't like you, I can grant your feelings. How about becoming my empress?"

Lou Kaiyun: ...

The emperor smiled faintly.

Yes, he was clearly both delighted and bashful again.

* The beauty he paints is the emperor.

* 1v1, pure fluff, guaranteed with a paw raised.

Theme: Don't believe everything you hear.