His Majesty Won't Sleep Tonight

The unofficial history Records of the Sheng Dynasty tells the story of the most beautiful person in the Sheng Dynasty and an ambitious young marquis. They meet and fall in love, then join forces to overthrow a tyrant.

Ye Chishu opened his eyes and found himself inhabiting the tyrant.

...His situation was extremely difficult.

The protagonist shou is a heartthrob coveted by many, the top-ranked candidate in the capital's imperial examination this year. He's accomplished in both letters and arms, and a fortune-teller in the city predicted he would be the Great Sheng's lucky star.

The gong is the son of a marquis renowned for his military achievements, and the future emperor of a new dynasty who will seize the throne and hold all the power.

A single move could affect everything.

Neither of them could be touched.

Ye Chishu put down the memorial and smiled faintly.

As a tyrant, everyone feared him. Was there anyone in this world he couldn't deal with?

At court, the tyrant rested his chin on his hand on the dragon throne. His face was hard to make out, and with just two casual sentences, he announced the fates of the protagonist gong and shou.

"Sheng Xiyu, top candidate in this year's imperial examination. I appoint you as a member of the Embroidered Guard and an official court diarist."

(The heartthrob protagonist shou will stay by my side.)

"Lin Jun, son of the Marquis of Lin. I am sending you to guard the border against the unrest in the Western Regions. You will leave in three months."

(The rabid dog who can't be tamed is being sent away.)

The protagonist gong and shou, who had once been desperately in love,

now found it almost impossible to even see each other.

2.

To make sure the pair stayed apart, Ye Chishu used what he remembered from the book to secretly summon the other men pursuing the beautiful shou.

He listened to each of them confide their feelings, offered encouragement, and even taught them the tricks from the unofficial history about how the Prince Regent had won the beauty's heart.

Prince gong 1: "I gave the top candidate a jade pendant to wear close to his body, but he didn't even look at it. He threw it straight on the ground."

The emperor thought for a moment. "That kind of romantic gift is outdated. I have a Ferghana horse. Give it to him. He'll treasure something bestowed by the emperor."

The prince: "Your younger brother is a fool. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your guidance!"

Chancellor gong 2: "I've admired him for a long time, but I've never managed to speak with him. Ever since he entered the palace, he barely pays me any attention."

The emperor sighed softly. "That's how long-distance relationships are. I grant you permission to visit the palace more often, burn the midnight oil together, and discuss state affairs."

The chancellor: "Your servant will serve with all his heart and soul. I am deeply grateful!"

General gong 3: "I will be going to war with the marquis. Sheng Xiyu is the only person on my mind, and I'm afraid some ill-intentioned person will take advantage of my absence."

The emperor patted his shoulder. "There's no need to worry, my dear subject. If you return safely, I promise to arrange a marriage between you and the top candidate."

The general: "Your servant will fight bravely and return victorious!"

The many rival gongs: [I never realized His Majesty was... so kind.]

The news reached the marquis's residence, far from the palace.

The young future emperor slowly clenched the jade pendant the emperor had casually sent him as a reward, dark currents surging in his eyes.

*

Three months later.

The city gates were crowded, with citizens craning their necks to watch the brave son of the marquis depart for war.

But for some reason, the hero who was supposed to head to the frontier turned out to be the beautiful top candidate instead!

3.

A year later.

The capital's most beautiful man, a renowned hero who had put down a rebellion and conquered the Western Regions, broke into His Majesty's hot spring late at night.

Under the dark and windy sky, he pulled down his black face covering. His eyes were cold as frost and utterly captivating. "Your Majesty, I heard you were going to arrange a marriage for me."

"I returned from the western campaign. Why have you been avoiding me?"

Meanwhile, the young marquis, who should have been plotting to seize power and usurp the throne, was now wearing the uniform of the Embroidered Guard. He stood in front of the emperor, who was soaked, shielding him completely from view.

He drew his sword, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Sheng Xiyu, breaking into His Majesty's bedchamber in the dead of night. Are you trying to rebel?"

Ye Chishu ignored them, put on his undergarment, and walked straight back to his room to sleep.

Behind him, two burning gazes followed water as it slid from his hair and soaked the hem of his clothes, lingering on his calves that had yet to be dried.

Tonight's scene was the protagonist gong and shou reuniting after a long separation, loving and fighting each other.

Everything was going according to plan.

Except... why did something feel strangely off?

Tonight, I shall not sleep.

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