The Male Ghost Raised the Future Emperor All Wrong

Chen Ye died, then opened his eyes and came back to life.

A kid barely old enough to walk summoned him. Apparently, he had learned a spirit-summoning ritual from the village shaman.

Chen Ye: You summoned the wrong one. I'm a ghost.

The kid: You're a good ghost, because you're handsome.

Chen Ye: Fine. I'll eat you tonight.

Chen Ye: I don't eat nobodies. Tell me your name.

The kid: Ergou.

Chen Ye: That's a terrible name. I won't eat you unless you change it.

The kid: I can't read or write.

Chen Ye: What a hassle. Come here and I'll teach you.

Chen Ye realized that this Ergou really did have a miserable life, especially since he lived in a historically infamous time of chaos. In three years, all able-bodied men would be conscripted. But there was no need to wait three years: Ergou's family was already on the brink of starvation.

Chen Ye: I won't eat you. You'll be dead in three years anyway.

The kid gave him a silly grin. “So that means I'll be fine for the next three years.”

Chen Ye: Which means you might as well let me eat you.

Chen Ye: Have you thought of a new name yet?

The kid: You pick one for me. Otherwise, I'll be called Tiedan.

Chen Ye: Sheng Yun. He Sheng Yun.

And then Chen Ye stayed for three whole years.

Chen Ye watched Ergou catch a butterfly, arms folded, as the boy asked him, “Guess what's inside?”

“I can see it. What's the point of asking me?”

Even though he thought it was a stupid question, he answered, “You caught a butterfly.”

The boy opened his hands, and two butterflies flew out. “Wrong. There are two.”

“Even if you can see everything, there'll always be things you miss. Like that saying, when it's dark...”

Chen Ye: It's called a blind spot.

Ten years later, when Chen Ye returned, he found that Ergou had become a mighty general and was about to ascend the throne.

He Sheng Yun: “Even if you can see everything, there'll always be things you miss. Like that saying...”

Chen Ye: A blind spot.

He Sheng Yun: “That's why I like you. Everything happens right under your nose, and you still don't know.”

Chen Ye couldn't figure out when this kid had started falling for him.

[Mutual healing]

When he's in a good mood, the shou calls the gong Xiao Yun. When he's in a bad mood, he calls him Ergou or brat.

I've stopped calling the gong Ergou in the character descriptions, to save him some dignity. (The whole blurb still calls him Ergou.)

When they meet, the gong is 13. When they part, he's 16. When they reunite, he's 26.

Theme: Saving each other