After My Archrival and I Became Coworkers

[Disguised-as-a-man Grand Tutor Ming Shu X face-slapping, come-to-love-him General Zou Wenyuan]

In the twenty-first year of Yuanfeng, the ailing emperor finally gave out. After hastily passing the throne to the five-year-old crown prince, he departed this world.

The emperor left behind a decree for the young crown prince:

He had chosen two regents for the new emperor: Ming Shu, who had placed third in the palace examination two years ago, and General Zou Wenyuan, who was still stationed at the border.

Even Ming Shu, with her cool temperament, nearly blacked out when she heard the decree. She truly didn't want to deal with this mess.

But when she saw the broken state of the court and the five-year-old emperor who couldn't even hold a brush, she gritted her teeth and stepped up to the task.

She had thought it would be hard, but at least there was a general named Zou Wenyuan who could lend a hand.

But when she finally met Zou Wenyuan, Ming Shu realized she had been too optimistic. This man was here to hold her back.

(Keeping up a smile.)

Zou Wenyuan was at the border when the urgent summons arrived. He raised his brows and asked, "Ming Shu? Is that the one who opposed my campaign last year?"

When he finally met Ming Shu, Zou Wenyuan realized he had been far too charitable in imagining what she would be like. This newly appointed Grand Tutor Ming was all skinny arms and legs, without even a single whisker. She couldn't withstand one punch from him, and she was supposed to assist the new emperor?

(Too lazy to keep smiling.)

But the decree had been issued, so no matter how much they disliked each other, they had to "work together."

Ming Shu would handle civil affairs and Zou Wenyuan military matters. Dividing the work between them, they might just manage to muddle through.

At first, things went well enough. But somewhere along the way, they began to veer off course.

In the imperial study, Ming Shu was explaining the history of the previous dynasty to the young emperor when a certain someone, sunning himself at the door, suddenly said, "Wait, could you repeat that last bit? This general didn't understand."

Ming Shu held back, and held back, but finally couldn't stop herself. "I don't think your brain is suited to thinking about this."

She had clearly meant it as an insult, but the man at the door burst into laughter, eyes full of surprise. "The Grand Tutor knows how to clap back? Come on, give me another one!"

Ming Shu: ...Could she throw the book in her hands at his face?

Zou Wenyuan initially couldn't stand Ming Shu's frail appearance. But as time went by, he found her more and more pleasing to the eye. He even started disliking her concubine and the colleagues she was close to.

Why could Ming Shu smile so happily at them, when she had never smiled at him like that?

Later, Ming Shu really did smile at him that way. That day, Zou Wenyuan practically floated home.

He woke in the middle of the night and sat staring at the moon outside his window for a long time. Early the next morning, he went to the ancestral hall and knelt, his expression earnest but firm.

"Wenyuan has let down his ancestors, but Wenyuan truly loves Ming Shu."

Our dynasty has no precedent for two men becoming a couple, but that was all right. He and Ming Shu would be happy to set one.

Ming Shu could only say: Are you crazy?

An excerpt from the young emperor's diary:

My two "fathers" are arguing. Whose side should I take?

Oh no, my "father" has been clinging to my "father" lately. What should I do?

I'm shocked. One of my "fathers" seems to be my "mother"?

Theme: Working together to build our home and country.