How to Be a Good Dog

[Opening in early November]

Song Qingzhi transmigrated one day and became the newly enthroned emperor's courtier.

But the new emperor had seized the throne through rebellion. He was cruel and suspicious, and every so often he would have a few disobedient officials castrated.

After half a lifetime as an overworked corporate drone, Song Qingzhi knew all too well how to survive under an eccentric boss.

Faced with the choice between cursing the faithless, unrighteous emperor and enduring a slash to his body to save his life, he wisely chose to be a dog.

Being a dog to a sensitive person wasn't easy.

He turned the emperor's troubles into achievements for himself.

He talked down the corrupt tumors in the court one by one.

When the emperor was ill, he even cared for him day and night without changing clothes.

Song Qingzhi worked himself to the bone, climbing from a lowly corporate drone to the hardest-working man in the court. He only felt a little safer when former officials pointed at him and called him the emperor's lackey and lapdog.

But the emperor's suspicions didn't seem to agree.

Every night, he summoned Song Qingzhi to his bedchamber to test him in person.

The first thing Pei Zhi did after ascending the throne was eliminate his rivals and restore order to the court.

But when his sharp blade met Song Qingzhi, it was like striking a stubborn rivet.

The man was more loyal than a dog and never gave Pei Zhi the slightest pretext to punish him. Pei Zhi had no choice but to send his hidden guards to investigate him.

But the intelligence they brought back was so surprising it was almost laughable.

“The emperor's harem is empty. Lord Song has been telling people that the emperor prefers men, apparently hoping to slander His Majesty.”

Pei Zhi: ?

“The day before yesterday, Lord Song worked through the night and took on the tasks of three officials by himself, apparently preparing to sideline the entire court.”

Pei Zhi: ...Barely tolerable.

“Yesterday, Lord Song spoke with former court officials late into the night, then stayed at the residence of the General of the Agile Cavalry.”

Pei Zhi could take no more. He immediately ordered Song Qingzhi bound and brought in.

“My dear minister, you work so hard. Are you seeking something in return?”

Having just talked down a general who had begun contemplating rebellion, Song Qingzhi's mouth twitched with anxiety.

“What this humble official seeks is none other than Your Majesty!”

Pei Zhi: ?

The hidden guards: !

Song Qingzhi: ...

The hall fell completely silent. The hidden guards concealed in the rafters all awaited the order to execute the traitor.

But the emperor's cold gaze swept over Song Qingzhi's tense yet sincere face. Suddenly, he smiled maliciously.

“Since that's what you want, I shall grant your wish, my dear minister. From now on, you may spend every night in the palace.”

He wanted to see how long this sly little mouse could keep pretending to be clueless when kept by his side.

Song Qingzhi, who had been earnestly playing the dog: ?

Later, Pei Zhi watched Song Qingzhi suddenly get up from the couch to revise memorials and said with a wry smile,

“Zhi-Zhi, I really believe you now...”

Song Qingzhi: “It doesn't matter. I just haven't finished today's work yet.”

[Reading Guide]

1. One-click triple support: one-on-one romance, happy ending, plot? Romance, yes.

2. Amateur writing and a mountain of original worldbuilding. Everything serves the story.

3. Another big bowl of melodramatic plot fried rice, here's a spoon. The court politics are kindergarten-level and entirely fictional, so please don't relate them to reality. The author's fried rice is of questionable quality. If you find it delicious, then the author must have learned something!

Left by the author on October 3, 2026.

Theme: Do your duty diligently