Blurb:
Xiao Yong is the youngest emperor in Beilin's history. He ascended the throne at nine, personally led an expedition at fifteen to reclaim the Khanbu tribes of Beimeng, and marched on the Southern Liang capital at seventeen, putting the entire royal clan of the Southern Liang king to the sword.
The world called Xiao Yong a star of calamity reborn. With him as ruler, the sixteen northern tribes dared not invade, and the seven southern kingdoms dared not make a show of force. War remained at the borders, while Beilin enjoyed peace and prosperity and grew stronger by the day.
And yet Su Mu, Beilin's Imperial Tutor and the "older brother" Xiao Yong respected most, the man who had rescued him from a heap of corpses on the night of the palace coup, rebelled on Xiao Yong's eighteenth birthday!
Nine years earlier, when Su Mu was eighteen, the old emperor died. The Censor-in-Chief and the feudal princes joined forces to rebel, and the Crown Prince died in the Eastern Palace. Xiao Yong, then the Third Prince, was pushed onto the throne by Su Mu's father, Su Chunhe.
That night, Su Chunhe placed the little prince's hand in Su Mu's palm and told him, "He is the sovereign to whom you will devote your life. He is your emperor."
Su Mu swore then and there that he would never betray the realm or his sovereign.
That same night, a civil official who had been frail and sickly since childhood carried the little prince through a gauntlet of blades and flames.
To the young prince, this was an enormous debt of gratitude.
Nine-year-old Xiao Yong once believed that this man would be the only person he could rely on in his entire life.
**
Su Mu was imprisoned alone, and at such a young age, he ended up despised by all and abandoned by everyone.
Only, the prison he was sent to was neither the imperial prison nor the heavenly jail. It was Xiao Yong's Hall of Tranquil Cultivation.
Xiao Yong interrogated him. "I have treated you as my teacher, my father, and my older brother. I have always followed your advice. Tell me, what emperor in the world could treat someone as well as I have treated you? Why did you rebel?!
What did I ever do to offend you?!"
Su Mu didn't even raise his head. "You killed Zhou An'nan."
Zhou An'nan again!
Xiao Yong had always thought Zhou An'nan was Su Mu's childhood sweetheart, the unattainable first love Su Mu could never have, the beloved who had become a cinnabar mole in his heart!
Of course he had to kill Zhou Dongnan.
He was the emperor. Was there anything wrong with killing someone he disliked, a treacherous minister plotting rebellion, a man living in Beilin whose name meant "Peaceful South"?!
That night, Su Mu wanted to return to the prison cell, but Xiao Yong refused.
Xiao Yong punished Su Mu by making him share his bed. Su Mu said it was improper.
Xiao Yong asked jealously, "Why can he, but I can't?!"
Su Mu fell silent for a moment. He said nothing, staring at the ceiling of the Hall of Tranquil Cultivation as he thought: Because I have a clear conscience with him, but not with you.
**
Xiao Yong's overwhelming possessiveness: No matter who Su Mu likes, he has to be with me!
Whether I was born earlier or later, whether I am older or younger, handsome or ugly, throughout the land of Beilin, not to mention the sixteen northern tribes and seven southern kingdoms, I am the only person worthy of Su Mu.
Su Mu: I know Your Majesty likes me, but you can't do this. I'm a man who follows proper etiquette.
The truth is, I just don't want to die yet. Your Highness, it's worrying how you want love but don't care about your life. (^_^)
**
Jealous, devoted puppy of an emperor as the gong x sickly beauty of a civil official, who's hopelessly in love but too stubborn to admit it, as the shou!
Nine-year age gap, with a devoted puppy emperor who grows up by his side.
[Important]
* This isn't a typical love triangle. It's a love triangle as Xiao Yong sees it. I personally consider this a sweet romance: one thinks the other doesn't love him, while the other doesn't dare to love him.
* Fictional setting with a mix of systems and institutions. Readers who care about historical accuracy should proceed with caution. Everything serves the plot.
* Realistic setting, where same-sex marriage is not legal.
* It probably won't be very long. Half plot, half romance. Flying the happy-ending flag high.
* After the story begins, updates will come before ten at night.
* Thank you for reading!
Theme: I reign supreme
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The Pageboy
I Don't Think My Crush Knows I Like Him
I Was Born a Carefree Immortal
Bird Droppings from the Sky
The Year the Rain Washed the Apricot Blossoms Red
Sword Cultivators Don't Follow the Ruthless Path
Twelve Hours of Turmoil in One Day
After the Grandmaster Reincarnated, She Raised a Demon
A Toast to You
Butterflies Hidden in a Humble Home