I, for One, Don't Believe the Imperial Tutor Has Empty Eyes

[A powerful court official / coming-of-age romance / younger man / master and disciple]

[Runaway attempt fails: bottom vs. reserved, patient top]

[Imperial Tutor x Emperor]

In his previous life, Xie Hewei helped the unfavored Ninth Prince, Xiao Yun Zhuo, ascend the throne.

But after seven years at court, their differences in political opinion grew ever more severe, and the mighty Imperial Tutor ended up resigning and retiring to seclusion.

Within three years, war had engulfed the Great Yong.

Xie Hewei, traveling far from home, hurried back, only to die beneath the rebel army's rain of arrows at the gates of the imperial city.

When he woke again, he had been reborn on the night the late emperor summoned him at his deathbed.

Xie Hewei lowered his eyes. He wanted to try giving Xiao Yun Zhuo the thing he had been unable to obtain in his previous life.

-

Xiao Yun Zhuo was about to raise an army and seize the throne when an imperial decree suddenly appeared before him.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, may the dynasty endure forever." His father had actually passed the throne to the person least likely to receive it: him!

But on the day he ascended the throne, he also received a letter of resignation.

Xie Hewei actually wanted to leave him behind.

Xiao Yun Zhuo stepped down from the throne and, in front of all the civil and military officials, knelt before Xie Hewei.

He lowered his eyes and kowtowed deeply. "Teacher, I beg you, don't abandon me!"

-

This time, Xie Hewei failed to run away after all.

Xiao Yun Zhuo clung to him more tightly than honey, and even needed to hold his hand to fall asleep.

But the word "sleep" here means something different from its literal meaning.

Beneath the red wedding curtains, they made love until Xie Hewei didn't have the strength to climb out of bed.

Even more frightening...

In the middle of the night, Xiao Yun Zhuo held him tightly, as if he wanted to crush him against his heart.

His pillow damp with tears from a nightmare, the high and mighty emperor murmured one phrase more than any other:

"Xie Hewei, your disciple knows he was wrong. Please don't die, all right..."

Wait...

Did someone else get reborn too?!

#Why hasn't the little wolf turned evil yet?

#Those years I went from the court to the imperial bed

This story is also known as Shattered Crane in the Sunlight.

[Set in a fictional world, with invented details. Silly story, younger man, coming-of-age romance]

Theme: You reap what you sow