My Relentlessly Persistent Former Lover

[There may not be much political intrigue; the story is mainly about romance] [Comments on paragraphs are open~]

Chu Muyan has only recently ascended the throne when he looks over this year's list of candidates for the palace examination and immediately senses trouble. One of the names belongs to someone he once met while traveling incognito, years ago, and fell for at first sight!

Before the palace examination, Chu Muyan frantically reassures himself that it might just be someone with the same name...

Then Qi Xiao'an raises a face Chu Muyan knows all too well, and Chu Muyan's vision goes black. He nearly faints on the spot.

Just then, a voice dripping with sarcasm rings out in the hall. "It seems this year's candidates aren't very impressive. Otherwise, why would His Majesty be so angry that he won't even give us a second glance?"

As an emperor with little power, Chu Muyan is trapped and struggling in a desperate situation. He doesn't want Qi Xiao'an's future to be as uncertain as his own.

He keeps wanting to push Qi Xiao'an away. He has plenty of ways to use him, but in the end, he can't bring himself to do it. All he can say is, "Qi Xiao'an, I've already lied to you. Don't be so good to me."

"Qi Xiao'an, I can barely protect myself. I can't protect you."

Later, Chu Muyan lies in his arms and weeps. "I have no choice in what happens to me, but I don't want us to be apart."

Qi Xiao'an always says, "I don't think you're lying to me."

"Your Majesty, I'm the one who wants to protect you."

"I've always known you can't bear to let me go."

"Your Majesty, I know you have your own path to walk. But why worry? I'll stay by your side the whole way, no matter what happens."

Qi Xiao'an always says things like this. He protects Chu Muyan and stays by his side all the way, then waits where he is for his emperor to offer him a kiss of his own accord and take his hand as they walk the rest of the road together.

Later, the land is peaceful and the people live in prosperity.

The two of them go through their days and nights together, just as they did at the beginning.

Short extra:

Chu Muyan has a side hall that nobody is allowed to enter. But he has also told Qi Xiao'an that he can go anywhere in the palace.

So by the time Chu Muyan is told by the palace attendants that Qi Xiao'an has gone to that side hall, it's already too late to stop him.

When Chu Muyan hurries over, he sees Qi Xiao'an holding the secret he had hidden away, smiling as he asks, "Your Majesty, why do you have so many portraits of me?"

[Older top, three years older, one-on-one, both leads' first relationship, protagonists grow over the course of the story]

[The emperor is outwardly proper but says one thing and means another, as the bottom] x [The top scholar is a calculating schemer who carefully lays his plans]

[To avoid certain conflicts, this story is entirely fictional. The official titles aren't based on any specific dynasty, and some details won't stand up to scrutiny because I couldn't find information on them and made many of them up myself! But please point out any obvious plot holes you notice!]

[The story isn't long and is mainly romance. The political intrigue serves the romance.]

[The two only have feelings for each other!!!]

[I've only written short stories before. This is my first long one, so my writing is still improving.]

Coming soon: These Days, Even Ghosts Make the Endangered Species Register

Blurb: [The setting is entirely fictional to avoid certain conflicts]

Song Xi wakes up one day with an empty mind, unable to remember a thing. He also realizes he's floating, literally floating...

That's right. He wakes up to discover he's dead and has become a ghost :)

The ghost beside him explains his amnesia this way: You were probably supposed to be reincarnated, then drank Meng Po's Soup. Who knew your resentment was so strong that even after drinking it, you could still turn into a ghost?

But neither the other ghosts nor the experts can figure out why he slept for so long before waking up.

That's right, even Song Xi is shocked. Since when were there experts who study ghosts?

And not only do they study ghosts... Rare, special ghosts are even listed in the Endangered Species Register and given special protection...

The water ghost nearby looks worried. "A water ghost like me would be stuck in a ghost park for people to gawk at, no better off than an animal. Ah, different ghosts, different fates."

Song Xi: …

Song Xi understands all that, but experts who study ghosts, if you can't figure things out, fine. Why did you bring in such a cold, unfeeling assistant to help with your research?

Song Xi sneaks a look at the person staring coldly at him from nearby. For some reason, he can't shake the feeling that he should be nervous.

Song Xi: ...Well, that's downright spooky.

[A ruthless, taciturn powerhouse as the top x A well-adjusted, amnesiac bottom]

1. The top is lovesick, a little crazy, and not exactly a good person!!!

2. The bottom isn't stupid. Seriously.

3. The ghosts listed in the Endangered Species Register are all good ghosts who don't want to be reincarnated. The bad ones are caught by the underworld soldiers and sent to the underworld to do hard labor right from the start!

4. This story contains elements of cultivation and fantasy.

5. Everything is fictional, ahhh!

Theme: Find life in despair and grow through adversity. Face off against the times and create a new era.