My Shadow Guard, or My Wife?

My new novel, The Regent’s Blind Husband, is now underway! Please come check it out!

Emperor top x royal guard bottom. Thank you for your support! I’m a reliable author, so feel free to dive in!

All settings are fictional and made up, so please don’t overanalyze them. The top has a secret identity that will probably be revealed around the middle or later. The bottom is a loyal puppy type, so please read with care if that’s not your thing.

Seventeen had no name. He was simply called Seventeen.

When His Majesty brought him back, he was the seventeenth, so he was named Seventeen.

For seventeen days, Seventeen eagerly awaited His Majesty’s return, only to be disappointed every time.

He was older and not as skilled, but luckily he was supple enough. Just then, His Majesty called for him to serve as his personal guard.

Seventeen looked at the man, still as elegant as ever after all these years, and felt something stir faintly in his chest.

Walking beside His Majesty, Seventeen gazed at his tall figure and was momentarily struck by the thought that he might spend his whole life as the man’s shadow.

Things changed all too quickly. His Majesty’s younger brother came to him with a rare gift, asking to borrow a royal guard for a while.

His Majesty graciously told him to choose someone from the camp, but the man picked Seventeen, who had quietly followed in His Majesty’s wake.

“Imperial Brother, if this guard can stay by your side, his martial arts must be excellent. Why not give him to me?”

Seventeen saw His Majesty hesitate for a moment, then nod in agreement.

Seventeen had little luggage, not even many changes of clothes. He simply followed the man away. Before leaving, he looked back at His Majesty, a little out of turn, and met his gaze.

Protecting His Majesty’s younger brother was far more dangerous than protecting His Majesty. There were countless assassination attempts, some from enemies, and others from… seduction.

His Majesty’s younger brother told him that his status was special. Many people dared not target His Majesty, so they went after him instead. Seventeen would have to pretend to be his beloved to deal with the attacks, both overt and covert.

Seventeen agreed. He had no room to refuse.

At last, once his mission was over, he returned to the shadows behind His Majesty. But something in the way the man looked at him seemed to have changed.

“Your Majesty, you… shouldn’t wear so little. You’ll catch a chill.”

“Your Majesty… you don’t have to take off everything to soak in the hot spring…”

“Your Majesty likes… such flashy colors?”

“…Your Majesty, I really don’t want to marry a woman… What? N-no, how could I possibly like him?!”

When His Majesty held Seventeen in his arms, Seventeen was still a little dazed. He asked cautiously, “Your Majesty, do you hold your other guards like this too?”

Long Langyue: …

Seventeen tried to run away in tears, but was caught and brought back.

His Majesty’s name couldn’t be more unlike him. He wasn’t serene and moonlike at all!

Theme: Doing my part to build up the Great Jing Dynasty