That Guard Wants to Be the Fourth Prince's Dog

Xiao Xianxian and Gu Jiang grew up together and shared a deep bond, but Gu Jiang betrayed him, ruining his reputation and getting him demoted to Lingnan.

On the way to Lingnan, Gu Jiang caught up with Xiao Xianxian.

He kept saying that none of it had been his choice, and that he was willing to pay any price as long as he could stay by Xiao Xianxian's side.

Xiao Xianxian curled his lips and lifted Gu Jiang's chin with his toe. "I could use a dog by my side."

Gu Jiang offered him a knife. "I'd be happy to be Your Highness's dog."

And so the people of Lingnan often witnessed a strange sight in the streets: the new Prince of Lingnan walking a muscular man on a chain while he shopped for groceries.

Tsk, people from the capital sure know how to have fun.

When Xiao Xianxian finally confirmed Gu Jiang's feelings and wanted to take back the leash, he accidentally caught the human-shaped dog showing off to someone else: "See this? His Highness prepared it especially for me. None of you have one."

*

Gu Jiang is a lovesick spy who fell in love with his target, Xiao Xianxian, at first sight on the very first day of his assignment.

"Wow! He picked me out of all these people! He must really love me!"

"He's going to sleep in the same bed as me! He must really love me!"

"He lets me take the top, and says I can go on for as long as I want! He must love me!"

"He said he likes me! He must be crazy about me!"

But Gu Jiang only dared to think these things to himself. After all, he was a spy planted by Xiao Xianxian's side. If he didn't complete his mission, he wouldn't get the antidote, and every month he had to endure pain that felt like his heart and bones were being torn apart.

So what if it hurt? He wasn't going to die just yet. He was already more than satisfied with this life.

But one day, when Gu Jiang opened his eyes, he was met with disappointment in Xiao Xianxian's gaze.

It turned out his body had been controlled by a Gu poison, and he'd ruined Xiao Xianxian's reputation and gotten him demoted to Lingnan.

Even if he had to die, he wanted to die at Xiao Xianxian's hands.

So Gu Jiang immediately headed south and chased after him, finally catching up with Xiao Xianxian.

"Wow, even the dagger he used to stab me is different from everyone else's! I really am one of a kind to him!"

Coming soon: The Down-and-Out Man Picked Up by a Proud Little Cat

Fang Xianyuan was handsome and came from a prominent family. He placed third in the imperial examinations, and his writing was praised by the great scholars of his era. With a spear in hand, he took the bandit chief's head, and at a polo match he rescued a child who was about to be trampled by a horse. Countless noblewomen in the capital admired him.

Who could have guessed how fickle fate was? Fang Xianyuan's father was forced into an embezzlement case, and Fang Xianyuan became a slave in a cage, waiting for someone to choose him.

Who wouldn't want to trample on a fallen favorite of heaven? Yet no one dared buy him.

The emperor himself issued a decree, setting his price at one thousand taels of gold. Anyone with eyes could see that the emperor wanted him to rot in the mud for the rest of his life.

But Pan Yuyin had the nerve to defy the emperor. He took Fang Xianyuan straight from the crowd of slaves.

Pan Yuyin was the youngest son of Lord Pan. He'd been spoiled by the Empress Dowager since childhood, and there was nothing in the world he wanted that he couldn't get.

They said he'd once had a servant beaten to death just for knocking over an inkstone.

Fang Xianyuan had even criticized his writing in public, showing no regard for the young master's pride.

Everyone said Fang Xianyuan was in for a rough time now that he'd fallen into Pan Yuyin's hands.

But who could have expected this?

In the depths of winter, Fang Xianyuan was forced to wash clothes in icy water. Pan Yuyin kicked the washbasin over.

"Are you an idiot? Washing clothes outside in water this cold in the middle of a snowstorm? Do you think you're a snowman?"

Pan Yuyin took Fang Xianyuan's hands and held them against his chest to warm them. The hands that had been numb with cold slowly began to feel again.

When Pan Yuyin came back from class, he forcibly dragged Fang Xianyuan over and sat him in front of the desk.

"Memorize all of this. Hmph, it's really difficult. If you can't finish, you don't get dinner tonight. Who told you servants aren't allowed to study? I'm telling you, in this courtyard, my word is more powerful than an imperial decree!"

None of what Fang Xianyuan had to memorize was difficult. He'd always planned to study for the imperial exams, and he could recite it all backward and forward in half an hour.

But when Pan Yuyin heard him, he flew into a jealous rage. "Bring him all those sickly sweet peanut pastries and mung bean cakes! If he's got a good brain, I'll smother it with sweets!"

The peanut pastries and mung bean cakes Pan Yuyin mentioned had been gifts from the palace. Even though he was so doted on at home, he'd only gotten two of each.

Fang Xianyuan took a small bite. They really were sweet.

After taking a severe beating, Pan Yuyin finally got Fang Xianyuan's contract of servitude.

He let out a series of loud cries, then gave a smug little hum.

"See? This is your contract of servitude. From today on, you're no longer a servant. So if I scold you from now on, it won't count as mistreating a servant."

Theme: If you love someone, keep at it. If you love someone, act now.