However, this is not true, and it is revealed that the MC and ML were quite close to each other in their teenage years, and even started developing mutual feelings for each other. By then, they had gone through all sorts of adventures together, and established a firm bond. However due to misunderstandings that were never explained, they had a falling out, and then the MC left for the war. Which continues to the present day, and they never bothered to remedy it. The MC is not mad at the ml, he's just... disappointed. He has long since accepted that the ML has different priorities in this life, but still believes that the ML can be better than this. But on the other hand, the ML thinks his lowly and scheming self is not worthy of the righteous and conscientious MC. Seriously kids, communication is the best prevention for drama. But don't worry, it all works out in the end.

Luckily, they gradually warm up to each other, and tensions are smoothed out in the day-to-day interactions between the two while ML is taking care of the MC. It's too sweet, and funny, especially that poem in one of the earlier chapters! I'm always grinning like there's no tomorrow.

An appreciating person chucks a flower at our MC at a parade procession, who dodges, but ends up on the lapel of... who else??? Our flippin' ML of course! Who then returns the flower to the MC, in what can only be described as, with a touch of flirtatiousness. And mc's reaction is hilarious when he realizes the type of flower he "threw".

On that misunderstanding that was not explained: By around chapter 17 the MC meets a woman, and in flashbacks, what drove that initial rift between them is revealed. The emperor was chasing after the wife (you guessed it! It's the same woman as the one the mc's currently talking to in the present) and child of a suspected traitor. While on the run, they bump into MC, who along with a group of friends decides to shield them, and the MC hides and takes care of them in secret. However, the ml, unbeknownst of the MC, had followed him to the hideout, and then puts the woman under custody. When the MC discovers, he feels immensely devastated and betrayed (kind of an understatement). He had originally planned to gift the ML with a jade pendant, but upon the betrayal, he shatters it, an action that symbolizes breaking off all ties between them. With that, he leaves for war. But, hear me out, it's later revealed that the ML had helped the mother-son pair by smuggling them out, and he had kept and treasured that broken jade all this time.

"When you went to battle, there was nothing I could do." Yan Xiaohan's tone was consolatory. "Fortunately, I became the Royal Inspector Envoy afterwards, and when the Emperor was sanctioning a marriage for you, the very first person he considered was me. You see, this is what's called 'if there's a will, there's a way to crack open even metal and stone'." "..... "

Fu Shen couldn't stop himself from being blunt. "What if he hadn't sanctioned it?"

Yan Xiaohan looked at him, then smiled. "I'm not a big-hearted gentleman like you, Marquis. Since I had done everything I could to take the Envoy position, even if the Emperor didn't allow it, I'd set about stealing you back. If the Court lackey isn't maiming the loyalist, how could I then be worthy of the gossiping masses of the world?"

and another one!

Yan Xiaohan swiftly grabbed him, lowering his voice. "Marquis, can you have your people step back a bit?"
"Hm? What are you doing?"
"I want to kiss you. Right now. I can't wait."
"... Open your eyes and look around. Would that be appropriate?"
"You said yourself that whatever I wanted, you would give. I want to kiss you, " Yan Xiaohan replied bluntly.

I simply love it when novels don't pidgeonhole their characters into juvenile heteronormative top/bottom roles.

There's plenty of straightforward confessions, dog-food-like, tooth-rotting fluff, grand gestures of romance, and so on. But I really would have liked to see more connection between the transitions and the different plotlines, as well as the MC's sister. I think the emotional moments would have been more meaningful if the ephiphanies were related to more than just the main leads' romance.

before the big misunderstanding happened, I really loved how the author wrote their chemistry in their younger years and how well they got along was super sweet.