Reborn + infrastructure building + political intrigue + no romance
In the twenty-fourth year of the Qiantong era, Emperor Xiao Lie died in Chonghua Palace. His final edict named the Crown Prince, Xiao Chengji, as his successor. The new emperor adopted the reign title Chongxi, ascended the throne, and died with regrets fifteen years later.
When he opened his eyes again, he discovered that his father was actually a hermaphrodite. What was this, a paramecium? No wonder he had never seen his mother in his previous life. No wonder he had been cast out at the age of four to fend for himself. No wonder the edict summoning him back was only meant to make him a whetstone for the eight princes. Father, oh Father, I’m back again. Are you ready for your good son to set you straight?
The Fourth Prince was reborn. His father dreamed of his previous life every day, and the young son of the Great General had returned too. Returning was one thing, but the damn fool had also castrated himself. Good, good, good! This is wonderful! Come on, all of you, come along! I’ll let you all experience the methods of Emperor Zhongzu.
In the thirty-fourth year of the Chongxi era, while writing The Veritable Records of Emperor Zhongzu, the court historian awkwardly penned: “The Emperor... was indeed the biological son of the Retired Emperor. Heaven’s will belonged to him, and he restored the light and began anew, a sage ruler, a warrior, benevolent and filial...”
Zhongzu, whose posthumous title was “Who Follows Heaven’s Mandate, Restores the Light and Begins Anew, a Sage Ruler, a Warrior, Benevolent and Filial,” looked at his title and sneered. “A warrior, sure. Benevolent and filial? Ha! That old man who gave birth to me is the real joke!”
