A Secret Life in Brocade: I’m the True Son of Heaven

Shen Ye opens his eyes and discovers he's transmigrated into a badly unfinished novel about political intrigue.

The good news: He's the powerful Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in control of the empire's intelligence network.

The bad news: In three days, the new emperor will execute him for “attempted treason.”

The worse news: Someone framed him for the crime.

The even worse news: He has no intention of clearing his name or rebelling. He just wants to quietly gather intelligence, raise bamboo rats, and lie flat until his death in three days.

“I'm going to die anyway. Before I do, I'll plant my informants, then be reborn into a peaceful era.”

That's what he thinks, and that's exactly what he does.

He saves the crown prince, who was supposed to be deposed, because the prince is the most useful of his informants.

He protects the general, who was supposed to die in battle, because he raised the man himself.

He shields the imperial consort, who was supposed to be buried alive with the emperor, because she's his informant in the imperial harem.

He's only cleaning up his subordinates' messes.

He's not trying to start a rebellion.

But...

The crown prince says, “If you won't ascend the throne, Shen, I'll attend court every day, pay tribute every year, and come pay my respects every season, until you agree.”

The general says, “If the Embroidered Uniform Guard's blades won't clear the way for you, what good are they?”

The imperial consort says, “Among the three thousand women in the imperial harem, I only want to warm your bed.”

Shen Ye: ???

One day, when the most powerful people in the realm kneel before him and say, “Your Majesty, please ascend the throne,” Shen Ye finally realizes...

He was never a pawn.

He's the game board everyone is fighting to place their bets on.

He thought he was choosing the emperor,

when all along, everyone was choosing him.