[Tang dynasty + lighthearted comedy + a wildly imaginative emperor + broken engagement + lazy lie-flat protagonist]
After transmigrating to the Tang dynasty, Pei Xuan became the orphaned son of a meritorious official. Right from the start, Emperor Li Er arranged his marriage to Princess Gaoyang. To avoid being cuckolded, Pei Xuan decided to recklessly court death and force the emperor to break off the engagement!
At court, he submitted a letter breaking off the engagement in front of everyone, bluntly saying he wasn't worthy of the princess. Li Shimin was delighted: “This young man is courageous. He'll surely be able to tame Gaoyang!”
To ruin his reputation, he took Princess Gaoyang to a brothel, only to stumble upon a major salt and iron corruption case in Jiangnan Circuit.
To offend the censors, he crashed into Cui Wenzheng's carriage in the street. The carriage's undercarriage cracked, spilling out five chests of smuggled military crossbows. They were caught red-handed.
To offend the great clans across the realm, he introduced the anonymous-name rule for the imperial examinations. Instead, he became the savior of poor scholars, and Li Er even specially granted him a purple-gold fish tally.
Pei Xuan was utterly desperate. “Your Majesty, I really just want to break off the engagement and be a lazy nobody!”
Li Shimin looked deeply moved. “I understand. You don't covet power and care only about the country. I'll make you the Marquis Champion, and the wedding will take place on the first day of next month!”
