Do I Really Have to Be This Treacherous Minister??

Li Cuo transmigrated into a book as the greatest treacherous official in the Great Xia Dynasty, who happened to share his name.

The official was cunning and heartless by nature, but a hopeless romantic. He went to great lengths to put the crown prince on the throne, only to be drained dry in return and stabbed to death by Regent Fu Xing on the night of a rebellion.

Li Cuo transmigrated on the night the treacherous official had sold his body to curry favor with the crown prince.

Looking at the prince’s drunken, drooling face, Li Cuo turned and walked away.

He had barely taken two steps when he spat out a mouthful of blood and nearly collapsed.

It turned out he was bound to the [Treacherous Official System]. He had to keep playing the part and rack up villain points, or he’d lose his life.

The good news was that if he withdrew from the story on schedule, he could regain his freedom.

The job of a treacherous official was all about honeyed words, winning people over, and throwing the court into chaos.

And Li Cuo was a master at saying what people wanted to hear, whether he was dealing with people or ghosts. It was the perfect job for him!

*

[After failing to seduce the crown prince by offering your body, you use past favors to guilt-trip him and threaten to kill yourself, forcing Fu Xing to clean up after you.]

Regent Fu Xing was the original host’s nominal godfather.

He owed the original host’s parents a debt of gratitude. He was honorable and upright, and Li Cuo loved nothing more than messing with honest people.

So, coughing up blood, he threw himself at Fu Xing’s feet and begged him tearfully to take him in, support him, and protect him, looking every bit the helpless little flower.

“The crown prince tried to take advantage of me. Godfather, save me.”

Fu Xing, whose leg Li Cuo was clinging to for dear life: ...

The crown prince, kicked out of bed and spitting foam: ...

[Using Fu Xing’s power, you secretly buy people’s loyalty and trick officials into paying tribute to you, amassing an immense fortune in no time.]

When Fu Xing learned of it, his expression darkened. “If you keep acting recklessly, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Li Cuo flopped onto the bed. “Where are you going to start being ruthless, Godfather?”

Fu Xing: ... How shameless!

With his ears burning red, he stormed out.

Li Cuo: Hehe.

[You bribe assassins to attack at a banquet and frame Fu Xing.]

Amid the clash of blades, Li Cuo threw himself in front of Fu Xing.

As the weapon pierced his flesh, Fu Xing cried out in shock and fury, calling him by his childhood nickname. “Cuocuo!”

After all that, Li Cuo happily watched his treachery meter soar, never noticing that Fu Xing had begun to look at him differently.

*

[On your wedding night, you enter with a knife, intending to stage a coup and seize the throne. But Fu Xing is already prepared, and you are shot dead at the foot of the steps, pierced by countless arrows.]

Li Cuo followed the original story and had his dead soldiers lie in wait outside, ready to begin his performance.

But the imperial palace was empty. Only Fu Xing sat in the hall, speaking earnestly:

I know you’re ambitious. You want to seize power. I’ll help you.

Then he leaned in and pulled Li Cuo tightly into his arms.

Li Cuo: ???

Weren’t I supposed to be pierced by a thousand arrows and left without a whole body?

Don’t touch me!

*

Fu Xing was detached from worldly concerns and free from desire, a bona fide workaholic.

Li Cuo, tied to the bed with his wrists rubbed raw: That’s complete nonsense!

Theme: Love means choosing each other