Qin Mianzhuo transmigrated into a book overnight and became the sickly fourth young master of a duke's estate. He also got a bargain older brother, born of the same mother.
Since he shared a name with a character in the book, he flipped through it out of curiosity. He couldn't remember the names or the plot, only that his whole family were villains destined for tragic endings.
His father loved wielding power and repeatedly made mistakes. After being demoted time and again, he was finally killed by a mob.
His mother spoiled her children and indulged wicked servants. Her maternal family abandoned her, and she was imprisoned in the inner chambers.
His eldest sister became a consort, harmed the royal heirs, and threw the court into chaos. In the end, she died with a strip of white silk around her neck, becoming a ghost.
His eldest brother was a coward and a weakling, his second brother an idiot, and his fifth brother so cruel he seemed inhuman. All were shorn and exiled to serve as slaves in the barbarian lands.
Only his third brother managed to make something of himself and uphold the family's good name! He staged a half-hearted rebellion, then failed and was executed...
Wait, where was the fourth brother?
Qin Mianzhuo patted his own frail body and couldn't bring himself to smile.
Oh no! Our whole family is doomed!
Even if they're villains, as long as they admit their mistakes and mend their ways, they can still be good people. It's not too late!
What's more, the heroes and villains in this book seem a little strange?
Having never known parental affection or close sibling bonds in his previous life, Qin Mianzhuo couldn't help feeling softhearted. He decided to help his family through their crisis. After comparing their options again and again, he decided that only his third brother's path might be salvageable.
They were going to be executed anyway, so they might as well rebel with a bang!
Recruiting soldiers, gathering horses, launching an uprising, and proclaiming himself emperor: everything went according to plan. His brother was on the verge of making a name for himself and marching straight into the golden palace.
Brother, you can finally hold your head up! Our whole family gets to live!
But on the eve of his coronation, Qin Youbi came to see him.
Qin Youbi: “A Zhuo, I dreamed last night that you were wearing imperial robes.”
Qin Mianzhuo: “Huh?”
Qin Youbi: “And that you put righteousness before family and ordered our whole clan executed.”
Qin Mianzhuo: “What?”
Qin Youbi: “Tell me honestly, what's with all those guards outside? Did you send me this poisoned wine?”
Qin Mianzhuo: “I didn't... What wine?”
His brother took a deep breath and sighed. “If you really meant to do this, you should have told me sooner. Then you wouldn't have had to wear yourself out and become so painfully thin, worrying everyone.”
Before Qin Mianzhuo could stop him, his brother picked up the cup and drained it.
“?!” Qin Mianzhuo could only watch as his brother collapsed.
The sound of clashing weapons gradually rose outside the hall.
So Qin Mianzhuo was a “villain” too.
A “villain” who had lain in wait for years, only to finally avenge his great grudge.
After the new emperor staged a palace coup at night and imprisoned and killed his own siblings, he ascended the throne.
His former officials were scattered throughout the court, and undercurrents swirled among the great clans. Everyone saw the true face of the emperor who smiled like a spring breeze from the throne: cruel by nature and ruthless in his methods, with generals at his side. His ministers trembled, wondering who would be struck by the second wave of purges.
But no one expected the imperial younger brother, who should have died in the coup after betraying him, to show up openly in Chongzheng Hall.
The brothers were even whispering behind the screen!
“A Zhuo, listen to your big brother. Wear that crown set. It even has a golden phoenix on it.”
“It's too flashy.”
“What about the phoenix hairpin? The one with the ruby looks nice too.”
“...No.”
“How about this? Just wear a jade pendant. I'll have someone carve you a phoenix.”
“...”
You're not even trying to hide it!
Ministers by day, sharing the emperor's bed by night?
Reading Guide
1. Imperial older brother × minister younger brother: sunny, cheerful, dramatic top × aloof, tsundere, sickly bottom
2. Not biologically related. Family bonds in the first half, romance in the second. Mostly everyday life, no angst.
3. Court intrigue on the level of Makkapakka and Upsy Daisy
4. Also known as My Brother Has a Screw Loose
5. The protagonist's family has committed no wrongdoing
Theme: Science is the primary productive force
It looks good, waiting for the update [covering face and peeking]