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Duan Zhaoyu died one day, only to wake up wearing an imperial robe and discover that he had become the ruler of a country.
Fortunately, the System had transmigrated with him.
It told him that he was a deranged emperor, the ultimate villain and final boss in a no-romance male-centric novel, the one the protagonist would have to face.
Most importantly, the protagonist would stab him to death five years later.
Before Duan Zhaoyu could throw in the towel, the System assured him that as long as he played the role of “tyrant” well and fired up the protagonist's fighting spirit, he would be revived in this world five years later.
Duan Zhaoyu, who had been reluctant to begin with (not ready to die yet):
From now on, I am the tyrant himself!
==
How many steps does it take to become a qualified tyrant?
Duan Zhaoyu replied confidently, “Just three.
Disrupt the government, indulge in pleasure, and persecute loyal officials.
Oh, right, I almost forgot: I have to put pressure on the protagonist, too! (IMPORTANT, bold and red)
And so, five years later.
The System woke up especially to celebrate its Host completing the mission. It gazed at the thriving country and the protagonist pinned beneath Duan Zhaoyu...
The usually composed System let out a shriek:
[Host, what have you done?!!!]
The person in question looked completely bewildered.
“What did I do?”
I just did what I was told and acted like a tyrant.
Ahem, and physical pressure still counts as pressure, right?
When the madman who had murdered his brother and father clawed his way to the throne, everyone feared for their lives and their future.
Debauched, prone to trusting corrupt officials, and obsessed with pleasure.
That was how outsiders described the tyrant.
Yet it was this very “tyrant” who ushered the Sheng Kingdom into an unprecedented golden age.
Perhaps they should have known from the moment that proud golden eagle king, as the foreign tribes called him, spread his wings during the royal hunt, only to bow before His Majesty:
Some people are born to be emperors!
Duan Zhaoyu, constantly misunderstood: I really am a tyrant! 🙀
The ministers: We understand, we understand. ✌︎ ॑꒳ ॑✌︎
Duan Zhaoyu: Just minding my own business and enjoying life as an adorably clueless tyrant.
Everyone else: Brr... His Majesty is terrifying, and his intentions are unfathomable. In short, His Majesty is an emperor for the ages!
As for the couple: Qi Shiyao originally planned to infiltrate the court and rally everyone to kill the tyrant.
Somehow, through a twist of fate, he ended up in the emperor's bed.
Qi Shiyao (Duan Zhaoyu): Actually, I was the one who seduced him.
A goofy fake tyrant forced to act coldhearted every day x a sharp-tongued real power behind the throne who loves to fan the flames every day
Both are strong, both are devoted to each other, in body and soul. A lighthearted, feel-good story with a whole lot of people reading too much into things. They both focus on their careers first.
[Please note] My understanding of ancient official titles, aristocratic families and their ranks, and social customs comes from online research. Please don't nitpick. (I've mixed together offices and customs from various eras.)
Everything about the world is here to serve the plot and the protagonists.
Theme: Good people are rewarded.
