Zhu Heng was an earnest college student. The one bright spot in her life was standing up for someone in danger, which got her killed.
So she died. But then the soul guide got lost and took her to the underworld of another time and place.
The moment the King of Hell saw her, his eyes lit up. "Miss, would you like to be a county magistrate?"
Zhu Heng was bewildered. "I haven't even been a student council officer."
The King of Hell: "Please."
Zhu Heng: "..."
Only then did she learn that a group of unusual residents were stranded in the underworld. Those famous emperors and ministers of history were entangled in karma and unable to be reincarnated. They were clearly the biggest troublemakers of every age, and had nearly staged yet another battle between the feudal lords in the underworld. No ordinary person could keep them in line, and the King of Hell was so worried he couldn't sleep.
But she came from a time after the end of the imperial era, so their influence couldn't touch her.
The King of Hell painted her a rosy picture: she could turn to any number of worthy ministers and wise advisers for help with the administration. All she had to do was get this crowd under control, and she'd be set. One year in the outside world was one day in the underworld, so she would be free after five years at most.
Zhu Heng thought: So basically, you want me to run a neighborhood committee. Fine by me.
Since there was no going back, Zhu Heng signed a probationary contract and was hired for a special position. She got a government job before she even graduated.
On her first day, she met a kind man by the roadside who gave her a thorough rundown of how to survive in the underworld.
Deeply moved, Zhu Heng asked, "May I ask your name?"
He grinned. "Liu Bang of Pei County."
Zhu Heng: "..."
Zhu Heng: "Huh?"
Warnings in advance
1. One item on my life checklist: write a historical RPF story. This blurb was written on July 24, 2026.
2. The main story is Zhu Heng's chaotic day-to-day life running a neighborhood committee. No romance, just friendly relationships all around, because no wage slave would fall in love with someone who makes them work overtime (crossed out). Modern college students and people from ancient times have a generation gap.
3. Zhu Heng has an ordinary person's perspective on historical figures (she forgot a lot of what she learned after starting college). Most of the time, she treats them with respect and an even temper, without intense love or hate, except for a few historical injustices that have endured through the ages.
4. The author's knowledge is limited, so the story only features well-known figures. Apologies in advance for stereotypes and out-of-character portrayals. The characters' limits are set by the author's intelligence. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please use the exit in the upper-right corner.
Theme: Never forget the past; let it guide the future.
