I'm Not a Tyrant?

Zhou Wang transmigrated to the Sui Dynasty, and ended up in the body of a notorious tyrant from history.

The dynasty was only three years away from collapse. The people were living in misery, suffering under the tyrant’s oppression while also facing the chaos of a rebel army that would rise in the future. More than ten million people would die over the next few years.

Zhou Wang figured that as an ordinary office worker from another world, he had neither the ability to save the people nor any desire to make the wise ruler who would end the chaos disappear from history by killing the tyrant. In the end, he decided to give his own life in exchange for saving the millions who would otherwise die in the coming years, and ushering in a golden age.

So he continued playing the tyrant, hoping to hasten the people’s rebellion and hand the dynasty over to that wise ruler as smoothly as possible.

But could someone explain why the eunuchs and maids around him were so moved they wept with relief when he neglected his duties and indulged in pleasure, eagerly playing along with him?

Why did the Minister of Revenue leap up in delight when he said he wanted to squander gold and silver on building ships and palaces, then bring out a stack of plans he’d prepared ages ago and ask whether His Majesty wanted all of them?

Why did the officials look at the future wise ruler with envy when Zhou Wang deliberately humiliated him, ordering him to attend to him personally as the original tyrant would have? And why was the other man blushing with excitement?

And why were the streets paved with concrete? Why were there foreign crops like sweet potatoes and corn on the dining table? Why did all the people look rosy-cheeked and full of energy? Why did even a country on the other side of the planet send a prince with birthday gifts on his birthday...? Wasn’t he supposed to be an incompetent tyrant who would bring down the dynasty???

Unable to make any sense of it, Zhou Wang lay in bed, once again pinned beneath the future wise ruler as they consummated their marriage until midnight.

When the other man fell asleep, he slipped off to the imperial study, hoping to find out what was going on with this dynasty.

He opened the door and found the tyrant’s study unexpectedly packed with bookshelves. The books were filled with notes, all in his own handwriting.

He looked up in confusion and saw that every continent on the world map hanging on the wall was labeled as part of the Sui Dynasty.

...What was going on? Did he own all this land?

Wasn’t he supposed to be a worthless, incompetent tyrant?!

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1. This is a fictional setting. The transmigrator was born into the body of a tyrant whose dynasty was doomed to fall. Through his own efforts, he became a wise ruler presiding over a golden age, but then he suddenly lost his memories and thought he had only just transmigrated into the body of a tyrant.

2. In his previous twenty-plus years, the protagonist had become an unquestionable heartthrob throughout the Sui Dynasty thanks to his personal charisma. The people and officials alike, including the next ruler from the original timeline, were his devoted fans and worshippers. They could be driven to the brink of smashing their heads against a wall by a single remark from him that he disliked something. He found it unbearable and could only put on a stern, icy expression.

3. The people around him had long been frustrated by how disciplined, courteous, and diligent he was in governing. They’d wanted to do something for their idol but never had the chance. Now that he suddenly wants to be a “tyrant,” they’re overjoyed and eagerly play along with his role-playing.

4. The protagonist comes from a spacefaring era and transmigrated with a library System. A system malfunction caused his temporary amnesia.

5. After he regains his memories, the (pretend) icy protagonist discovers that his successor, whom he had carefully groomed for over a decade, has become his empress. His devoted fans are even more fervent than before, and he completely falls apart.

6. Synopsis posted on September 15, 2025. The author is currently building up a stock of chapters and will begin updating once there are enough followers.

Theme: Sincerity deserves sincerity.