When I Get Ruthless, I Bully My Master [Reborn]

Huo Zhao is a tyrant. He killed his elder brother and father, rules with cruelty, and is feared by all. He clawed his way to the throne over a mountain of corpses, and treated even his own tutor, Su Ziwen, with merciless brutality. Respect for one's teacher? He might as well have swallowed those words and fed them to the dogs. But only Huo Zhao knew how hypocritical and treacherous Su Ziwen, the noble-minded paragon of scholars who supposedly refused to bow to power, truly was. All the traps and hardships Huo suffered in his youth were tied to Su Ziwen. He claimed to be impartial and to take no sides, but he had already chosen whom to support. He saw Huo as a thorn in his side and wanted him gone. But Huo Zhao was hard to kill. Even if he fell into hell, he could claw his way back out. So after taking the throne, Huo Zhao used every means at his disposal to humiliate Su Ziwen, the hypocrite, until death took him and all his sins away. Yet not long after Su Ziwen died, Huo Zhao was beheaded. Reborn, he opened his eyes to find himself back in his youth, studying once more. He was still the least favored little prince, someone anyone could bully. But this time, the road to the throne would be much easier. Everyone would be a piece on his board. Especially Su Ziwen. Dealing with him would be easy, because Huo Zhao knew a secret that would force him to obey. Whether Huo made him support his claim or bullied him whenever he pleased, Su Ziwen would be powerless to resist. Su Ziwen's eyes would redden with hatred, humiliation filling his gaze as he clenched his teeth and endured. It was Huo Zhao's favorite sight, and even in this second life, he had no intention of letting him go. But after he changed his approach to the struggle for the throne, he gradually uncovered truths that differed from what he remembered. Was Su Ziwen really the man he thought he knew? Years later, Huo Zhao knelt obediently beside the imperial bed. "Teacher, I was wrong." A hoarse, indignant voice came from behind the golden bed curtains. "Don't call me teacher." "Then should I call you Empress? Just let me come up and sleep. I promise I'll behave and only sleep." Su Ziwen: "Get lost!" Huo Zhao shamelessly replied, "As you command. I'm coming up to get lost." [Content Warnings] 0. Both leads are completely devoted to each other, physically and emotionally. One-on-one romance. 1. This is not a groveling-after-the-breakup story. There's no angst, just lots of sweetness. Don't be fooled by the first chapter. The so-called secret leverage isn't anything shocking, so don't read too much into it. 2. Fictional setting! Entirely fictional! Please don't nitpick the history! Everything serves the plot. 3. The writing is fairly ordinary, and this isn't serious historical fiction. The political scheming is child's play. Don't force yourself to read it if it's not your thing. 4. The author's abilities are limited. Please don't make accusations, pick fights, or nitpick. (I'm just someone who writes stories. I really don't overthink things.) Coming soon: The Villain Persona Is So Hard to Maintain Qiao Han transmigrates into a cultivation novel as a villainous cannon-fodder character. He takes someone else's place in an arranged marriage and becomes the male lead Xiao Jiuci's Daoist partner, only to kick him when he's down and cruelly abandon him. Xiao Jiuci is handsome and refined, with extraordinary talent, the brightest rising star in the immortal sects. But in a single day, he falls from grace and becomes everyone's target. He endures countless hardships and claws his way back from the abyss to the top, never wavering from his gentle and steadfast persona. Qiao Han can't stand that someone so good has to suffer so much. Facing the number-one male lead in his favorite novel, Qiao Han decides to defy the System, change his assigned persona, and alter the plot. Goal: Help the beautiful, strong, tragic male lead become an unstoppable hero! System: Warning! Warning! Severe warning! You are a villainous extra. You must complete your missions. Qiao Han: Come on, that's my idol! How can I let my idol suffer? Fortune, beauties, rare treasures... It's all his, all his! Others: Qiao Han [garbled text], sucking up to him like that. He's obviously using him to climb the ladder. Xiao Jiuci: He's already my partner in name. Others: Qiao Han [garbled text], maybe he likes you. Xiao Jiuci: He said he doesn't like men. He thinks of me as a brother. Others: Qiao Han [garbled text], with the way he's acting, he must be deeply in love with you. Xiao Jiuci: ...Then why does he want to dissolve our marriage pact? Not long after, people start doubting Qiao Han's identity. Others: He's acting guilty! Xiao Jiuci: He's only trying to hide his feelings for me. Others: Something's wrong with him! Xiao Jiuci: He's jealous and throwing a fit on purpose, trying to make me respond. Others: He's up to no good with you! Xiao Jiuci: ...So what if he is? It's not like I'd stop him... Others: ...Could you rein in your lovestruck brain? At last, they reach a crucial scene. Xiao Jiuci has to choose someone at the edge of a cliff. Qiao Han disguises himself as the villain and takes hostage the two women who matter most to Xiao Jiuci. In the original plot, this would raise the stakes and help him break through. But as an idol's devoted fan, Qiao Han would never make his idol suffer. Qiao Han, his face covered: "You can only choose one." Xiao Jiuci's expression gradually darkens, his usual gentleness gone. Qiao Han knows him well enough to see that he's truly angry. Qiao Han: "Ahem, you can choose both, if you just give me..." "Either one is fine. I don't care." "Huh?" The two women playing along: ??? "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, Senior Brother. Don't stand so close to the edge, it's dangerous." As he spoke, Xiao Jiuci's gaze fell on Qiao Han's hands resting on the women's shoulders. His voice was low and husky, like a sword just beginning to slide from its sheath. "Come over here to me." Seeing the stormy look in his senior brother's eyes, Qiao Han instinctively shivered. "Oh." He obediently went over. The two women waiting for their cue: We've had enough! You two men are unbelievable! Can't you do a scene without us? Keep your lovey-dovey act away from us! Wasn't this supposed to be a power-up story about an unstoppable hero with beauties all over the world? Qiao Han: ??? Did my ship just sink? Recommended completed novels: [Transmigration into a book, historical BL] I Survive by Breaking the Male Lead's Character A devoted lover who acts the part and follows the plot to stay alive, taking the submissive role × a darkening emperor who bends himself with his own wild conjectures, taking the leading role [Transmigration into a book, post-apocalyptic] After Stopping the Tragic Male Lead from Going 404 A zombie who firmly resists the male lead's corruption × an ability king who can control everything zombies do [Transmigration into a book, xianxia] After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Turned the Tables A master who eagerly tries to avoid the usual tropes but ends up falling into them × a disciple who meets every condition for corruption but never turns evil [Transmigration and rebirth] After Being Reborn, the Chancellor Just Wants to Take It Easy A rakish, carefree, self-assured man who takes the submissive role × a taciturn, fiercely devoted younger brother who takes the leading role Synopsis screenshotted on April 29, 2021 Theme: Even in adversity, keep moving forward and refuse to submit to fate