Founding Emperor, but Just a Background Character in a Historical Romance

Shen Sui, the founding emperor of a historical romance novel who should exist only in legend, brought an age of chaos to an end within a few years. At the age of twenty, he ascended the throne, ruled the world with an iron fist, and received envoys from every nation.

He should have gone on to live the life of an invincible hero: waking each morning in a vast imperial bed, ruling over the beautiful lands stretching for thousands of miles, and doing whatever he pleased.

Instead, he died young from overwork after handling government affairs day and night.

In short, he worked himself to death.

When he opens his eyes again, he has become one of his countless worthless descendants and is bound to some ridiculous romance-novel rescue System.

What a "wonderfully exciting" world this is.

The court officials are all chasing after their wives, having them chased into the crematorium, or forcing them into relationships. Love and hate are tangled together, she runs and he chases, and neither can get away.

The martial heroes and wealthy merchants next door are all having the time of their lives. While he's burning the midnight oil trying to sort out the mess in court, they're on the roof of his bedchamber chatting with their confidantes from the stars to the moon. Strict palace security? Doesn't exist.

The whole nation might not even know that laws are a thing!

Why put out these fires? He gave them too much freedom, and now they've gone too far. Let them all burn along with his fury!

They love a dramatic breakup and a groveling reunion so much? How about a little clan-wide elimination game?

The System stares at the red alerts flooding its interface and lets out a piercing shriek.

Weren't you supposed to be good at your job?! Put down that knife! That's its 10,086th male lead!

Under the workaholic Shen Sui's leadership, the country enjoys favorable weather and smooth-running laws. The officials live wonderful lives, working around the clock with their heads on the line.

Shen Sui is satisfied. What a familiar feeling.

The world grows quiet. The System stares at the endless string of "Mission Complete" messages on its interface and falls silent.

Theme: A workaholic never complains about their circumstances. They just work everyone else to death.