Li Shimin Is Headache-Ridden by Spoiling the Future for His Younger Brother

The Tang Duke's manor in Jinyang had a pair of twins.

The elder brother, Li Shimin, was strong and skilled in martial arts. The younger brother, Li Xuanba, had been taking medicine since birth.

People of the time said that twins shared a mysterious mental connection.

The Tang Duke's second son, Li Shimin, confirmed the rumor was true.

After being repeatedly stunned by the astonishing things Li Xuanba said in his mind, Li Shimin talked it over with his twin brother.

"A-Xuan, did you know that if you concentrate just a little, I can hear what you're thinking? Could you stop concentrating? I don't want to hear it."

The frail young gentleman Li Xuanba, famed far and wide for his noble and unblemished character, replied, "No. If you don't like it, say so yourself."

Li Shimin was healthy, but his mental power wasn't as strong as Li Xuanba's. He strained with all his might, his face turning purple, before finally squeezing out one word in his mind.

[Aaaaaah!!!!!]

Li Xuanba nearly laughed himself into a fit.

In his previous life, Li Xuanba was an editor for a history-bait account who specialized in trashing Li Shimin to attract clicks.

After pulling an all-nighter and dying suddenly, he was reborn as Li Shimin's sickly twin brother, the one from the historical romances who supposedly had Xiang Yu's strength but actually died of illness at sixteen.

Li Xuanba: Oh, what goes around comes around.

Li Xuanba: Whatever. I'll just coast.

Li Xuanba: Brother, ask me for any spoilers you want. I'll tell you everything!

Li Shimin, exasperated: "I don't want to hear anything!"

Years later, Li Shimin wore the imperial robes, his hands stained with blood. Li Xuanba was still sickly, and still alive.

One day, after insulting Wei Zheng, Li Xuanba fell down and pretended to faint to extort compensation. Just as he had when they were children, Li Shimin scooped his younger brother onto his back and ran.

[Hahaha, Brother, you should've seen that old Wei's face! It was all twisted up!]

[Shut up!]

[Congrats, Brother. You finally managed to say two words, hehe.]

Li Shimin wore his familiar pained expression and carried his troublesome younger brother onward, one step at a time.

Note: Different strokes for different folks. If it's not your thing, please click away.

1. The author has done no historical research. This is a semi-fictional setting loosely adapted from official history, mixed with plenty of unofficial histories and many original inventions. Forms of address, dialogue, and wording aren't modeled on the Tang Dynasty, and the language is fairly modern and colloquial.

This is a feel-good, stress-relieving story, with domestic and palace intrigue, brothers at odds, fathers and sons turning against each other, and a plotline about copying works. The main story has a complete romance arc for the protagonist and a full growth arc for the heroine.

In this story, Emperor Yang of Sui and Li Jiancheng aren't overlooked emperors of the ages. Li Shimin isn't flawless either, and has the limitations of a feudal emperor. Li Xuanba is certainly no saint: he puts his own comfort first.

2. Please don't use the comments to criticize other novels, TV dramas, celebrities, or social issues.

3. All legitimate readers are equal. Please don't insult readers who like this story by calling them the author's "XX." I'm just someone who writes stories, and I don't deserve that.

4. Updates are daily. If something comes up and I can't update, I'll post a notice. The posting time varies, most likely around midnight. Please don't stay up waiting. Just imagine I update at eight every morning.

When Liu Ying was five, he awakened memories of his previous life as a modern person and learned the "history" of this life.

His memories were hazy. Aside from learning that he'd been born five years earlier than in "history," he distinctly remembered only that his father, Liu Bang, would try to depose him as Crown Prince and drive him to his death, while his mother, Lü Zhi, would put a human pig in the toilet to try to scare him to death.

How could he put up with that?!

Liu Ying immediately stole his father's favorite sword and his mother's favorite lacquer box and threw them into the river, to punish his parents for their lack of kindness and compassion.

Then his parents teamed up to beat him, leaving him unable to get out of bed for three days.

Liu Ying was furious: So the memories from my previous life are real! My parents really are that heartless!

Just as Liu Ying was overwhelmed with grief and helpless against his parents' cruel oppression, his golden finger, the "Wise Ruler Training System," came online.

[Historical figure Liu Bang's attention toward you has increased. Experience +10.]

[Historical figure Lü Zhi's attention toward you has increased. Experience +10.]

[Spend 100 experience points to redeem a skill-copy key.]

[The System has no intelligent customer service. Host, please explore its functions on your own. May you become a wise ruler soon.]

Liu Ying immediately flipped upright like a carp, then toppled back onto the bed when his bottom hurt.

All he had to do was make his parents furious to become a wise ruler? What could be more wonderful? Hooray!

-

Years later, Liu Bang and Lü Zhi had become a bickering couple over how to raise their son.

Liu Bang: This boy takes after neither of us!

Lü Zhi: If he doesn't take after you, who does he take after?! He's exactly like you!

The greatest couple in the Han Dynasty started squabbling again as Crown Prince Liu Ying walked by, picking his nose.

As a wise ruler of the ages, renowned for filial piety, fraternity, benevolence, and righteousness, who should I go farm experience from today?

Note:

This is a pure wish-fulfillment story where the author lets loose. The protagonist is invincible. If that's not your thing, please don't read it or argue with me. Support an author whose work suits your taste.

Theme: Returning from afar, one's face grows younger; wherever the heart finds peace is home.