Li Xun, an overworked office worker who died from exhaustion, transmigrated into a book and became a poor scholar in the nineteenth year of the Dazhao dynasty. To top it off, he became a father.
The original owner's wife had just died in childbirth. He left his children behind to take the civil service exams, then happened to rescue a princess from bandits on the road and became her consort. From there, he rose through the ranks and made his fortune, completely forgetting the six-year-old twin boys and the baby girl he'd abandoned back home.
As a result, one of the twins died and the other was left disabled. His daughter was sold into prostitution. Eighteen years later, a military strategist with crippled legs stormed the capital with the rebels, while the emperor's favorite consort personally opened the palace gates for them. It was only when the original owner was beheaded alongside the former emperor, the princess, and the imperial clan that he learned they were the children he'd abandoned.
After the original owner died, the disabled strategist and the emperor's favorite consort were both executed by the new emperor. They became scapegoats, used by the new emperor to dodge responsibility and placate the people.
After reading the original story, Li Xun jolted in alarm. He looked at his sickly, gaunt son and his wailing baby daughter, then awkwardly rolled up his sleeves.
Kids, your dad will go make you some noodles!
Running away was out of the question. To raise his kids, Li Xun set about figuring out how to make a fortune and raise children scientifically.
But then his six-and-a-half-year-old eldest came bouncing over with a book. "Dad, I've finished memorizing this one. Give me the next!"
Li Xun: "? You've already read the Spring and Autumn Annals. What do you want to study next?"
His younger son: "I've already memorized the entire Book of Changes. Dad, explain what it means."
Li Xun: "?? Kids, you're making things hard for your dad on purpose!"
To spare his sons and avoid being unable to answer their questions, Li Xun had no choice but to study day and night. He rose from scholar to provincial graduate to metropolitan graduate, eventually entering the imperial palace and becoming the top candidate in the palace exam.
His two sons also worked hard and made their family proud. They topped the civil service exams at every level, and both brothers passed the palace exam in the same year. Three generations of the Li family became successful scholars, making everyone else envious.
His sons were young and fearless, making enemies everywhere they went and stirring up trouble on all sides. As their father, he had to keep striving and fighting to bail them out. In the end, he got swept up into becoming chief minister, while also serving as their tutor.
Even more troublesome than having two child prodigies was having a beautiful daughter.
Princes, the crown prince, and other imperial sons all vied for her hand, with one contrived encounter after another, heroes rescuing damsels in distress, and even outright coercion.
Finally, the old emperor actually thought he could take a young beauty as his bride, despite being fifty and her only sixteen.
Li Xun could take no more. At last, he flipped the table in a rage: The Dazhao dynasty's days are numbered. Let it fall!
If your Zhao family can't rule this empire properly, then I'll rule it myself!
From lazy scholar to founding emperor, I swear my kids dragged me all the way to the top!
Theme: Knowledge changes your destiny
