My Father Is the Villain of an Imperial Examination Novel

Pei Yulan is the villain in the imperial-examination novel The Farmer's Road to Success.

He consistently outdoes the male lead in the exams and, relying on his higher official rank, trips him up time and again.

After his only son dies young, Pei Yulan is overcome with grief and awakens to the truth. He goes mad and kills the male lead, causing the world of the novel to collapse.

The Education System is called in at the last minute to help the young villain develop a proper outlook on life.

But it picks the wrong point in time and binds itself to the villain's son, Pei Yuanqing, who died young.

With its hopes crushed, the System issues a mission: memorize The Hundred Family Surnames.

Pei, whose eyes brim with innocent stupidity, is one year old and can eat: Yuanqing slowly lets out a burp.

System: ...

*

Pei Yuanqing grows up surrounded by educational nursery rhymes and cartoons, the happiest child in the village.

Uncle System tells him, "Your dad is a supervillain. You must keep an eye on him at all times, change him with love, and stop him from going astray."

Pei Yuanqing obediently nods, then turns around and writes his dad a little note.

"Uncle System says being united and loving is a virtue. Be good today too, Dad. Kiss kiss ^3^"

Pei Yulan: ...

Years later, Pei Yuanqing passes the imperial exams as the top scorer in all three levels, neatly avoiding the point where he was supposed to die.

By then, Pei Yulan is dutifully working as a Hanlin Academy compiler, determined to serve his sovereign and care for the people, with no chance of turning evil.

The System leaves satisfied, its mission complete.

Many years later, the System returns to check in.

Pei Yuanqing has come first in the highest-level imperial exam and is parading through the streets on horseback.

The System sheds tears of relief, then turns its gaze to the male lead and the villain.

Can someone tell it why the male lead has been dead for eight hundred years?

And the villain, how did he become the regent?!

*

Pei Yulan is reborn.

He knows he is living inside a book, as a villain who does every evil imaginable.

So what?

He'll kill the male lead who harmed his son, and he'll take the power he wants.

As for the thing that turned into an orange cat by his son's side, it seems somewhat useful. He might as well keep it as a pet.

★2023.11★

Theme: Hold fast to your convictions, and stand on your own two feet