The Workaholic Emperor Is Forced to Become a Slacker

The novel The Moonlight of the Past Was Angered Back to Life by His Unworthy Descendants is now underway. Visit my author page to find it. -- After working overtime for a whole week, overworked office worker Ming Mu died and went to the afterlife. When he woke up again, he found himself in a fictional dynasty that had never existed in history, abruptly thrust into the role of emperor. By all rights, with floods and droughts ravaging the land at home and the Rong and Di tribes watching hungrily beyond the borders, he should have worked hard to govern, pushed himself to the limit, and changed the rotten atmosphere in and outside the court, even if he wasn't particularly capable. But things didn't seem to be going the way he expected. The Imperial Tutor gave up on rote instruction and spent every day urging the young emperor to build up his strength. The generals gave up pretending to be nobodies, campaigning east and west to find the finest seeds and crops. The civil officials and eunuch faction stopped attacking one another and joined hands to volunteer for rural literacy campaigns. Ming Mu was baffled. Why weren't they pushing me to work harder? Why are you all working so hard instead? The dignified empress changed her usual manner, twirling a strand of the young emperor's hair. "Isn't this better? His Majesty can spend more time with me." -- This is the best of times. The newly appointed top scholar is bound to a nation-strengthening System. The commander-in-chief unlocks Huo Qubing's talents. Every official in the court gets a "Loyal to the Death" buff. In the same dream, they see the dynasty decades in the future: this mighty empire is battered by the grassland tribes, leaving its people destitute and bringing it to the brink of collapse. And the steady ruler they had always looked down on takes his own life before all under heaven for the sake of his people. They are fired with ambition. They will make the dynasty more peaceful and prosperous than ever before, and shape the young emperor on the throne into a wise ruler remembered for generations. This is the best of times. When Ren Junlan wakes again, he has returned to twelve years earlier. At this point, his young emperor has not yet died young from overwork. He still has plenty of time to teach his emperor how to enjoy life. Before you read: 1. A workaholic forced to be a slacker, beloved young emperor uke x ruthless empress seme. They are each other's one and only, in body and heart. 2. The blurb follows three timelines. 3. Updated daily. If anything comes up, I'll post a notice in advance. 4. The setting is fictional and blends several dynasties. Please be gentle about any inconsistencies. 5. This novel has no real-life inspiration. -- Coming soon: Brought Back to Life by His Unworthy Descendants Emperor Taizong of Sheng, Liang Zhao, received the throne in a time of crisis and revived the dynasty. He left behind many fine reputations, including that he and his ministers worked in harmony and that he loved his people as his own children. On the day he died, the entire city was draped in mourning white, and the people wept without exception. Liang Zhao thought that although his life had been short, it had been complete. The history book said, "Your descendants abandon their territory and cling to a corner of the realm." Liang Zhao: (opens his eyes) The history book said, "Later generations of ministers feud endlessly, and the court descends into chaos." Liang Zhao: (sits up) The history book said, "The people you wanted to protect are enslaved for centuries." Liang Zhao: (throws open the coffin and rises) "Have those little brats been ignoring everything I said?!" -- When Liang Zhao opens his eyes, his soul has transmigrated into the body of a minor censor, and he has taken the name Yuan Zhao. Liang Zheng, the doomed ruler recorded in the history books, sits on the throne and snarls, "Who else objects to raising taxes?" In a corner of the golden hall, a censor raises his hand and shouts: "A ruler should care for the people and show compassion to all under heaven. Yet Your Majesty wages war year after year, leaving the treasury empty. To tax the people is to defy the teachings Taizong left behind!" Liang Zheng, Taizong's number-one fan: "Take him away and behead him." * Yuan Zhao refuses to back down, unleashing AOE attacks on everyone equally. He slaps the ministers, slaps the generals, and hits the emperor with the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. He almost turns Taizong's Teachings into a work of art: "Those who form factions for private gain are parasites who harm the state and its people!" "General, you don't think of training your soldiers or caring for the people, and instead take pleasure in conquest?" "Taizong's Teachings say that when a ruler indulges himself, the common folk go hungry and cold." Strangely, Liang Zheng's attitude toward him gradually softens. In the end, he even bows and asks, "Please teach me, Master." Factional strife gradually subsides, the government grows clean and the people live in harmony. Fine crops from overseas save countless lives. Tribute trade fills the treasury. The dynasty that should have met its final end miraculously blossoms with new life. -- There is just one thing Yuan Zhao can't quite understand. From opposing and rejecting him at the start to obeying his every word later on, why do Liang Zheng and every civil and military official leave all the decisions to him? Completely unaware that his secret identity has been exposed, Yuan Zhao instinctively turns to his biggest supporter. "Your Majesty, I feel rather uneasy..." Liang Zheng clasps the hand of his beloved minister, thoroughly content. "Is there anyone in this realm you cannot offend? What is there to fear?" Yuan Zhao: ...That's exactly why I'm uneasy! #Oh no, the dynasty still fell Theme: Strive for the top