I Just Wanted to Be a Lazy Fish, but Became a Legendary Wise Ruler

Zhao Ci was an excellent employee at the transmigration bureau. Before retiring early, he made a wish to the System for a world where he could enjoy his retirement.

Zhao Ci: "I hope I can lie flat for the rest of my life in the next world."

Zhao Ci: "Ideally, I'd be a wealthy man of leisure. I don't need to be especially rich, just have some connections, a bit of a reputation, and a few friends around."

System: "Got it!"

With such a capable System, Zhao Ci relaxed. He rummaged through the System's storage space, planning to bring all his belongings with him.

He'd worked for who knew how many lifetimes. Now he just wanted to behave himself and lie flat, live in a big house, and enjoy the good life.

System: "A world has been matched for the Host. Your role is... Crown Prince Zhao of the Liang Dynasty."

When he opened his eyes, Zhao Ci had become Crown Prince Zhao of Great Liang.

Blinding sunlight filtered through the thatched roof. A skinny yellow dog barked on the ground, while passersby peered through the open, ramshackle door and pointed at him. "That's the disgraced crown prince! Crown Prince Zhao!"

Zhao Ci: ...

"System," Zhao Ci said calmly, "where's my life of luxury? Can I return it for a refund?"

The System shrieked, "Host! Host, let me explain!"

After a lengthy explanation, Zhao Ci finally understood his situation.

He was Crown Prince Zhao of the Liang Dynasty, born clever and cherished by the emperor and empress. At ten, he helped manage the government, earning praise from the ministers and the people's adoration

Unfortunately, after his fifteenth birthday, Crown Prince Zhao seemed to become a different person. He neglected his studies and martial arts, indulged in pleasure, and even tried to take as a concubine the prime minister's young daughter, the younger sister of his study companion Pei Xisheng, offending the principled officials at court.

The young marquis Zhao Ji's cousin had also suffered at his hands, and Crown Prince Zhao fell out with the empress over it.

Then there was the top scholar Lin Hechuan, whose talent he disparaged and whose hand he crippled.

What got Crown Prince Zhao driven out of the capital was his attempt to rebel, leading his personal guards in an assault on the imperial palace.

Crown Prince Zhao was utterly disgraced, stripped of his title, and sent to the borderlands to await death.

By then, he had lost the people's hearts and the disgraced crown prince could never turn things around.

Zhao Ci: "A wealthy man of leisure?"

System: "You used to be..."

Zhao Ci: "What about my connections?"

System: "The prime minister's son and the young marquis, both of whom you thoroughly offended, are still in the capital. They've sent people to keep watch on the Host..."

Zhao Ci: "All right."

He looked around. "At least I have some money, right?"

The System answered even more nervously, "Before the Host arrived, the estate in your fief had already been gambled away and mortgaged."

Zhao Ci closed his eyes.

"What about the friends who were supposed to keep me company?" Zhao Ci pressed. "Surely I have those, right?"

The little yellow dog below barked twice.

Zhao Ci: .

The transmigration bureau had a real sense of humor.

Zhao Ci had no choice but to take things out of the System's storage space and try to live a life where he could lie flat.

As a result, spies watched in astonishment as the notorious disgraced crown prince made a dramatic start at...

raising chickens, ducks, and dogs; eliminating bandits along the border; rooting out corrupt officials; and redressing old, wrongful convictions.

He even improved rice and wheat varieties, built all sorts of strange iron contraptions, and started trading with the barbarians?

Zhao Ci wanted to retire, but his life refused to settle down. The prime minister's son, the young marquis, and one person after another kept showing up at his door.

They rambled on about past events and old grudges, saying things Zhao Ci couldn't understand.

The newly appointed crown prince even came to him in tears, saying he didn't want the position.

An imperial decree arrived from the court, worded with urgent entreaties, demanding that Zhao Ci return to the capital at once.

Zhao Ci sighed.

He really just wanted to lie flat!

Reading guide:

1. The protagonist transmigrates into the book. The story will explain why the crown prince changed.

2. The protagonist is a great beauty who seems aloof but is always making sarcastic remarks.

3. From universally hated (?) to universally adored.

4. Ending with everyone sharing one bed.

5. The character card depicts a genderbent version of the crown prince.

Theme: You can create a wonderful life even while lying flat