Father Told Me to Get the Better of My Junior Uncle

Blurb:

Several years after transmigrating to ancient times, Zhou Xian discovers that the world he lives in is the setting of a top scholar's story about an overpowered male lead.

The protagonist, Zhao Fengzhang, is the son of a farming family. He passed the provincial exam at fifteen and was named top candidate before he turned twenty. His future looked bright.

The protagonist's fellow disciple, Zhou Min, was his foil: mediocre in talent but with ambition that reached the heavens. He was always jealous of his junior and constantly sabotaged him.

Zhou Xian is Zhou Min's son. Gifted and known as a child prodigy, he is his father's pride. Zhou Min hopes that one day his son will surpass Zhao Fengzhang and restore his family's honor.

Unfortunately, when Zhou Xian is eight, he falls from a horse and becomes a cripple, unable to walk properly. His prospects in the civil service are ruined, his personality changes drastically, and his father becomes a full-fledged villain.

The father and son conspire together, forming cliques and abusing their power to throw the court into chaos. Only in their old age, after lying low for years, does Zhao Fengzhang finally defeat them in the factional struggle. The entire Zhou family is executed.

Later generations call the father and son the greatest traitors in history, their infamy lasting for thousands of years.

The first time Zhou Xian officially meets Zhao Fengzhang is at the banquet celebrating Zhao's success in the provincial exam. Zhao is still a handsome fifteen-year-old, elegant in appearance and graceful in bearing.

Zhou Xian has never denied that he is a sinister, crafty, hypocritical, and despicable person. His fate in the original story makes perfect sense.

But he feels no aversion toward a true gentleman like Zhao Fengzhang, who cares for all under heaven and brings prosperity to the world.

At first, he only wants to see for himself how a true gentleman who cares for the world can have his pride broken and his edges worn away, yet still carve out a path to the light in this corrupt, lifeless age.

But later, he no longer wants to be a bystander. He wants to walk alongside this man, hand in hand.

*

Zhao Fengzhang dedicates his entire life to the Great Wei dynasty, working himself to the bone until the day he dies, yet receives no reward for it.

He dies of exhaustion before the age of fifty. After his death, the emperor abandons himself to pleasure and recklessly squanders the treasury Zhao had worked so hard to replenish. The signs of the Great Wei's decline are already plain to see.

But Zhao Fengzhang has no regrets. He can only sigh: How can everything go as one wishes? I ask only that my conscience be clear.

When Zhao Fengzhang opens his eyes again, he discovers that he has returned to the age of fifteen, just after passing the provincial exam and while still studying at the academy.

The senior disciple who opposed him all his life in his previous life is congratulating him on passing, smiling without warmth.

And his senior's precious son, Zhou Xian, is smiling as he clutches Zhao Fengzhang's sleeve, his round, fair face tilted up. "Little Martial Uncle is amazing. Jixiang wants to learn from you too."

Seeing the father and son he fought all his life again, Zhao Fengzhang has mixed feelings. In his previous life, Zhou Xian had no chance of taking the civil service exams because of his disability, but he was exceptionally devious and ruthless, serving as his father's strategist and source of funds. He had caused Zhao Fengzhang plenty of trouble, both openly and behind the scenes.

Zhao Fengzhang knows that next year Zhou Xian will be crippled in a riding accident, after which his personality will change and he will become violent and cruel.

He can't bring himself to eliminate a child who isn't even eight years old before he has a chance to grow up. After much deliberation, Zhao Fengzhang decides to save the boy and teach him with care. Perhaps he can change the boy's nature and raise him into a pillar of the state.

So Zhao Fengzhang immediately scoops up the little bundle clutching his sleeve and says solemnly, "Then stay by your uncle's side and study hard. How about I teach you to read and write myself?"

Zhou Xian smiles and nods. "Okay~"

Zhou Min: ? Why does my son have to study with you? Well, fine. He can learn from him, and then he'll definitely surpass him someday.

As the days pass, with Zhao Fengzhang patiently teaching and guiding Zhou Xian, he increasingly feels that the boy is truly clever, sweet, and well-behaved. In his previous life, he must have been led astray by that seemingly mild but deeply wicked senior of his!

"Little Martial Uncle, Little Martial Uncle, let Jixiang massage your shoulders."

Zhao Fengzhang is pleased. "Mm, Jixiang is very thoughtful."

"Little Martial Uncle, Little Martial Uncle, there's thunder. Jixiang is scared."

Zhao Fengzhang picks the child up and carries him to bed. "Don't be afraid. Your uncle will sleep with you."

"Little Martial Uncle, Little Martial Uncle, Father said you're going to marry Miss Li from the north of the city. Boohoo, after you marry, will you stop liking Jixiang?"

Zhao Fengzhang tenderly picks up the child with tears in his eyes. "I'm not marrying her. Your uncle likes Jixiang best."

Zhao Fengzhang: Look at him. What a well-behaved child.

Zhou Xian: Getting to enjoy the benefits, hehe~

Until later...

Zhao Fengzhang looks at his little junior nephew lying on his chest and reaches out to pinch his fair, handsome cheeks. Mm, not only is he well-behaved, he's sweet too.

The doting father: What the hell have you done to my son?! You beast! (Screaming)

Zhou Xian: How is this not surpassing Little Martial Uncle?

Note:

Blurb revised on March 17, 2025. The premise has changed, so feel free to stay or leave.

Theme: Soar ninety thousand miles into the sky.