A Constructivist Historian Meets a Contrarian Straight Man

A college student named Luo Biechen transmigrates into a Long Aotian novel he once read, becoming the imperial diarist tasked with recording the words and deeds of a perverse villainous emperor. In the end, the tyrant will have him hacked to pieces and his bones ground to dust.

He inherits the former diarist's dying wish: he must finish writing a complete record before he can return to his original world.

Rumor has it that the emperor is as handsome as an immortal, peerlessly beautiful, and was once a great hero who saved his country and its people. But after ascending the throne, he became wolfish in nature, cruel and ruthless, treating human lives like blades of grass.

On the first day after transmigrating, the tyrant acts on a whim and waves his hand. "From now on, there is no need to report the records to me. Let posterity judge my achievements as it sees fit."

Luo Biechen trembles with fear. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

On his second day at work, Luo Biechen shakes with terror.

On his third day at work, Luo Biechen is as quiet as a cicada in winter.

On his Nth day at work, the illiterate Luo Biechen finally realizes that nobody is checking his work. After being bullied mercilessly by the tyrant during the day, his psyche has gradually become twisted.

He starts making things up.

[On such-and-such date, the emperor wished to take a concubine, but was impotent, so he gave up.]

[Former Emperor, your son is gay, gay!]

[Shocking! The emperor's drastic change in personality was to cover up his past as a street hawker. The more you think about it, the more terrifying it gets!]

Luo Biechen becomes a proud fabricator of history. To the tyrant's face, he heaps on the praise, but behind his back, he invents history at a furious pace, writing with abandon.

Until one day, he sees the tyrant holding his little notebook.

The tyrant's eyes are sharp as an eagle's, his vicious expression fully revealed. Pointing at a line, he asks, "What does 'street hawker' mean? What history am I supposed to be covering up?"

Luo Biechen's legs tremble. "It means that you were once brave and invincible in battle, and achieved your imperial ambitions."

Emperor Jingyao says, "Hawking means buying and selling. Street vendors use the term all the time. When I pacified the northern frontier, I took the enemy chieftain's head. When I conquered the south, I relied on my iron-armored cavalry. Are you saying I achieved my imperial ambitions by shouting slogans on the street?"

Luo Biechen: ...

Emperor Jingyao turns another page. "And what do these foreign letters mean?"

Luo Biechen answers cautiously, "It's a way of saying Your Majesty is vigorous and incredibly impressive."

Emperor Jingyao says, "That sounds good."

Luo Biechen breathes a sigh of relief.

Emperor Jingyao says, "But our mighty nation X has an imposing dignity. Why are you using foreign writing?"

Luo Biechen racks his brains and makes up a long story. Emperor Jingyao curls his lips in a wicked smile. "I don't believe you. I'll catch a foreigner and ask him."

Luo Biechen: …

When he reaches the last page, Emperor Jingyao finally understands. He laughs in anger. "So this is how you write about me?"

The lowly diarist kneels on the ground, trembling, unable to stop himself from asking in a wounded voice, "B-but didn't you say you wouldn't read it?"

*

After this disastrous exposure cuts short one fabricator's career, the tyrant starts reviewing everything he writes each day. Night after night, under lamplight, he reads every word closely, and Luo Biechen can no longer let his imagination run wild.

At last, one day, Luo Biechen can't take it anymore.

Holding his aching waist, he records something with unusual seriousness: [On such-and-such date, the emperor indulged in pleasure and caroused all night. This is hardly the conduct of a wise ruler!]

Emperor Jingyao glances at the line and raises an eyebrow, pulling the little historian into his arms. "I toil so diligently to produce an heir. It is one thing that your belly has failed to deliver, my dear minister, but to make excuses like this is to delay the affairs of state."

"What punishment do you deserve?"

Luo Biechen: …

Help! Stop arguing with me already!

The blurb was captured on July 12, 2025.

Theme: Even in adversity, love life.