From the Start, the Empress Wants Me Dead, and I Shock the Court!

Ling Lie transmigrates to ancient times. His original identity was the least favored prince of Great Jing, so he was sent to Wu as a hostage. But from the start, Great Jing went to war with Wu, and the empress wanted to have him tortured to death!

Ling Lie has no choice but to use every trick in the book to serve the empress, becoming her devoted lackey just to survive.

He composes poetry and attracts the most talented people in the land; invents products and amasses wealth from across the realm; commands troops and campaigns across the four seas and eight wastes!

Several years later.

Empress: "Ling, what should we name our son?"

Ling Lie: "Your Majesty, please don't!"