This Young Master has been kind all his life, why put him in this book?
Translation Checker: jellypeaches
Editor: jellypeaches, Dobhsh, Special_K
Quick announcement: next chapter TBA April 1st (subject to change), the update schedule is one chapter every three days.
“Ouch…”
A bursting pain, equivalent to the splitting of a valley, was stretching out long in his head.
Meng Huan was dazed from lack of air, his lips were dry and his mind was filled with endless dreams. He dreamed that he was standing in front of a pillar, cursing, “I would rather die than become that vile minister’s male concubine!”
“If my name is to enter the ranks of the heroes, I cannot be concerned about personal matters. If I can give up my life for the sake of my county, I look forward to death as a journey home. If I was to marry this treacherous minister, I would be no different from the corrupt scholars in this dynasty, no different from you bastards who act in collusion!”
“Heaven is calling me, demanding I go in purity instead of spoiled…”
Meng Huan’s eyelashes fluttered as the figure of a young man flashed before his eyes. The other person’s facial features were as beautiful and slender as his own. The only differences being the scattered long hair, chang pao, and furious expression.
As soon as the man finished his statement, he slammed his head against the pillar—
Bang!
A sharp pain exploded in his head as Meng Huan shouted, “No!”
He snapped his eyes open, pupils blown wide, his face was drenched with sticky beads of sweat that slid down his pale and handsome jaw, dampening the hair around his ears.
A man crouching in front of him gave him a look and stood up.
Someone asked, “Is he awake?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Do not let him try to escape through death anymore. Clean him up; His Royal Highness is still going to use him tonight.”
After that came the sound of a door opening and someone stepping out.
Meng Huan’s heart was pounding, the pain still lingering in his head. He surveyed the surroundings in a daze.
…A bright-red wedding room, candles, a blood-stained pillar, and incomprehensible words…Could he still be dreaming?
He blinked, and the servant boy, who was ordered to watch him, approached with a basin of water, calling, “Young Master Meng?”
Meng Huan gawked at the kid. “What did you call me?”
“This lowly one called you Young Master Meng. Is there something wrong?”
After saying that, the servant boy pulled a sharp knife from behind and said, as if talking to himself, “Young Master Meng, if you are still insistent on dying, this lowly one can assist you. Although this is a butcher’s knife that I found in the back kitchen, I have washed it dozens of times, so it’s all clean and shiny and definitely worthy of your noble head.”
“……”
Meng Huan wet his lips, acting as if he did not catch what was said clearly. “Wh-what was that?”
“Young Master Meng was forcibly taken into the Prince Regent’s compound, still refusing to prostrate yourself before our Royal Highness’s hips.” The servant boy held the knife aloft and enunciated carefully. “This lowly one admires proud and noble conduct, so to speak. It’s just a pity you are alive even after hitting your head against the pillar. Out of admiration for the Young Master’s conduct, I am willing to help you leave this world with your reputation and integrity intact.”
“…”
What?
What is all of this about?!
Meng Huan only remembered reading a novel last night before falling asleep. Why did things become so strange once he opened his eyes?
“Young Master, I have sharpened this knife so well that it can easily slice through flesh and bone, so you will not have to die in pain—”
As the boy made that claim, he drew the blade lightly across his fingertip. Crimson blood instantly gushed out of the wound. “See, it is very sharp, right?”
Meng Huan: “……”
You cut yourself for real?
Before the servant cut his own finger, Meng Huan had thought this was a dream or a prank show, but the moment he saw those dark red drops of blood, he was shocked into reality. He tried desperately to wave his hands to dismiss the idea, only to find that they were bound tightly.
When the little servant before spoke, raised the knife and cut his finger, he had looked very much like an NPC, knowing nothing of emotions and doing nothing but following his code.
Everything in front of him seemed so familiar…
Meng Huan finally remembered!
This was the same content as the R-18 political intrigue danmei novel he read last night! This book had a very intense plot with tags such as ‘seize by force’, ‘love-hate relationship’, ‘crazy gong and ruthless shou’, ‘explosive power couple’, and ‘do it while fighting’.
The current suicide scene was how the novel started. The original gong forced the original shou into this compound to become one of his own. With the original shou’s aloof and noble nature, he went directly to commit suicide in a fit of rage!
Meng Huan looked at the knife that was getting closer to him and the servant who cut his own finger like an emotionless NPC. Meng Huan’s head was about to split from overwhelm as he shouted, “Stop right there!”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“…”
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Zfcu Lejc rajgfv ja atf uifjwlcu yijvf jcv rjlv, “Zbnf atf xclof jkjs!”
Ktf rfgnjca ujqfv, jr lo tlr ygjlc tjv ijuufv obg j wbwfca. Mlcjiis, ubcf kjr atf vlrbglfcafv RUJ rajaf, jr j tlca bo tewjclas ibjvfv, jcv tf tfrlajcais mjiifv bea, “Tbecu Zjrafg Zfcu?”
With surprise showing on his face, he continued, “Were you not determined to die? Earlier in the afternoon, you even…”
Who in their right mind wants to die?!!
Meng Huan locked onto the servant’s eyes like they were having a staring contest. The servant’s expression became increasingly complicated, so Meng Huan desperately countered, “My body and hair were given to me by my parents. How can I ask for death before informing my parents?”
The servant murmured, “But—”
Meng Huan interrupted him, “No buts. Untie me this instant.”
“…”
The servant uttered an “Oh,” and cut the rope around Meng Huan’s wrists.
Having finally escaped from the butcher’s knife, Meng Huan breathed a heavy relief. Calming himself, he examined his surroundings to confirm if he really had transmigrated into a book.
A thump came from out of nowhere as the servant knelt down again. “This lowly one is so happy that the Young Master could come around and cherish his life. It’s just, sniff, sniff…”
Meng Huan’s head hurt. “Why are you crying?”
“Sob, Young Master’s innocence will be ruined in the hands of our Royal Highness…”
“…”
With a single sentence, Meng Huan’s newly relaxed mood instantly turned tense again.
…I don’t know what to say.
He had actually transmigrated into a book.
Not only that, but he was also ushered into the plotline like a working donkey.
His current identity was, undoubtedly, a male concubine whose body was about to be taken.
The man who was about to do the taking was the male protagonist gong in the R-18 novel from last night. Lin Bozhou, the Prince Regent, who was also a rigid and treacherous minister.
This man might look handsome and simple on the surface, but he actually had a passion for murder. During his eight years of rule, hundreds of ministers were caned to death. Later on, he would hold the entire imperial household hostage with an army of three hundred thousand men, wipe out tens of families with false incriminations and kill tens of thousands of people in a single breath! With his hands covered in blood, his reputation of cruelty could even stop a child from crying at night!
He was mockingly called a ‘standing tyrant’ by the members of the imperial court.
Anyone who disobeyed his wishes would die.
While reading Meng Huan’s heart had turned cold.
—What kind of mental psychopath is this?
Reading was a momentary pleasure, but transmigration was like being hunted for life. From outside the book, it was the thrill and passion between the fighting power couple. Inside the book, it was like escaping from a tiger’s mouth to run into a wolf’s den.
Tears flowed from the servant’s eyes once more. “Young Master Meng, w-why don’t we di-die in-instead?”
“……”
Meng Huan uttered, “Don’t you mess with my mind.”
Taking a deep breath, he stood up abruptly, walked towards the entrance and opened the door with a loud bang—
At this point, there was obviously only one way to keep his sad life safe, and that was to escape!
The original shou was kept as a concubine in the Prince Regent’s rear court, but after failing in his quest for death, he actually changed his mind. Biding his time and concealing his plan, he finally found an opportunity to escape to the Nine Garrisons to organize troops and engage in a marvelous love-hate relationship with this Prince Regent.
If the original can escape, why can’t I do the same as well?
A powerful ambition filled Meng Huan’s heart, but as soon as he opened the door, he found the courtyard had at some point filled with numerous soldiers. They stood in several rows, forming lines as dense as a stroke from an ink brush. Never mind a human, even a mosquito might not be able to fly out.
Meng Huan immediately was splashed with the cold water of reality: “…”
Thanks, I hate it!
The servant followed behind him. “Young—”
His words also came to a screeching halt.
In the crowded darkness of the courtyard under the moonlight, a servant dressed as a steward kowtowing, hitting his head repeatedly with a bang.
“Your Royal Highness, please have mercy! The Young Master Meng collided with the pillar during this lowly one’s moment of distraction. The fault is all mine, I have failed in my duty, I beg of you, please spare my life, please be merciful!”
As the servant’s voice distorted in terror, he crawled forward, only to be kicked away unceremoniously by a black boot hidden from the shadow.
“You know you’ve failed, and you still haven’t gone to receive punishment?”
The man’s voice was low and deep.
The servant’s face was deathly pale, “Your Royal Highness…”
Before he could plead his case, two armored soldiers came from behind to press ankle clamps on the steward’s slaves before dragging him into the darkness by the armpits.
Then came the wailing, like a pig being slaughtered.
“Ahhhh, Your Royal Highness, please have mercy!”
His shriek sent a chill down Meng Huan’s back.
The standing tyrant…lived up to his name.
Pretending nothing had happened, he was about to close the door to go back inside, the deep voice called out softly, “Who goes there?”
Meng Huan felt his blood run cold, feeling as though the question could skin a person.
He did not expect to come face-to-face with the Prince Regent this soon. Turning his neck stiffly, he looked cautiously along the shadows cast by flowering branches and saw a figure standing there.
The young man was extremely tall, with the hem of his clothes reaching the ground. The red inner robes were embroidered with dark gold thread. With a dragon brocade sat coiled on each shoulder, and a cordon wrapped around his waist, he was standing as tall and straight as orchid and jade trees. One hand rested by his side in his sleeve, while the other hand leisurely counted a string of white jade beads.
The beads moved through the man’s fingers one by one, not pausing even after reprimanding the servant.
Because the man was in the shadows, Meng Huan could not see his facial features clearly, only sensing vaguely that the man had a sharp nose and thin lips, and his eyes were covered with a thin layer of white gauze, which was tied over his ears and around the jade hair crown on top of his head.
—He knew as soon as he saw the white gauze. He was Lin Bozhou, the Prince Regent.
The treacherous minster, the self-serving traitor.
Inside, as brutal as evil itself. Outside, as beautiful as an immortal.
The little servant licked his lips and asked, “Young Ma-master, do you still plan to run away?”
“……”
Meng Huan turned to the servant coldly, “Shut up.”
Lin Bozhou stood there without moving. Hearing the shrill shriek of the steward being punished, he gently raised his hand.
The soldiers immediately put down their rods and picked up the steward, whose back was bloodied.
Shan Xing, a guest scholar standing behind hand, spoke up, “Useless. He can’t even watch one person, and only knows how to play Pai Gow and Polo. But consider your pitiful life spared. His Royal Highness will not spare you the next time you neglect your duty.”
The steward cried, “This lowly one understands, thanking His Royal Highness for showing mercy.”
“Scram.” Shan Xing ordered a subordinate, “Carry him back.”
As the steward had been carried away, peace and quiet returned to the courtyard.
Meng Huan could feel the Prince Regent’s gaze return to him, sending chills down his spine.
He felt like a weak little rabbit held between Lin Bozhou’s fingertips, not daring to make a sound no matter how his ears were pinched or his stomach was petted.
The atmosphere was a little awkward, but he summoned up his courage and smiled shyly at the man, “Hu-husband…”
Through the gauze, Lin Bozhou’s eyes looked less fierce, but the chill of his attention did not decrease one bit. He turned his head slightly, his loose hair falling over his forehead, and his lips seemed to twitch.
A downplayed question traveled with the wind.
“Were you not supposed to have a persistent temperament?”
Meng Huan: “……”
One single question made Meng Huan’s entire body and mind tense.
He was done for. He got his persona wrong.
In the book, the original Meng Huan was the only man who confronted the vicious and violent Prince Regent. Not only had the original host come out unscathed from the ordeal, but he was also treated with respect, courtesy and affection.
The reason for this was that the original Meng Huan was not only extremely clever and handsome, but he also possessed a noble temperament and a lofty character. He always looked down on Lin Bozhou, that treacherous minister.
—In the simplest terms, the Prince Regent liked smart individuals with strong tempers.
“Huff…”
Meng Huan slowly exhaled.
For his own safety, it was time to play a smart and aloof persona.
From the crowd’s viewpoint, the youthful Young Master who had been standing dazed at the doorway, suddenly regained his composure. He furrowed his brow, his squinted eyes brimming with contemplation.
Meng Huan was blessed with a pure and handsome appearance. When his brows were smoothed out, his countenance was gentle and mild. The narrow corners of his eyes added a touch of androgynous beauty, his face was somewhat somber when he sulked.
Meng Huan raised his head up and scratched it.
In fact, his smart persona actually has an advantage. He was, after all, someone who had finished the book two days ago. Generally speaking, knowing the entire original story well was the greatest golden finger for someone who had transmigrated into the book.
He scratched his head again.
…Had forgotten most of this six hundred thousand word story.
Then he attempted to recall some generic historical knowledge.
He remembered about the same amount. Nearly nothing.
Meng Huan: “……”
Thud—
He heard the sound of his ready-made world of political intrigue collapsing in the face of his blank mind.
Was a highly intelligent persona something he could manage?!
At the same time, gale-force winds swept through his head, accompanied by mechanical voices screaming frantically over one another: Help! Send help! Help me!
“…”
–
After a long stretch of silence had passed in the courtyard, a gust of wind brushed through the lush green branches of the tree, shaking them apart slightly and allowing moonlight to scatter across the whole yard.
With a pa in front of the door, Lin Bozhou appeared before him. The man was so tall that he blocked part of the moonlight and his shadow descended over Meng Huan, effortlessly wrapping him in its darkness.
When the shadow landed on him, it sent away his warmth.
Lin Bozhou turned and looked down at him, “Is there something you would like to say?”
After being dumbfounded for a long time, Meng Huan’s expression switched between his desire to speak, anger, despair, and regret. Eventually he came back to his senses, he looked at the Prince Regent who had a reputation to kill without blinking an eye.
…help.
No longer as enthusiastic as when he first transmigrated, Meng Huan felt numb all over. His heart was hopelessly apathetic, leaving only a small flicker of fire that was his survival instinct.
Taking a deep breath, he looked up and a bright smile blooming at Lin Bozhou, as if nothing had happened.
“?”
Lin Bozhou gently pressed his lips together, narrowing his eyes.
Then, Meng Huan pretended to accidentally open his clothes slightly. Under the silk was the youth’s slender and sinuous figure, skin as white as porcelain with a slight pink tinge.
He coughed and asked, “Is husband not tired from today’s morning court?”
His tone was obviously striving for seductive, but sounded somewhat stiff and shaky.
He coughed once more and gently tugged at the man’s sleeve. “…I should serve you in bed tonight.”
“…”
The author has something to say:
Huan Huan: This Young Master has been kind all his life, why put him in this book?
—
A new story! It is a relaxing, silly, and sweet novel based on the Ming Dynasty civil service system. Logically, it is impossible for a Prince Regent to appear in the Ming Dynasty, so—don’t mind me!
Gong is not a bad person in the ordinary sense. Continue reading if interested!
This author sacrificed one’s life to come up with lines from Song of the White Horse, by Cao Zhi
*In addition, the timeline that Meng Huan transmigrated is the first word on the first page of the book. This means the original Meng Huan and Lin Bozhou never met (highlight the main point). Meng Huan’s transmigration turned that data into reality, thus distorting spacetime to make the story restart from a new beginning. Therefore, there is nothing like breaking up the original CP. The original book is only a fantasy, the original host even more so. If readers must know, let’s just say the original host transmigrated into modern times ()
This translator has something to add:
Teo: Oh gosh, an ancient novel. I usually avoid picking up this kind of novel like a plague, but this novel poked me in all the right spots (like with Arch-Rivals). I will do my best translating this monster. Side note, not sure if the main love interest is Lin Bozhou or Lin Pozhou. Decided to go with the former.
Also, please welcome jellypeaches, Dobhsh, and Special_K in helping me on this project. I was actually only looking for proofreader, but jellypeaches is proficient in Chinese so I asked her to be half translation checker and half editor 🙂 Dobhsh and Special_K will rotate in editing.
For the title, I went with ‘cherish’ because the original word is to ‘serve lovingly’. Cherish means hold dear, feel or show affection for. It was a match made in heaven. At first I thought it was the runaway wife who serves the Prince Regent lovingly, but it is actually the Prince Regent who is treating the runaway wife with love.
Side note, I know there is another translation out there. What I can offer might not be speed, but I will try my best to make the translation as smooth, accurate, and enjoyable as possible (and I promise I will not cut chapters into unreasonable parts, totally not because of CG rules lol). Please do not bombard them with comments about me, and please keep the comment section clear of anything that has to do with them. Thanks!
Housekeeping:
The author had revised and edited this story repeatedly, because this translator is not sure if the author are doing it out of getting the chapter unlocked or smoothing the story out, I will be translating from whatever is on the original site. So depending on where/ when the readers MTL/ read, it might be different from what I am translating.
If possible, localize the translation and avoid the pain of building a glossary. If readers are against this, this translator is not forcing you to continue reading. It also decreases the chance of me making typos as well because I do not use and cannot read in pinyin (cries in ㄅㄆㄇㄈ).
Self-addressing titles/ normal titles will only appear the first time in a speech. For example, “This translator will only do self-addressing the first time before switching to using first-person pronunciation, the same when addressing the readers. My goal is to make the reading experience as smooth as possible for you guys and easier on my brain.”
Exception:
1) High-ranking titles like ‘Your Royal Highness’, ‘Your Majesty’, and ‘Your Highness’.
2) If the author did not use self-address and if the English Translation cannot work without a pronoun, it will be the character’s usual self-address.
Super excited to start this story!
Political intrigues and ancient setting novels usually give me a headache and I have to tap out no matter how much I like the main cast but…. looks at the description this will probably be up my alley!
IMO, this one has pretty straight forward political intrigues, either from the main character laying it out in a simple term, or the main love explaining it to the main character in a simple term. So this is up our alleys lol
Plus anything that I do not understand will be worded in a way that makes sense uwu
Lol, the advantage of having a dumb POV character. The plot is easy to follow cause the character has no clue what’s happening.
Looking forward to this one! Thanks for translating it.
Thank you, I like very much this first chapter 😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️
Not scared of this??? I’d turn around and run away back where I came from ….
Yay! New story! Thanks for the first chapter 🤣❤️
Woohoo it’s finally out~ huanhuan is just the kind of precious dumdum shou that I just adore 😂♥ watch the prince regent falling faster and harder than the original story lmaoo
Simple and sweet, my favourite! And I also love then chapter has so much power!
Thank you for picking this story 😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻
I was just wondering whether the original owner has transmigrated into modern world..
Thanks for the chapter..
Just wondering whether the original owner transmigrated to the modern world.. So he actually did ~
Thanks for the chapter..
Already loving it! Thanks for deciding to translate!
Hey am very excited for this, continue with this guys 🙏🤩🤩💪
LETS GOOOO! I am so super excited to get to read this story! Thank you Thank you thank you
Oh my I’ve been waiting for this kind of stupid mc, most of the time there are always stupid mc but they still able to remember the plot and the whole story. BUT THIS! This just excite me more cuz he actually forgot and I’ve been looking for this EXACT THING AAHHHHHH (≧▽≦)
I am so excited to see how this will go!
Ah, estou realmente animada para essa novel 🫣 é a primeira vez que encontro um shou que não é OP em nenhum sentido da palavra além da aparência, e acho que vou gostar. Ansiosa pelos próximos capítulos, obrigada pela tradução!
Ooh interesting premise! Read your translation of ‘Arch Rivals’ and super excited to see how this story develops. Really enjoy your translations so far 😄
Finaly found time to begin this journey with amazing characters and great Translator-sama! (=^w^=)/ Thank You for the hard work~❤
Helpp, the second-hand embarrassement 😩
❤️❤️❤️
Am here to start from the beginning because I miss a lot of updates…
I love it anyway!!!~~
😅😅😅