Chapter 62: Transmigrated into a Book – That Powerful Minister Villain’s Name Is… Jiang Qing…

Xie Qinghe originally came from a military family. Although his poor health prevented him from practicing martial arts, the inherent courage in his bones remained undiminished. He viewed the defeat by Yu Country as a profound humiliation. Moreover, hearing that Chengle Princess was living poorly after marrying into Yu Country deepened his resentment—this woman who could once strategize state affairs in court had ultimately become a bargaining chip and sacrifice between two nations, gradually losing her brilliance amid the hardships in a foreign land.

Xie Qinghe had always respected Chengle Princess, and her fate made him detest even more those court officials who engaged in political machinations while remaining passive in the face of powerful enemies.

Although Jiang Qingshi had become Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, by Emperor Jingrui’s decree, he still concurrently served as the Crown Prince’s tutor, attending monthly lectures for the Crown Prince.

On this day, when Jiang Qingshi arrived at the Hall of Literary Glory and was admitted to the inner palace after being announced by a palace maid, he saw blue gauze curtains faintly shimmering before him. Crown Prince Li Yunchu was hidden behind the gauze curtains, seemingly lounging lazily and not yet risen.

Jiang Qingshi frowned.

Emperor Jingrui’s illness was growing increasingly severe, with court rumors suggesting he might not last two more years. Yet at this critical juncture, Crown Prince Li Yunchu, freed from the emperor’s restraints, had become increasingly unrestrained. Li Yunchu was inherently mediocre—previously constantly admonished and scolded daily by Emperor Jingrui. Now with the emperor ill, Li Yunchu immediately became like an unbridled wild horse, indulging freely without anyone to constrain him.

Mentoring such a mediocrity, even with the potential future title of Imperial Tutor, left Jiang Qingshi deeply frustrated. Witnessing Li Yunchu’s degeneration made Jiang Qingshi feel that Da Liang had no future.

Jiang Qingshi gave a light cough, prompting Li Yunchu to rise slowly from the couch. A woman rose with him, dressed in palace maid attire. Upon seeing Jiang Qingshi, she awkwardly curtsied before hurriedly departing.

Recognizing the woman’s face, Jiang Qingshi frowned: “Your Highness, if I’m not mistaken, that should be the chief maid serving the Empress.”

“Indeed.” Li Yunchu gazed lazily at Jiang Qingshi. “Sister Xu has served Mother Empress for years. Her transfer to serve me is also Mother Empress’s intention.”

Their recent interaction clearly indicated an intimate relationship between Li Yunchu and the maid, while the surrounding servants appeared accustomed to such scenes.

“Your Highness, that maid is over a decade older than you. You should devote yourself to state affairs now, not give people grounds for criticism.”

“How tedious you’ve become, Minister Jiang. You’re no different from those other old pedants now. Hearing their daily nagging has given me earaches—please don’t emulate them. Minister Jiang possesses such fine features, the dream lover of many Da Liang women. With spring at its loveliest, you shouldn’t waste these beautiful days either.”

Li Yunchu’s expression was frivolous, as if he were in some pleasure quarter, intoxicated and bewitched in the lap of luxury.

“Your Highness, you must understand the current situation. Xin Wang and Consort Liu are watching like tigers eyeing their prey, Yu Country is growing restless, and His Majesty’s health is failing. This is precisely the time when Your Highness must dedicate yourself to vigorous governance.” Jiang Qingshi sighed softly. “Your Highness is now the main pillar supporting Da Liang.”

“Who in this entire Da Liang truly values me?”

The Crown Prince rose to his feet. He was actually barefoot, stepping directly on the cold floor. His expression was weary, as if he had lost all patience with everything in this world.

“In the eyes of most people, I, Li Yunchu, am merely a laughingstock. Let them laugh all they want. After all, whether it’s Father Emperor or Mother Empress, their disappointment in me far outweighs their expectations. I can never become the person they hoped for… especially after Elder Sister was sent away for political marriage. Their disappointment in me has only grown. I know what they’re thinking – why was this weak and useless nature of mine not born a daughter, while the intelligent and capable Elder Sister was born female… Yu Country demanded Elder Sister for political marriage precisely to destroy her. They know that without Elder Sister, Da Liang has no worthy successor. Neither I nor my good younger brother Xin Wang are fit to be emperor. Everyone is disappointed in me… only Sister Xu truly loves me. She has no expectations of me, but loves me simply for being Li Yunchu.”

“Your Highness…”

“Minister Jiang, the future of Da Liang does not rest in my hands. Sometimes I truly hope Father Emperor would pass the throne to Xin Wang, so I could be relieved of this heavy burden. Though Xin Wang’s abilities are mediocre too, at least it would spare me from becoming the one who fails Da Liang. After all these years studying the classics, with Father Emperor continuously inviting Grand Academicians to lecture me, I’ve learned nothing, mastered nothing. I am simply this useless person.”

After speaking, Li Yunchu began laughing heartily to himself. As he laughed, tears welled up in the young man’s eyes. Though Li Yunchu possessed remarkable features, his current deranged state did little to diminish his handsome appearance. Jiang Qingshi frowned, realizing today’s lesson could not continue.

“Today’s events must not be spread,” Jiang Qingshi instructed the palace attendants. “His Highness the Crown Prince is merely tired. These exhausted words he spoke today cannot be taken seriously.”

The attending palace staff were clearly accustomed to Li Yunchu’s behavior and quickly assented. Jiang Qingshi sighed. As a father himself, he felt some pity for Li Yunchu. If his own Miao Ge’er were to become so decadent and fallen, he couldn’t imagine how he would feel.

But pity aside, with Li Yunchu in such a state, how could he possibly ascend the throne in the future? As for Xin Wang, not only was he mediocre, but he also had ambitious maternal relatives watching closely behind him. Da Liang truly seemed to be approaching its end.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhimiao, whom Jiang Qingshi had been thinking of, was resting in bed. Having stayed up late last night to complete his manuscript, he felt utterly exhausted today. Fortunately, Teacher Xu had fallen ill these past few days, so he didn’t have to attend daytime classes, giving him at least some breathing space.

Why did he feel so tired? Work really could drain a person completely. He needed to pay more attention to rest and recuperation going forward – he still wanted to be his father and mother’s good son for many more years!

But today, even when he slept, he felt restless. Unlike his usual peaceful slumber, this time he seemed to hover between wakefulness and sleep—unable to sink into deep rest yet unable to fully awaken either.

Could he be haunted by something?

Jiang Zhimiao felt uncomfortable all over, his mind muddled and chaotic.

【Host, host!】

Was that the system calling him?

Suddenly, a flood of plotlines surged into Jiang Zhimiao’s mind. Perhaps he had been overthinking lately, constantly pondering how to develop new storylines, which explained the mental turmoil.

【Host, due to your recent flourishing development in the literary arts, you have unlocked a new achievement—Reading a Book a Hundred Times! To help you create more and better works, all the literary pieces you read in your past life will reawaken to assist you in capturing inspiration~】

So it was the system’s fault!

No wonder he felt so exhausted, with so much information rushing in all at once.

Jiang Zhimiao felt as though he were wandering through a chaotic world of scattered papers, shrinking into a tiny figure overwhelmed by the countless plotlines drifting past. Suddenly, this miniature Jiang Zhimiao halted. He spotted a novel he had read long ago—nothing particularly remarkable about it, yet for some reason, it compelled him to stop right then and there.

The book flipped open rapidly, and all the plotlines he had once read reawakened in his mind. He remembered it was a male-oriented novel where the protagonist rose from an obscure ordinary student to become a pillar of the state, saving a foolish emperor and assisting a young prince.

He recalled feeling rather indifferent while reading it, largely because the male lead was conventionally portrayed, and by the end, the dynasty still hadn’t improved. He also remembered that most readers had found the protagonist mediocre, while one antagonist stood out as exceptionally brilliant.

That villain was stunningly handsome and immensely talented, but due to his manipulative, authoritarian ways, he met a tragic end… Yet, the character was so well-crafted that readers couldn’t bring themselves to hate him. Instead, when the antagonist met his demise, the comment section was flooded with lamentations, and many readers dropped the novel altogether.

Back then, Jiang Zhimiao had been busy with his studies and hadn’t followed the novel closely, only skimming certain plot points and the ending. So why did this novel suddenly captivate him now?

Collecting his thoughts, Jiang Zhimiao stepped forward and opened the book. Just as he remembered, the major antagonist didn’t appear until several dozen chapters in. As he flipped through the pages, his hand suddenly froze.

Something he had overlooked before now struck him upon rereading—he found his own name in this novel.

Jiang Zhimiao…

In this story, he was… the son of that major antagonist!

A cold sweat broke out all over Jiang Zhimiao, goosebumps rising on his skin.

The name of that power-hungry minister and antagonist was…

Jiang Qingshi.

No wonder, no wonder he felt this novel calling to him. Was it a coincidence? Or had he truly transmigrated into the book?!

Frantically, Jiang Zhimiao flipped through the pages, his hands moving swiftly as he cross-referenced the details. To his shock, many plot points aligned perfectly…

Because Jiang Qingshi was not the main character—at best ranking fourth or fifth among male roles—his appearances were limited and each time brief, yet his unique personal charm still attracted countless readers. This was precisely why Jiang Zhimiao had only a vague impression of this antagonist.

Jiang Qingshi originally had few scenes, and Jiang Zhimiao hadn’t read every chapter. As for his own role—the son of a villain—it was mentioned by name only a handful of times in the book. Combined with the fact that he had read this story long ago, the plot details naturally grew hazy.

Many plot points involving Jiang Qingshi were conveyed indirectly: his impoverished and lonely youth, rising from humble origins to achieve the Tanhua title through his own efforts, gaining the emperor’s favor, advancing from the Hanlin Academy to serve in the Office of the Supervisor of Instruction, and being tasked with educating the Crown Prince…

Wasn’t this exactly his father’s life story?

The author’s judgment of Jiang Qingshi was: a youth who yearned for power ultimately devoured by that very power.

Later, Jiang Qingshi became skilled at political manipulation, betraying the emperor’s trust. Though appointed as a minister entrusted with the orphaned heir by the dying emperor, his ambitions swelled until he grew unwilling to remain subordinate…

With trembling hands, Jiang Zhimiao flipped to his father’s final fate.

In the end, Jiang Qingshi laughed heartily while setting himself ablaze in the palace, his entire household executed. It was the “merciful” male lead who declared that Lord Jiang had suffered enough in life and thus spared his extended family from further persecution.

Author’s Note: Jiang Zhimiao: Sudden realization [mind blown]