BOOM!
Sun Qian's eyes narrowed sharply, his expression freezing instantly.
He'd seen this coming, more or less—but the bombshell still hit him like a ton of bricks.
I'm the Crown Prince's heir!My father's the Crown Prince!My grandfather's the Qianyuan Human Sovereign!And I've got an uncle who's the Qianyuan God of War, holding the military's reins...
What kind of overpowered background is this?
Power!And troops!
Compared to him, that scheming Sixth Prince Chen Tai was nothing but a joke.
By the etiquette and ethics of the Qianyuan Empire, he was the ultimate legitimate heir.
So why the hell had things gone so sideways?
He was the empire's Crown Prince's heir, for crying out loud!
「What unspeakable atrocities did my never-met father commit back in the day to drag me down with him like this?」
You're the Crown Prince's heir!!!
The revelation sent your mind reeling, shock coursing through your veins.
Turns out, you were the empire's top-tier player all along.
But why had your life turned into such a disaster?
「Uncle, can you tell me about my father?」 You pressed urgently, desperate for the truth.
With your days numbered, you had to know what really happened back then.
You also had to find out why your bloodline was branded as the most sinful, the most evil, the most deranged...
「Your father...」 Uncle Yang Hong's eyes drooped slightly, a flicker of anger crossing his face—but when he met your feeble, pleading gaze, his heart softened.
「Your father Chen Xuan was a man of immense vision and talent. He was extraordinary from birth, blessed with the omens of an ancient deity. Your grandfather doted on him, naming him Crown Prince at a young age—making him the Qianyuan Empire's number one heir apparent...」
「After becoming Crown Prince, he helped your grandfather shoulder the empire's military and administrative burdens, displaying incredible prowess. He implemented new policies, promoted countless commoners from humble backgrounds, and curbed the power of noble clans—carving a path to glory for the lower classes. His prestige soared to unprecedented heights, nearly rivaling your grandfather's...」
「The people sang praises, hailing him as a ruler with the spirit of the ancient human sovereigns...」
「Back then, all matters from across the empire were first submitted to your father for review before being sent to your grandfather for his final seal of approval. In a way, even your grandfather—the Qianyuan Human Sovereign himself—was sidelined by your old man...」
「When it came to sheer capability, your father ranked among the greatest in the entire history of the Qianyuan Empire...」
As Yang Hong spoke of his brother-in-law's achievements, his expression grew complicated. He'd been one of the beneficiaries of Chen Xuan's reforms, after all.
Making it big in a Qianyuan Empire dominated by noble clans was no easy feat.
Sometimes, you needed a helping hand to climb the ladder.
Holy shit!
You gaped, stunned by your father's sheer badassery—and the sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong hit you hard.
A Crown Prince sidelining the reigning Emperor? Disaster was inevitable!
「But that wasn't even the worst part. The bastard was a total scumbag.」
「Back when I hadn't made a name for myself yet, your father and I were thick as thieves—brothers in all but blood. We'd visit each other's homes often, swapping stories and drinking the night away...」
「At first, it was all good. But as time went on, things started to feel off...」
「I was rising through the ranks, gaining your grandfather's trust and leading armies in the border wars. But that bastard kept dropping by my house when I was away. By the time I came back, Xiu'er was already with child—carrying you...」
「That son of a bitch! If your mother hadn't stopped me, I would've hacked him to pieces right then and there...」
Gone was Yang Hong's usual calm composure. The killing intent in his eyes was so thick, it was almost tangible.
Any brother would've lost his mind in his shoes.
Bastard! I treated you like a brother, and you wanted to be my brother-in-law by stealing my sister?
And it was obvious the creep was forcing him to pick a side.
Already the Crown Prince, and he still had his greedy eyes on the military power.
Sun Qian: ...
It finally clicked. Your father was a stone-cold schemer—a total snake. Sneaking into someone's house and stealing their sister while they were away on duty? No way that was an accident.
On one hand, maybe it was true love. But on the other? He'd clearly been trying to tie the God of War uncle to his faction with a blood oath.
「Ahem, Uncle. My dad was definitely a piece of work, but can we get back to the main story?」 You tried to soothe the seething man beside you, steering the conversation back on track.
「After that incident, I found out your grandfather had suspected your father of hoarding weapons, raising private assassins, and plotting rebellion. He was already planning to take him down...」 Yang Hong regained his composure and continued.
That explained, at least in part, why Chen Xuan had resorted to such extreme measures.
「He acted just because of a suspicion?!」 Your face darkened.
「Wasn't that suspicion enough?」 Yang Hong gave you a meaningful look.
You fell silent, the truth hitting you like a slap to the face.
To an Emperor, suspicion was more than enough. Evidence was irrelevant.
「So over a trumped-up charge of treason, my grandfather had my father killed—and destroyed my entire family...」 You clenched your fists so tight your knuckles turned white, your body trembling with rage.
This was the terror of those in power. Family bonds meant nothing in the face of the throne.
「Who said it was a trumped-up charge?」 Yang Hong cut you off abruptly.
???
You blinked, dumbfounded, staring at your uncle in confusion.
「Don't look at me like that. That bastard really did it—hoarded weapons, raised assassins... He was planning a Xuanwu Gate-style coup. Did you really think he was some kind of upright man?」
「Your grandfather's suspicions were spot-on. He just beat your father to the punch.」
Yang Hong patted your head, a look of amused exasperation on his face—like he was dealing with a naive kid who still had a lot to learn.
「And the reason your father did all that? He'd anticipated your grandfather's suspicions. He knew the old man was going to move against him, so he decided to strike first...」
???
「Oh, and to up his chances, your dad also talked a few of his brothers into joining the rebellion. Promised them a share of the empire once they took the throne...」
???
Is this what they called fatherly-son filial piety?
The eldest brother leading his siblings in a plot to overthrow their own father?
You were left speechless, your jaw hanging open at the mind-bending twists and turns of the story. Could things get any more absurd?
「Uncle, are you sure you're speaking actual Chinese? Can this get any more insane?」 Your mouth twitched. Was this how things worked in the imperial family? Rebellion was just a family pastime now? Rebelling against your own dad?
Was your father out of his mind? Didn't he realize the consequences of failure?
「Insane? Nah. Your grandfather did the exact same thing back in his day.」 Yang Hong dropped another bombshell.
「How else do you think he climbed his way to the throne?」
???
No way. Was this some kind of family tradition?
A dynasty of rebels—all plotting to overthrow their own fathers?