Chapter 3.1

Along the waterside pavilions, among the depths of lotuses, a small boat slowly drifted along the current.

A servant dressed in blue called out while chasing from the shore: “Second Young Master, the Old Master has requested for you, please follow this servant quickly to the main hall. If the Old Master is forced to wait, I am afraid that Young Master will be punished.”

A man dressed in white slowly sat up from the small boat, casually plucking a lotus leaf from its stem. He tidied up his messy hair by using only a white hairband to tie it up, while at the same time leisurely rowing the boat ashore.

That servant in blue had already gotten impatient, rushing to grasp at the sleeves of the man dressed in white. As he dragged the young master along, he complained, “My dear Young Master, you have already delayed for a great deal of time, how will this servant explain to the Old Master and esteemed guests.”

The man in white did not pay heed to the servant’s impolite behaviour, following him quickly to the main hall.

“Ding, may Master not slack off.”

“This kind of broken plot, the fact that I’m willing to be dragged along is already giving it a lot of face, okay?!”

“Ding………” Master’s temper seems to have gotten worse and worse?

The broken plot Fan Yuan was speaking of was actually considered the typical events of a Mary Sue ⁠novel which was really not that bad— when people wanted drama there would be drama, when they wanted logic then there would be logic, and although the female lead would occasionally have sharp drops in IQ, acting a bit silly, white lotus and holy mother, the male lead and supporting male leads would still be unable to resist the female lead’s charms in the end.

The problem with this particular Mary Sue story was that it had been modified to incorporate a palace struggle, a harem struggle, military matters, and politics into a singular, extremely large…Mary Sue plot. This was simply such a considerate move, it was extremely worthy to give the author two extra chicken drumsticks.

However Fan Yuan was also very dissatisfied, because in this particular Mary Sue story, the role he was playing—gay supporting male Xiao Yuan; his life was practically an entire tea table, and this was even the kind that was arranged full of cups and cutlery!

Although he was the Marquis Family’s second young master, compared to the female lead who was born into privilege as a legitimate daughter, he was simply an illegitimate young master born to a concubine.

His mother died early, and as for his father, it didn’t matter if he was there or not. Except for knowing how to dig pits for his son, he only knew how to sell his son— he was simply the year’s most lousy father!

It turned out that the original host was so filial to the point that he had a boundless tolerance for this old man: in addition to him participating in the talent contest as a substitute for his brother—which was already considered a small bomb—he had even helped his brother take his exams!

Under his help, the original host’s brother gained a meteoric rise in his career and achieved entry to the imperial examinations in one fell swoop.

Although at the very last moment the Holy One had lost his cool at Xiao Yuan’s brother, his Majesty only wanted him to be nervous and did not blame him, instead allowing him to go to other places to learn. In two to three years, Xiao Yuan’s brother came back and soared even higher.

Meanwhile Xiao Yuan, a person who actually had a lot of talent, was completely covered up by his father and was only regarded as an incompetent rake across the capital. To most, he could not compare to even a single strand of hair on his brother, and his existence was simply the Marquis Family’s disgrace!

Xiao Yuan felt that if he could not rise to fame, simply passing his time by peacefully for an entire life and waiting for death would also be pretty good, as he felt that officialdom would actually make him too tired. However this father was too treacherous, pledging his allegiance to the favoured Crown Prince, and even sending him to become a subordinate of the opposing Third Prince to become an! Enemy! Spy!

What a joke, what kind of person was the Third Prince?! That bastard’s viciousness was practically on par with evil spirits. There wasn’t a child in the entire Great Xia Dynasty that didn’t fear him, all saying that “simply hearing his name could stop a child from crying”. This simply could not be more disastrous.

This old man, as a father, had sent his son to these kind of people to become some petty official, and more so, to become a spyk2014;it was basically no different from selling his son off!

Fortunately the original host had never done anything bad, as his morals accumulated over many years came into play. So it turned out that the Third Prince had gained a hidden talent as great as an emperor, and compared to the other mediocre princes he was stronger by who knew how many times more.

Xiao Yuan thought, rather than pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince to eventually become cannon fodder, he might as well assist the Third Prince and properly lay a way out for himself, no? People ma, will only be realistic when they are still alive, if they lose their lives, how would they speak of whatever filial piety ne?

So he chose a good opportunity to meet the Third Prince honestly, entirely revealing his identity as a spy sent by his father, An Le Marquis, and proceeded to curry favour with the Third Prince. The general meaning was that: “I realised you are a good master, I plan to abandon my father and the Crown Prince to go with you, would you be willing to accept?”

The Third Prince decisively agreed ah, after getting along for a period of time, he realised Xiao Yuan was a person with a lot of ability. The fact that this kind of person was willing to assist him was practically a pie falling from the sky, and he would be a fool not to want it.

So the two came to an agreement. Xiao Yuan once again took on the role of a double agent, on one hand delivering news that was three parts true, seven parts false to the Crown Prince’s side, while on the other hand helping the Third Prince devise schemes to attack the Crown Prince, helping him ascend the throne.

In the end the Third Prince successfully counterattacked, achieving great prestige and treasures. He became the 9 and 5 reign supreme that was above all.

If the story stopped here, it would still be considered a very inspirational rise from the ashes. However, this was precisely a Mary Sue romance plot, so what came next was then the actual main drama.

Though the Third Prince was precisely the male lead of the story, back in the day he was a Prince in the Cold Palace. He received the grace of a meal from a young lady. He remembered this in his heart for many years, and needless to say, this young lady was of course the original story’s female lead—Fan Yuan’s younger sister, the kind young lady of the Marquis Family, Xiao Mo Li.

After the Third Prince’s counterattack was successful, he naturally wanted to let her enter the palace as his concubine. Xiao Mo Li’s heart only had her Crown Prince gege, though she was not willing to go with the Third Prince, but she was willing to live on for the one she loved. She brought up one condition—she hoped the male lead would give the abolished Crown Prince a way out and not be ruthless—as an exchange for her willingness to enter the palace and become his concubine.

That’s why a Mary Sue’s halo that was too bright was also not a good thing. The male lead who had always had a very good IQ was influenced just like this, actually foolishly giving his consent. Despite how hard the supporting male admonished him, it couldn’t stop his determination towards setting the tiger free into the mountains, and finally he let the abolished Crown Prince go just like that.

Then after, he got the girl and lived in pleasure like a god for entire days. Xiao Yuan was in agony, because the abolished Crown Prince had suddenly risen from the ashes—he had gathered a group of old ministers and occupied a few cities, proclaimed himself as king, openly challenging Great Xia, his attitude extremely unrestrained.

The male lead waved his hand, “Beloved officials, zhen believes you will surely return victorious.”

Xiao Yuan, as a gay supporting male, naturally had long developed feelings towards his Majesty the Emperor, so without another word he agreed, confidently speaking, “This official will definitely cut off the head of the rebel and present it to your Majesty.”

He took the army and left valiantly, full of spirit. The person that was most worried, was in fact not the male lead, but the female lead. She was extremely worried that her Crown Prince gege would be harmed by Xiao Yuan, so she slipped away from the palace to the enemy palace that very night.

Don’t ask how a frail lady could singlehandedly walk such a long journey, safely reach the enemy palace, and don’t ask if the palace guards were just decorations that allowed the favoured concubine to run away just like that, and don’t even bother asking the kind of questions about why the speed of the male lead’s secret soldiers could not catch up to a frail lady, because this one, it’s the Mary Sue……

The female lead reached the enemy palace, the supporting male lead was thrilled, because what did he rebel for you ask? One, for the sake of retrieving some lost dignity. Two, for his fiancée that was as beautiful as flowers and jade. Although she had already been sullied by his own nemesis, it did not affect his impression of her that was as clean as ice and as pure as jade for even the slightest bit. He was willing to accept all her imperfections!

The female lead was especially touched by this, and hence advised him to surrender.

The supporting male lead was not happy with this, he asked the female lead, could it be that you are the negotiator sent over by the male lead? Could it be that your heart has already been bought over by power and splendour? Could it be that you have forgotten when we were young and made the promise of a lifetime on top of Zhai Xing Tower.

The female lead choked and sobbed as she tried to explain, but it could not prevent the supporting male’s wilful persistence, and it ended with her being locked up by this supporting male.

The supporting male lead immediately wrote a letter and sent men to deliver it to the male lead, the general gist was that your wife is now with me, if you want her to safely return, then send over Xiao Yuan’s head.

As mentioned at the beginning, the male lead is a person of extremely outstanding ability, but ever since the event of him meeting the female lead occurred, his brain was not very useful; it belonged to the category of those that had water in them, so he believed the supporting male’s nonsense.

He personally brought his confidant and a cup of poison wine to the military camp. Xiao Yuan was still thinking his beloved Emperor was going to reward him, and was extremely touched when receiving him.

He only heard the male lead daren speak expressionlessly, “Beloved official, Mo Li is your birth sister, I believe that you cannot bear to have her come to any harm. The rebel wants your head and only then will they be willing to let her go, are you willing to make the sacrifice for her?”

Fan Yuan understood clearly in his mind that this was a scheme by the abolished Crown Prince, but upon seeing the confidant behind the Emperor holding a cup of poisoned wine, he suddenly did not feel like speaking anymore. Anyway, regardless of how reasonable were the words that he said, he clearly only had one path⁠—death.

He faced the Emperor and knelt, performing a great bow, with the words leaving his mouth, “To be unable to continue serving loyally under your Majesty, it is this official’s great regret, hope your Majesty will highly value this official.”

After speaking he picked up the cup of wine and drank it all down, and within an instant, he spat out blood and died.

As for what occurred later showing the scum male and female leads’ abusive love, Fan Yuan didn’t even bother to watch on. By simply watching the original host’s story, his heart felt extremely stuffy and tight, it was as if he really felt the urge to burst out in foul language.

For so many years of “bending one's back to complete the task until one's last breath”, what he got in exchange was actually a cup of poisoned wine, and the reason behind that was simply ridiculous; the original host simply couldn’t die in peace!

Of course, the person who was going to not die in peace was now him.

Fan Yuan sobbed, mother’s eggs, he didn’t want to be cut into pieces even after his death, it was simply all kinds of inhumane ah!

“Ding, Master does not need to worry, once Master dies, Xiao Wu will immediately return you to the cultivation room. You will absolutely not see the scene of dismemberment.”

“Okay, then I leave it up to you /(ToT)/~~”

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Just a few moments later, Fan Yuan was led by the servant in blue to the front hall. The servant did a bow, “Old master, his Highness Third Prince, Second Young Master has been brought over.”

Fan Yuan understood, turns out it was already at the part where his father sold his son off.

He stepped forward and slightly bowed to pay respects, calm and composedly looking at the male lead daren who was over on the side, “caomin Xiao Yuan has seen his Highness Third Prince.”

That person was dressed in black, sitting at the seat of honour, a face of fine jade, hair as black as ink. His imposing aura carried a sense of tyranny, while his heroic spirit carried sharp decisiveness. His noble and handsome appearance was also exactly so.

Fan Yuan inwardly curled his lip, thinking in his heart, “A pity this person is scum, what a waste of a good suit of skin“.

That person’s gaze sharply swept across him; that kind of gaze mixed with examination made Fan Yuan feel a bit of danger, so he gingerly moved back half a step.

That person suddenly retrieved his gaze and laughed, “This Prince likes Second Young Master Xiao very much, many thanks for Marquis’ good intentions. From today onwards, allow him to follow this prince to carry out matters ba.”

The original host’s slag father immediately smiled as if the chrysanthemum flowers were blossoming, “Third Prince speaks too seriously, he was always an ignorant one, the only aspect that makes him fairly decent is his obedience. It is his fortune to receive your favour.”

Fan Yuan listened to them converse back and forth as they settled on the “contract” to sell him away. He just felt tired in his heart to the point of vomiting blood.

#Discuss who is more scummy — the scum father or the scum male lead!#

#All scumbags across the world should be exterminated!#

#Jumping from a dragon pond into a tiger’s den, I just want to hurry up and go die QAQ#

Hi everyone! I’m Chels and I’ll be taking over MGLR from the wonderful Lanlan—big shout out to her & the editors Linglong & Airy for their hard work!❀ Thank you for all the welcome messages, I’m pretty new to translations so I hope you guys will be understanding! For now, I’ll be keeping to a release/week, but I’m definitely hoping to increase this. I’m really excited to be working on this novel & I can’t wait to show you guys more! (●´ω｀●)

Also, please join me in welcoming our new editor, Mimi! ♡