When Ling Yi came to his senses, he found himself in the main hall of the imperial palace.
After sorting through the extra memories in his mind, Ling Yi curled his lips in disgust.
In this world, the guy who avoids the plot after awakening is named Lin Yu.
A modern-day chemistry PhD student is transported to a fictional world where ancient dynasties vie for supremacy, becoming a lowly soldier on the battlefield.
What's the process for a legitimate time traveler?
Of course, I'll climb to the top step by step; I want to be like Zhao Gao!
Ahem, the dialogue went off-topic, but that's the gist of it.
Moreover, this guy has a PhD in chemistry.
Developing explosives, building cannons, recruiting soldiers, and overthrowing the dynasty—isn't that the proper way to do it?
But what about this guy? He transmigrated here to be a sycophant?
And he served as a hostage for ten years.
This is truly a disgrace to all time travelers!
On the battlefield, Lin Yu met the third princess of the Da Wu Empire, who was going through a period of decline.
At that time, the Third Princess was exiled to the border and became the lord of a border town because of the machinations of the Crown Prince and the Empress.
When Lin Yu transmigrated, the border city was under attack by the northern barbarian army.
The border town is in grave danger.
Using his modern chemical knowledge, Lin Yu produced black powder in a short period of time.
Knockback the barbarian army's repeated attacks.
They also helped the people of the border town survive the cold winter by using coal discovered in the mountains behind the town.
It took three years to help the female protagonist, Ling Yan, transform the border town into the most prosperous city in the entire Da Wu Empire.
During this period, they also used hot air balloons to bombard the barbarian army's main camp, completely frightening the barbarian army so that they never dared to invade again.
In short, with Lin Yu's help, Ling Yan's border town not only became incredibly wealthy, but also militarily strong.
Especially the modern special forces unit built by Lin Yu, equipped with muskets.
In this era, it's practically a game-changer.
In the fifth year, the emperor died, and several princes fought fiercely in the capital for the throne.
Ling Yan then led an army of 100,000 back to the capital and forcefully ascended the throne as emperor.
She became the first female emperor of the Da Wu Empire.
Hey, that's when the survival-of-the-fittest part comes.
After Ling Yan empress, she was blinded by power.
What are you most afraid of?
It wasn't a power struggle in the imperial court, nor was it the repeated meddling by the former dynasty's faction.
What they feared was Lin Yu.
Because everything Empress Ling Yan has was given to her by Lin Yu.
Ling Yan knew very well that the greatest threat to her throne in this world was Lin Yu.
Just then, a Little White man appeared beside the Empress.
Zhao Heng, son of the Minister of War.
This person is extremely good at deceiving others, using all sorts of sweet talk and a silver tongue—the kind that's practically a Physics enigma.
Ling Yan was served extremely well.
Under Zhao Heng's influence, coupled with Ling Yan's genuine fear of Lin Yu,
He then began to allow Zhao Heng to use all sorts of schemes and tricks to frame Lin Yu.
By now, Lin Yu, the transmigrator, should be able to see what kind of person the Empress really is.
Anyone with a modicum of sense would be thinking about their escape route by now!
But no, it didn't.
Or rather, Lin Yu always believed that Ling Yan was sincere towards him, but was simply deceived by the villain Zhao Heng.
If Zhao Heng's true colors are exposed, the Empress will be able to change her mind about him.
So, this dignified PhD in chemistry started playing palace intrigue.
He had been going up against Zhao Heng for five years.
The final result was that the former number one God of War of the Da Wu Empire eventually became a vicious, narrow-minded, and intolerant villain.
He became a scumbag who started a relationship and then abandoned his wife and daughter.
In reality, after Lin Yu transmigrated, he never had any contact with any other women besides Ling Yan.
It was merely a scheme by Zhao Heng to frame Lin Yu using a prostitute.
He became a criminal who embezzled military funds and disaster relief money.
However, the military pay was embezzled by Zhao Heng, and the disaster relief funds were also secretly intercepted by Zhao Heng and replaced with Shitou.
Ultimately, however, the credit all fell on Lin Yu.
In short, he has a terrible reputation.
Now, all that remains is the military command and the tiger tally.
This was also Lin Yu's last trump card.
Following the original plot, Lin Yu finally discovered the truth.
It has never been Zhao Heng targeting him; rather, it was Ling Yan who was wary of him and allowed Zhao Heng to plot against him, both openly and secretly.
Upon realizing this, Lin Yu was immediately disheartened.
They decided to return to the modern world.
Damn, so this guy transmigrated here just to be Ling Yan's lapdog for ten years, and in the end, he got nothing?
That's so embarrassing, so incredibly embarrassing.
"General Lin, your past achievements cannot outweigh your crimes."
On the throne, Empress Ling Yan spoke in a detached voice.
"Out of consideration for our past relationship, I will let bygones be bygones regarding your embezzlement of military funds and disaster relief funds. You only need to hand over the tiger tally."
"Then I will grant you my harem, where you may live out the Yu Sheng in peace."
Ling Yi looked up at Ling Yan.
No wonder Lin Yu licked her boots; she really is very beautiful.
Her face and figure are both perfect.
Coupled with her regal bearing, she would definitely God Grade in the modern world.
Based on the original storyline, Ling Yan does love Lin Yu.
He simply loves the throne more.
In Ling Yan's plan, all Lin Yu needed to do was hand over the Tiger Tally and military power.
If he stays peacefully in the harem, Lin Yu will be given the position of harem mistress.
They will surely be more loving and affectionate in the future.
"Fine!" Ling Yi said coldly.
"However, I have one condition."
"Speak! For the sake of our past relationship, as long as it's not excessive, I will grant your request!"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to resign from my official post and retire to my hometown."
"No!" Ling Yan's voice suddenly turned cold.
On the one hand, she still loved Lin Yu, so how could she let Lin Yu leave?
On the other hand, she knew Lin Yu's abilities Supreme Purity; once he was released from the capital, the world Gao Hai his oyster.
If Lin Yu wanted to cause trouble, she feared she would have difficulty controlling him.
"You can only stay in the harem; you are not allowed to go anywhere else!"
Ling Yi's lips curled up slightly.
There was no further rebuttal.
Instead, he simply said "good".
He took out the tiger tally and tossed it casually, and it landed right on the table in front of Ling Yan.
Then, he turned and left the main hall.
Ling Yan watched Lin Yu's departing the Back and felt a sudden, inexplicable unease.
But Ling Yan quickly suppressed these emotions.
After leaving the main hall, Ling Yi began to ponder how to cause trouble.
[Host, this isn't your personality. Why weren't you causing trouble just now?]
The system's voice sounded.
"What should we do?" Ling Yi asked back.
[With so many amazing treasures in your Personal Space, just pulling one out would scare these natives to death.]
You think I'm a coward?
[Ahem, no, it's just that I feel a little annoyed.]
"Chief, what is our goal?"
No cavities?
Ling Yi frowned, thinking, "What the hell era are we living in? They're still using this museum reference."
[Ahem, the goal is definitely to Heartache Points.]
"These courtiers of the Da Wu Empire, aren't they all Karmic Luck?"
Ling Yi asked.
[Of course! They're all at least extras, background characters, people who've had some screen time, so naturally they all possess some Karmic Luck Origin.]
"So, guess what? If the Da Wu Empire were to be overthrown, would it be enough to max out these people's Heartache Points?"
[Host, it has to be you again. So, are you planning to secretly recruit soldiers and gather Lin Yu's men to cause trouble?]
Ling Yi grinned and said, "No, let's try a different game this time."