I, the Treacherous Minister, Fell in Love with Someone Else—What’s It Got to Do with You, Empress? - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Whole Family Are Treacherous Ministers! The Empress Wants to Kill Me!

“The new Duke died in bed!”

“What a complete good-for-nothing! We messed with him for days and nights—of course he died!”

“Mission accomplished! We fulfilled Her Majesty’s order! Seduction always works!”

Inside the room, several naked women were preparing to lift a pale-faced youth from the golden-threaded bed, their faces gleaming with satisfaction. Just as they were about to toss him into the pond outside the window, the lifeless youth suddenly jolted awake and shouted, “Damn it! Push the tower!”

The atmosphere froze. Dead silence.

“Huh? Who are you people? Number Five masseuse?”

The young man abruptly opened his eyes. When he saw the naked women, he immediately perked up.

“Aah! A corpse came back to life!”

The women’s faces turned pale. In panic, they dropped him and tried to run out.

With a loud boom, the door burst open. More than a dozen heavily armed sword-wielding guards stormed in.

“Protect the Young Master!”

They pressed the female assassins to the ground on the spot.

The leading guard quickly knelt on one knee and said, “Duke Commander! We were late in rescuing you. Please forgive us!”

The youth’s pupils shrank as his mouth slowly opened in shock. After a long pause, he suddenly burst out laughing, “What kind of club is this? You guys really go all out, even adding cosplay to the mix!”

“But I’m broke. I’m just a bottom-tier programmer. All my income goes to paying off my house and car loans. I can’t even afford a bowl of street-side fried noodles!”

“If you’re trying to scam my money, forget it. You’re wasting your time!”

The guard leader was stunned for a moment before roaring, “You treacherous assassins! Speak! Did you drug the Duke Commander with some kind of hallucinogen?”

“N-No! Absolutely not! After so many days and nights, his energy should’ve been completely drained!”

The women stammered, their faces deathly pale.

The guard leader’s face turned grim as he drew his sword and beheaded them all without hesitation.

“Plotting to assassinate the Great Duan Empire’s first hereditary Duke Commander! A crime worthy of ten thousand deaths! Execute!”

Slash! Heads rolled.

Only when the blood splattered onto Lin Ming’s face did he collapse to the floor in fright, finally realizing—this wasn’t some roleplay!

He might have… transmigrated?!

“Oh my god!”

Lin Ming shuddered and quickly called out to the guard leader, “You! Come here and slap my face.”

The guard froze and said, “Young Master, you’re the Duke Commander. How could I dare—”

“I told you to do it! Stop blabbering!” Lin Ming snapped.

The guard had no choice but to approach nervously. Just as he was about to raise his hand, Lin Ming beat him to it and slapped the guard across the face.

“But Young Master, didn’t you just tell me to hit you?” the guard asked, covering his cheek with a wronged expression.

“Who’s the Young Master here? You or me?” Lin Ming said, curling his lip. That crisp smack… felt real!

He had really transmigrated!

He was just a lowly programmer from the 21st century. Had he died while playing games and ended up in ancient times?

Where’s the cheat system? Where’s the golden finger? No golden finger? Then what’s the point?!

In the span of two seconds, Lin Ming’s mind raced through 99,999 thoughts.

Finally, he asked the crucial question, “Who am I? And who are you?”

The guard leader dropped to his knees and said, “You are Lin Ming, the legitimate son of the late Lin Ba—the hereditary Duke Commander, Prince of Wei, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Capital, Supreme Commander of all military forces under heaven, Grand Marshal of all state and foreign troops, recipient of the Nine Bestowments, entitled to enter the hall with sword and boots, exempt from ceremonial bowing, and directly addressed without titles.”

Just as Lin Ming’s eyes began to shine, the guard added, “The youngest son of Lin Ba.”

The light in Lin Ming’s eyes went out. The corner of his mouth twitched. “You really know where to pause… So basically, I’m nothing. Then why did you call me Duke Commander?”

The guard replied, “I wasn’t finished. Your father, Lin Ba, passed away three days ago. As his only legitimate son, you’ve already inherited all of his titles. That means you are now the new Duke Commander and Prince of Wei…”

Lin Ming’s eyes went wide.

What the hell? I just transmigrated and my overpowered father’s already dead?

Well… maybe that’s a good thing. I get to inherit a big title for free!

The guard respectfully cupped his fists and said, “I am Luo Feng, the top military scholar of the fifth year of the Duanping era, currently the commander of the Lin family’s household troops, titled Imperial Dragon Soaring General by the court.”

He gritted his teeth and continued, “Those sluts who tried to murder you must have been sent by the Empress! Our Lin family has always been loyal to Her Majesty, yet she’s already discarding us like worn shoes! I say—let’s rebel!”

Lin Ming’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. “Rebel?”

Damn it. I just arrived, and you want me to start a rebellion? What kind of absurd opening is this?!

“Duke Commander! Madam is here!”

A guard came to report.

A graceful and elegant noblewoman entered hastily and threw herself at Lin Ming, “My son, are you alright? I warned you not to get close to any unknown women during the mourning period! Your father died young precisely because he couldn’t resist the former Emperor’s concubines!”

She kept nagging while Lin Ming stood there confused.

Seeing this, Luo Feng quietly leaned closer and whispered behind Lin Ming, “Young Master, this is your mother, Lady Lin, matriarch of the Lin family and Princess Qinghe of the Great Duan Empire. Surely you haven’t forgotten her?”

Lin Ming immediately understood and quickly said, “Mother, don’t worry. Look, I’m perfectly fine, right?”

Since he was here, he had to adapt fast and play his part. If people started thinking he was crazy, he might get locked up, and that would be a disaster.

But Lady Lin raised her head with a cold expression and said, “Luo Feng, have you found out who did this to the Duke Commander?”

Luo Feng bowed and said, “I suspect it’s related to the Emperor.”

Lady Lin sneered, “Of course! I knew my niece was never one to play fair! The old Duke Commander just passed, and she already made a move on the new one?”

She was furious. “If she dares to act up again, our Lin family really might rebel! Replacing the Emperor wouldn’t be a problem!”

Lin Ming’s eyelids twitched even harder. Another rebellion?!

Wait… could it be that he transmigrated into a family of rebels? What the hell?! Were they trying to get all nine generations executed?!

“Mother, maybe talking about rebellion is a bit… premature…”

Just as he was about to try calming her down—because seriously, rebellion meant losing your head—the old steward stumbled in and announced, “Duke Commander, Madam, Her Majesty has arrived!”

Everyone’s expression changed instantly.

“Dismiss the guards!” Luo Feng waved his hand, sending everyone away.

Lin Ming also panicked. Clearly, this family held real power if even the Empress had to personally come to them!

“Mother, since Her Majesty is here, shouldn’t we go greet her?” Lin Ming asked cautiously.

After all, it’s the Empress we’re talking about!

To his surprise, no one reacted. Everyone remained expressionless.

Lady Lin scoffed, “Greet her? Just a mere Empress. She really thinks she’s something special! I have a mahjong game scheduled—I’m not going!”

She turned to leave, muttering coldly, “Since when does a mother-in-law have to greet her daughter-in-law? I don’t care if Ye Qinghuan is the Empress!”

Lin Ming stood frozen, dumbfounded. Luo Feng added, “Young Master, I forgot to mention—you have another identity.”

“You’re the Empress Ye Qinghuan’s fiancé.”