Disguised as a Man: A Guide to Taming the Tyrant - Chapter 1

At 22 years old, Su Yi was a complete web novel addict. The pressures of life left her seeking solace only in the world of online fiction. That day, in order to finish the mountain of work piled up before the end of the month, she had been pulling all-nighters for several days straight, utterly exhausted. Yet, even in such a state of fatigue, the moment she had a spare second, she habitually picked up her phone and opened the novel she was currently obsessed with The Tyrant’s Counterattack.

In the novel, the young tyrant Xuan Yuan Lie ruled the nation with an iron fist, his temperament cruel and unpredictable. The female lead lived cautiously under his oppressive reign, and the thrilling plot had Su Yi hooked. As she read, she couldn’t help but mutter, “This female lead is way too timid and weak. If it were me, I’d definitely have this tyrant wrapped around my finger.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she felt the world spin violently. A crushing weight pressed down on her chest, her breathing turning rapid and labored. The world before her eyes blurred, her consciousness slipping away. Just before she blacked out completely, a thought flashed through her mind: “Oh no! Am I really about to die from overwork?”

When Su Yi regained consciousness, she found herself in a lavish yet eerie palace chamber. She was dressed in extravagant, slightly oversized men’s robes, the intricate patterns on the brocade a clear mark of nobility.

“Hey there! Welcome to the world of The Tyrant’s Counterattack! I’m System 2023, and from now on, we’re gonna be the best partners in crime!” A lively, playful voice rang out in Su Yi’s mind.

Su Yi was startled. “Who are you? Where is this? How did I get here?”

System 2023 giggled. “No need to panic, Host! Your resentment while reading the novel was too strong, and coupled with your sudden death from overwork, you ended up transmigrating into this world by sheer coincidence. Right now, you’re the young master of the Duke Ding’s household, Su Yi. I’ve even given you an awesome mind-reading skill, you can hear what others are thinking! Your mission is to conquer the tyrant Xuan Yuan Lie within a year: lower his tyranny points to under 20 while raising his favorability toward you to 80. Complete the mission, and you can go home!”

Su Yi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Conquer the tyrant? That’s impossible! He’s a tyrant!”

System 2023 reassured her, “Don’t lose heart, Host! I’ll be here to help you strategize. Think about it, with mind-reading as your secret weapon, understanding him will be a piece of cake. Oh, by the way, the tyrant’s current tyranny level is at 80 points, which is super dangerous, so you’ll need to tread carefully.”

Su Yi was still processing this shocking information when hurried footsteps echoed outside the door. A young eunuch rushed in, kneeling hastily. “Young Master Su, His Majesty summons you to the Qian Yuan Palace immediately. He says there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”
Su Yi’s heart clenched. She knew her first meeting with the tyrant was unavoidable. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her robes and followed the eunuch toward the Qian Yuan Palace.

Stepping into the Qian Yuan Hall, a suffocating aura immediately pressed down upon her. The hall was lavishly decorated in gold and jade, yet exuded an oppressive majesty that made it hard to breathe. On the high platform, a man clad in bright yellow dragon robes lounged lazily on the throne. He appeared to be no more than twenty years old, with features so striking they bordered on otherworldly. His long, narrow phoenix eyes slanted slightly upward, their depths like unfathomable dark pools glinting with icy light. Below his high, straight nose was a pair of lips that were vividly colored yet carried a hint of cold indifference. His jet-black hair was loosely tied up, with a few stray strands falling to either side of his face, adding to his air of untamed allure. This was none other than the tyrant, Xuan Yuan Lie.

Su Yi steeled herself and stepped forward, kneeling in salute. “Your subject, Su Yi, youngest son of the Duke Dingguo’s household, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”

Xuan Yuan Lie’s gaze lingered on Su Yi, scrutinizing her from head to toe. His voice was low and laden with menace. “Su Yi, I’ve heard you’ve been associating closely with several court officials lately. What is the meaning of this? Are you forming factions and plotting treason?”

Su Yi’s heart skipped a beat. She had no knowledge of such matters and quickly racked her brain for a response. In her panic, she glanced at Xuan Yuan Lie, only to hear his inner thoughts: “This brat has been acting suspiciously lately. What is he up to? If he dares betray me, I’ll make sure he dies without a burial place.”

Seizing the moment, Su Yi hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, please be assured. I merely met those officials by chance at a poetry gathering. We found common ground and thus have been in frequent contact. My loyalty lies solely with Your Majesty; I harbor no ulterior motives. Moreover, I thought that by engaging with these officials, I might gather some insights and suggestions from the common folk, thereby sharing Your Majesty’s burdens.”

Xuan Yuan Lie frowned slightly, musing to himself: “This brat speaks convincingly, and his expression doesn’t seem deceitful. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But I won’t let my guard down. If he makes any suspicious moves, he won’t be spared.”

Hearing his thoughts, Su Yi breathed an inward sigh of relief. Yet she knew this was only the beginning, the road ahead would undoubtedly be fraught with thorns.