Book introduction
The Empress's Scapegoat: My Villainous Survival
author: 十万菜团
category: Fantasy
status: Ongoing
Zhao Duan, a meticulous government official, transmigrates into the Empress's most universally loathed \"gigolo\"—a treacherous villain infamous for his arrogance and debauchery. Life instantly plunges into crisis: he’s framed for treason after letting a notorious rebel escape, and every civil official, righteous warrior, and powerful mystic in the Dayu Dynasty wants him executed. His very \"face\" to the Empress, he soon discovers, is fake. With no cheat system or magical powers to rely on, Zhao Duan has only one path to survival: embrace the monstrous reputation everyone already believes. He must leverage his infamous standing as a shield and a sword, using his sharp political instincts to outmaneuver treacherous enemies. To avoid the chopping block, he'll stop at nothing, even betraying his supposed allies and cleaning up the original owner's mess by 'stopping being human.' But as he navigates the treacherous imperial court and its hidden magical dangers, the powerful Empress Xu Zhenguan watches his every move. Is her enigmatic tacit approval a sign of true favor, or is he merely an expendable pawn in a deadly game far grander and more perilous than he can possibly imagine?