Don't Want the Deranged Male Lead? Then I'll Take Him

Jiang Jiang, a woman with an anxious attachment style, is recruited by System 10086 to enter mini-worlds and satisfy obsessive male leads. However, she is unexpectedly reborn into the body of Jiang Jiang, the second daughter of Prime Minister Jiang, in a historical setting. This world is a double rebirth narrative. Her older sister, Jiang Yun, has also been reborn and remembers her past life, where she betrayed the crippled Ninth Prince, Lu Zheng, to marry the ambitious Sixth Prince, Lu Mingxuan, only to die tragically after he seized the throne. Determined to avoid her previous fate, Jiang Yun insists on marrying Lu Mingxuan and forces her younger sister, the original Jiang Jiang, to take her place as the bride for the Ninth Prince.

Lu Zheng is also reborn. In his previous life, he was betrayed by the Jiang family and died pierced by a thousand arrows. He marries the new Jiang Jiang with the intent of using the union for political leverage and revenge. Initially cold and suspicious, he is disarmed by her genuine affection and lack of malice. Unlike his past-life wife, the new Jiang Jiang accepts his condition, finds comfort in his company, and treats him with unconditional warmth. Her simple joys and unwavering support gradually melt his defenses, transforming his marriage of convenience into a deep, obsessive love. He begins to protect her fiercely, hiding his true strength and political ambitions while nurturing a bond that neither expected.

The central conflict arises from the lingering threats of the past life. Lu Mingxuan, now married to Jiang Yun, remains power-hungry and ruthless. When he discovers that the Prime Minister refuses to support his claim to the throne, he turns his attention to Jiang Jiang, attempting to seduce and manipulate her to gain access to her father’s political influence. Jiang Yun, having overheard Lu Mingxuan’s plot to kidnap and harm her sister, realizes the true nature of the man she loved. She attempts to warn her family, leading to a confrontation that exposes Lu Mingxuan’s treasonous activities, including the maintenance of private troops and weapon forging.

A key turning point occurs during a palace crisis when the Emperor falls ill. Lu Mingxuan attempts a coup, but Lu Zheng mobilizes his forces to suppress the rebellion. In the ensuing chaos, the Emperor forces Lu Zheng to choose between patricide and abdication of his mother’s honor. Jiang Jiang intervenes, stabbing the Emperor to prevent Lu Zheng from bearing the sin of killing his father. The Emperor, moved by her sacrifice and perhaps recognizing a shift in fate, takes his own life and names Lu Zheng as his successor. This act cements their bond; Lu Zheng is devastated that her hands are stained with blood, while Jiang Jiang is relieved that he is safe.

Lu Zheng ascends the throne and crowns Jiang Jiang as Empress, refusing to take any concubines and granting her significant political influence. He reveals his past life memories to her, and they navigate the complexities of their shared history. Jiang Yun, redeemed by her warning, is exiled from the capital by her father, who accepts responsibility for his past negligence. The story concludes with Lu Zheng and Jiang Jiang establishing a stable family, including a son named Lu Yun. An extra chapter explores a scenario where a version of Lu Zheng from another timeline, lacking memories of his rebirth, accidentally crosses into their world and attempts to replace his happier self, only to be gently corrected by Jiang Jiang, who accepts him despite his initial jealousy and insecurity.