Rebirth of the Concubine's Son that becomes respected (BL)

HCPwnographyfHA · February 16,2025

Original Title: 重生之庶子为尊
(If you have better idea about the title, please tell me ^^)
Link: http://www.sto.cc/book-162410-1.html

Summary:
Li Mo Ran (MC) is the 4th son of a prominent clan. He was born from a concubine. But despite being a bastard son, his appearance was good, he had innate talent and was intelligent, thus getting love from the clan.
But: he had feelings for his sister's husband, the Jing Wang (King Jing, he is an imperial son/prince).
To help Jing Wang out in the contest for the throne, he agreed to his clan's and Jing Wang's plan to marry the first prince in order to steal information.
To his surprise, after Jing Wang succeeded the throne, Jing Wang coldly replied/rejected him: If I were to accept you, wouldn't I get laughed at by the people?
Thus, with 1000 silver (money) and a little manor somewhere, MC was driven out.

Author's note: story has no historical facts, doesn't occur in any known dynasty, so people who are nitpicking details, please don't read.

Tags: 1v1, revenge, HE.
Novel is complete

SUMMARY of the first few chapters (yes, who would have thought that i will make a thread about a novel that i've actually read some of it already, lol):
The story doesn't begin with MC's death right away. It begins with the first prince being implicated that he had received bribes regarding something official (maybe the national exam?) and the first prince then told the emperor that even if he is innocent, he would like to relinquish his position as heir to the throne bc apparently he is a good-for-nothing. he had tried martial arts and books, but he is not good in anything.
So the emperor decided to ban him aways from the capital city as a "failure".
the prince comes back home and meets the MC. MC has been married to him for half a year now (and leaked information to Jing Wang). MC asked him to let him be able to go the national examinations to become a good student/official so that he can help first prince later on, FP lets him. later on, when MC came back successful and FP was about to go away, FP asked him if he wants to go away with him. MC rejected, FP said that MC is although very bright, but has overlooked one important thing in his conquest of winning over Jing Wang: MC has already been stained/marked by FP, so is MC really that naive to believe that Jing Wang will still want him?
MC didn't believe him and dropped his facade of loving FP and replied that as long as he is there, FP will not get to Jing Wang. FP said he will come back successful (as in taking the throne back?).

They part ways then and time skip forward 10 years.

MC is living in a very shabby house, his hair is now white and he is ill. doctors say he will not live out the end of the year (but he somehow still managed to live for 10 years). MC reflects and thought about how true the FP was with his words: Jing Wang really didn't want him, bc FP was his first man. and also, Jing Wang just took advantage of his love for him.
in the end FP is returning successful and he lost the "bet" he had with FP.
When MC drank his "medicine", he noticed that there was 1/3 of poison in it, so he thought that his life is really limited now. so he calls his only child servant to let FP know after the died, that if there is another life, will FP still offer to walk him through his life? (honestly, there is a 4-character phrase that i didn't know the meaning of, but i guess the content would be something like this?) and if FP said yes, then the servant should tell the FP: if there is a next life, MC is willing to go with him.
Then FP is suddenly behind him, in bloody military clothes and still the mellow/nice smile on his face.
FP: i've returned triumphant.
MC: but i was wrong.
FP: knowing yourself to be in the wrong is a good way to change yourself.
MC: I always didn't believe you when you said you loved me 10 years ago. but afterwards i finally understood, understood why the marriage was decreed by your request: you were using me, letting me leak information and ruin your status the heir so that Jing Wang wouldn't be suspicious when you leave the city. you played a very good game.
FP: yes, i did take advantage of you. But even if it weren't for you leaking information to him, another one would have taken your place and done the same.
MC: but it wouldn't have been as effective as me (bc Jing Wang knew MC was in love with him)
FP: yes, but even if that is true, i still love you.
MC: 10 years ago, you invited me to go with you, was that for real/sincere?
FP: 10 years ago, you clearly already had a clue to my plans, so why didn't you tell Jing Wang about it?

Next chapter (ch 8) suddenly begins with MC being reborn as a baby....

NOTE: so the plot so far is quite different from other rebirth novels i've read, bc it doesn't immediately begin with MC dying and then being reborn or MC suddenly waking up to his body in the past, etc. the first few chapters gave us a nice background about what happened and the history of this country and how men can marry other men (but the "wife" will lose the opportunity to become an official, etc.).
also, the MC is reborn as a baby!! now that it quite interesting and i would like to know how he navigates through his childhood differently and if he still marries the FP, but this time wholheartedly?

also, if you haven't already guessed it: first prince=FP=ML

pokes @alexfilia

Uskalski_Yuchiha · February 17,2025

Also what i got from the characters‘ meaning is: aijia is to refer to themselves, but only used by widowed empresses or imperial concubines. So a widowed noble woman or the wife from a king (not emperor) doesn‘t use this form.
Note that only WIDOWED empresses/imperial concubines can use this, i guess it’s bc the „ai“ from aijia means „to grieve/mourn“
Otherwise they would use „bengong“ or smth like that
But not 100% sure, it‘s just my guess

Mehh8602 · February 17,2025

Spoilers cont.

-it's brilliant. MC beautifully ignores Jing Wang aside from necessary pleasantries while he and ML 'flirt' on lel. They make eyes at each other and hold hands.
-at lunchtime, both princes strike out for MC. MC takes their food and makes them go hungry. XD
-MC becomes teacher's pet even though he naps in class. He goes during office hours so to speak, and takes up reading the old dry history no one else is interested in. He also gets recommended books on war by the teacher.
-ML eats some vinegar as he catches sight of Zhao Yuanhao getting MC to call him 'Zhao xiong' or elder brother Zhao. He goes for MC and offers handwarmer and chance to eat lunch with him together. Of course MC agrees! XD
-ML also feels triumphant over getting one-up on Jing Wang. LEL
-MC pipes up during school discussion and expresses views that ML can't. However, he also skirts the line between treason and answering right because the right answer is that in the example discussed, Emperor made a mistake and things can only be solved if Emperor fixes his leadership. MC manages to be charming and also asks as a reward some dessert, which is pretty clever because it's childish enough to pass notice. Also, MC has an enormous sweet tooth. It's been confirmed that MC was probably sick in 1st life as he was dying, what he ate was bitter medicine all the time to stay alive.

@Ashie , I think Zhao Yuanhao is another prince but studies under same tutor with MC.

Edit: Read further, MC may not have a sweet tooth in the sugar dump sense. It seems he had to eat sweets to make the medicine less bitter. As ML catches on, MC actually likes salty snacks better.

asuya · February 17,2025

Aaaahhhh the spoilers are basically all over when I got hereeeeee

Kinda glad tho I read everything in one go \o/
Any other cute or note-worthy moments between MC and ML??

Gonayaro33791 · February 17,2025

OK, I'll bite. *starts to read*

Hunter_of_oblivion · February 17,2025

-MC and ML finally of age to go to bed, but it's a tasteful fade to black. We do see the foreplay. It's hilarious because MC is tired of ML dominating him so easily all the time and is proactive. He teases + bites ML a lot. But ending still = ML pushing him down. LOL. Poor MC and getting done so thoroughly. MC does get to sleep in though lol.
-in morning court, ML finds out Jing Wang committed suicide. ML handles it coolly and tells Ministry of Rites to handle it (i.e. funeral).
-then it's court business like the bank, interest, and loans. Blah blah blah~
-Queen Mother wants to manipulate MC and ML into approving draft of women for harem. But MC's taking none of it. ML's even more indignant and pushes MC down and has his way with him in the study. LOL
-more politics with neighboring country (or countries) and extended royal family -- the uncles AKA previous Emperor's brother(s). Someone tried to assassinate MC and this gets ML steaming angry of course.
-MC and ML go incognito (or try to lol). It's only half success because MC is too beautiful and ML's emperor aura is too overbearing to conceal (side leakage, cough). They come to a city that has some dumba-- claiming that at least in this city, neither Emperor or Qi Wang matter, only this one Fang Tong guy is king.
-MC and ML clean it up of course lol. Add to that, some other dumb young master decides it's a good idea to lust after ML and kicked himself a steel plate. Yeah, I was surprised that young master was going after ML too. Guess it's a spoiled rich young master who likes tough guys and likes to bottom lol. He ends up dragging his family and even the province governor into kicking the steel plate.
-sooo, MC and & ML totally planning on using these 'rich families' for the national treasury & bank. LEL. Bail money has never been more serious.
-they pick up a stray kid who was raised by a wolf, then raised by a traveler for a bit. He has what seems like a automatic crossbow. He, er.... was also a voyeur while MC and ML were getting it on in the forest. ML wanted to dig his eyes out/kill him, MC was just amused at ML. ML is also very on guard/hostile aura towards this kid who is smitten with MC.
-MC and ML cleaning up corrupt officials. There's wheels within wheels.
-...MC and ML ambushed while looking up the people stealing from royal treasury. ML left his dark guard behind and it's just MC and ML. The assassin is after MC in particular, because MC killed someone important to that person supposedly. To save ML, MC pushes ML away and throws himself off a cliff. ;-;

-MC regains consciousness at bottom and is face to face with a snake. But... it's a nice snake and carrying food to him? That's super unexpected lol.
-nice snake leads MC to a cave that's clearly been lived in before. Poor snake's master died and bones are in other room. MC's bones are broken btw, so he's looking for things to help himself heal. There's a last note by snake's master to please take care of the nice snake
-MC makes a grave for the dead master
-on ML's side, he finally wakes up from his fugue. Then he's totally emitting super murderous aura and on the warpath. Though MC left him with parting words to take revenge, ML refuses to believe the clever MC is dead and gets stuff done.

SPIRITKINGOji · February 17,2025

about the Empress:
there is an empress dowager (the wife of the previous emperor) who brought up ML. the emperor is not related to the empress dowager (it was another one from lower birth i think and died when the emperor was 8, so he was brought up by the empress dowager from then on), but the ML is related to her bc ML's birth mother (who is dead) is her paternal niece. so empress dowager is actually ML's great aunt from the male side/line.

don't know if there is a new Empress that doesn't like him (which i highly suspect) bc i'm not that far yet ^^

PattyBu · February 17,2025

-ugh, that Queen Mother plotting for harem again and the poison
-MC drops off little girl at his family, letting little girl be under care of his mother and sisters (because palace environment too toxic)
-because MC and ML scheming away, MC actually gets the harem draft going (not that ML sleeps there lol). Even the stupid young noble son gets in.
-stupid young noble son stupidly tries to sneak into ML's chambers, only he runs into MC's pet snakes... LOL
-MC and ML trying out all sorts of positions with kama sutra/porn book interrupted. PFFFT. ML doesn't want MC to deal with it it so MC goes back to bed. Dark guards roll their eyes inside at ML eating 'dry vinegar' since no, they aren't interested in MC okay, why you so sticky ML? XD
-they're waiting for Queen Mother to slip up
-Queen Mother wanted the stupid son for info since he sneaked into the East Palace where MC & ML were. But MC has ppl investigate.
-because stupid son is just stupid (not really evil), MC has him shipped back home on pretext
-when harem going to start accepting (just needs ML's approval), ML slaps Queen Mother verbally in the face. He refuses to accept anyone less good than ML (LOL), which is such a high standard in looks or talent (not to mention both), it's an obvious no to the harem thing. Queen Mother finally realizes she's kicked a steel board since ML not like his father.
-ugh, using rumors Queen Mother, and blackening MC?
-ML too busy buttering up MC, ahahahaha~

Now going to go to sleep before continuing last stretch... like 10-15 pages of raws left... zzzzzzzzz

Yipman007 · February 17,2025

Right? I wanted fluff too.

DylanHusand · February 17,2025

So I finished it (skimming) and ending is pretty much as I summarized in bottom half of last summary:

-they meet Lin Jie Fei. Originally there were in an alliance and it was supposed to be friendly all around. Then he catches sight of MC and... well... sorta love at first sight? But more subdued since even he doesn't really know his own feelings. MC and ML are too busy flirting lol, esp. since ML just picked up MC and smooched him in public.
-as time goes on, Lin Jie Fei can't control himself anymore. He breaks the alliance and kidnaps MC. He also blackmails MC (threatening people I think) into taking the medicine/pill that destroys his martial arts. He doesn't touch MC because he wants to 'respect' MC but he's still intent on having him...... (SMH at this Lin Jie Fei, please go punch him in the face ML)
-ML in a snit. Lot of warfare going on, MC eventually gets reunited with ML. ML is ashamed/guilty because he feels he didn't do enough to protect MC and thinks he's just as bad as Lin Jie Fei. He'd like nothing better than to chain MC to his side, you see... MC can only sigh because ML doesn't get the difference lol -- ML might feel like that, sure, but when he has done something so shamelessly cruel as crippling MC's martial arts just to get him to stay? (actually, there has never been a single instance in this story of ML being anything other than doting/protective/shamelessly pleading to eat MC's tofu)
-a lot more war, now it's Lin Jie Fei vs ML. As I said, wheels within wheels for the last climax fight. It looks like Lin Jie Fei about to win, then ML pops out with people, and so on. Lin Jie Fei even blows up the ship? island? they were on I think so it almost ended in double suicide/loss. But ML and co manage to make it back. MC was super worried over ML and there's a touching line about how ML noticed that MC was trembling while they were hugging. All ML can think about is how precious brave MC is shaking right now and afraid all because of him, so he just hugs MC and keeps apologizing over and over again...
-of course, Lin Jie Fei captured alive. Oh, did I mention that ML crippled him? Cut his tendons good before the place blew up. *happy vengeful face*
-Lin Jie Fei in solitary in prison, having lost everything. Conversation with MC in which MC basically says he wouldn't fall for Lin Jie Fei, not even in a gazillion years and that ML is his one true love. Lin Jie Fei presumably lives miserably ever after.
-MC and ML rule wisely and live happily ever after, at least until MC dies (of old age) and ML takes poison and follows right after him. It's very touching because what ML says this time is different from his words in last life, telling MC not to go. This time he tells MC to 'wait for me' because he's coming with him. ;-; *gross ugly sobbing*

-some other info: they choose and groom as heir this other kid from ML's royal family (his relatives have kids they can sorta 'adopt') who grew up at their knees to become Emperor. This kid has a close relationship with them and was sad they died. He constructed a huge glamorous tomb for them, but bodies mysteriously disappeared. He knows the dark guard took them and disappeared as well.
-many years later, archaeological digs in a frenzy over the tomb, but can't find the bodies (because the dark guard took them lol, but only their heir back then knew about it and he didn't say anything). They even came across ML's 'unique' calligraphy lel.

-interesting factoid: Calligraphy is supposed to show a person's personality. Interestingly (and funnily) enough, ML's calligraphy is said to be unusually crazy and domineering (*cough, terrible, cough*), not at all refined like the persona he puts on. MC isn't surprised since only he gets to see the true personality of ML as the shameless rogue. We can assume MC's calligraphy is like him -- MC is said and known as being a well-rounded in every aspect genius gift from the heavens kind of person.

PattyBu · February 17,2025

Also forgot to mention:

Empress Dowager ('Queen Mother' in MTL I guess) tends to refer to herself as 'aijia.' It's a royal form of address/pronoun like how Kings, Princes, Emperors tend to use 'benwang.'

VindamaroonhMF · February 17,2025

DAYUUUM So they were both using each other. Did the first prince really love him? Cause he used the MC in the end which caused his death and if the FP was there the entire time then was he the one who poisoned the MC?

8destroyer · February 17,2025

I got a notification and realized I stopped somewhere after they got married but before they did adult things. Ah, better continue reading