A Coy, Contriving Little Maid Bewitches Her Coolheaded Chancellor

[Both leads are faithful + sweet romance + household intrigue + business + rebirth + fictional setting + many original elements] In her previous life, fifteen-year-old Gu Zhaozhao thought the world of herself and was determined to become a mistress of the household. After trying every trick in the book, she was finally assigned by Old Madam Pu to be the personal maid of the eldest young master, Pu Shangyu. She thought she was on her way to a life of success, but Pu Shangyu passed the palace exam as a third-place candidate and married the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Hai family. The couple loved and supported each other, while Gu Zhaozhao was left to wither away alone. Worse, her son and daughter were tormented to death by their stepmother, a woman whose words were kind but whose heart was cruel. Reborn ten years earlier, Gu Zhaozhao is once again a little maid in the old madam’s quarters. This time, her parents are alive, her older brother dotes on her, and her life is getting better by the day. Her only wish is to buy her freedom, leave the prime minister’s residence, and live peacefully with her family. She buys her freedom, goes into business, opens shops, establishes a school, shelters refugees, steadies the army’s morale, and earns a noblewoman’s title. Step by step, Gu Zhaozhao changes her fate. Then the emperor summons her. As he sits enthroned in the Golden Hall and arranges her marriage, the usually cool and elegant third-place candidate suddenly loses his composure. His eyes redden, and in front of the entire court, he pins her against a pillar. Pu Shangyu: “Gu Zhaozhao, do you really... not want me anymore?” As the princes and ministers stare in shock, a young general steps forward and draws Gu Zhaozhao firmly into his arms. Shen Jingchao: “Pardon me, but this is my wife.” A wealthy maid x a young general Gu Zhaozhao x Shen Jingchao [Both leads reborn]