Early Spring, Late Winter

Also known as The Villainous Prince's Guide to Upbringing. Jiang Li was a left-behind child raised by her soldier grandfather, but an accident cut her life short at eighteen. After she transmigrated to ancient times, she was abandoned, ostracized, and bullied. When she returned to the palace, she vowed to live well and fight for a happy future of her own.

The imperial harem is a dangerous place. Her birth mother and stepbrother want to harm her? Officials' sons at the Imperial Academy are looking for trouble? She gets dragged into the succession struggle for no reason? The people on the border are in danger? She has to lead troops into battle? An enemy nation demands a marriage alliance?

Sorry, her safety net has kicked in. She instantly turns into a sweet-looking but ruthless little dumpling.

Jiang Li: I take on the whole field. None of you can fight.

When she was five, she picked up a child.

Oh? This kid's something else. Interesting.

Later, on the eve of an expedition, she helped him return to his homeland. She meant only to send him home, but the little puppy turned into a big bad wolf in an instant.

Jiang Li: You were pretending?

Shen Qingfan: If you settle for safety, you lose your freedom. If you want freedom, you have to accept danger. Your Highness wouldn't want me to be at anyone's mercy, would you?

Jiang Li: ...

Wait, this isn't how the story's supposed to go. How did that little stray from back then grow up to be a villain?

On the villainous prince's self-cultivation: it turns out you can't teach a sweet-looking but ruthless one to be a sweet-looking but ruthless...