Reborn as the Legitimate Daughter, I Refuse to Be a Matriarch and Become a Queen Instead

[Both Leads Reborn, Revenge, Cathartic Read, Political Scheming, Sweet Romance] In her previous life, Yan Youxi was the legitimate daughter of the Yan family, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. She married Lu Zhongheng, the impoverished Marquis of Xingyang, and they treated each other with respect. She managed the declining marquis’s household and helped the Lu family climb back into the ranks of the powerful. But when her maiden family fell into trouble, Lu Zhongheng not only refused to help, but kicked them while they were down. He used the Yan family as a stepping stone to curry favor with the new emperor, causing the entire family to be slaughtered and their bloodline wiped out. Then Lu Zhongheng revealed his true colors. He brought his mistress into the household and divorced Yan Youxi to marry her. Yan Youxi’s children all met tragic ends, and she died consumed by hatred. When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the days when the Yan family held overwhelming power. Why choose the impoverished marquis’s household again? Wouldn’t it be better to choose a well-behaved, obedient man of good character as her live-in husband and ensure the Yan family’s prosperity for generations to come? Xu Ruzhou, the top scholar from a humble family; Song Xu Qiu, the Jin Yiwei commander who turned dark; Nan Ling, the cold and handsome hostage prince… Yan Youxi was spoiled for choice. Lu Zhongheng felt that in his previous life, he had always lived in Yan Youxi’s shadow. She had a distinguished family, a spoiled temper, and a jealous, overbearing nature. Who besides him could put up with her? This time, he was determined to keep her in line. But Lu Zhongheng tried everything and still couldn’t even make it onto her list of candidates. Watching his household decline day by day, he panicked and knelt at Yan Youxi’s feet to beg her. Top scholar Xu Ruzhou kicked him aside. “You’re in the young lady’s way. Drag him away.”