The Boudoir Maid's Guide to Climbing the Ranks

Jiang Heng transmigrates into a dynasty that never existed in history.

As a low-ranking concubine in the household of a son the old emperor barely values, she isn't even considered a concubine. She's little more than a plaything. Jiang Heng wishes she didn't have such a pretty face.

After all, wasn't that what got the original owner killed?

The original owner already tested it with her life: playing it safe won't work. Jiang Heng has to climb her way up.

They say the Fifth Prince looks young, but he's the hardest to fool: impartial in public and private, and uninterested in women.

As the fifth son, Pei Ji has an ambitious eldest brother, a second brother who's the crown prince and beloved by their father, a third brother who's accomplished in both letters and arms, a fourth brother who's sinister and scheming, and younger brothers with sweet tongues and adorable smiles...

He has been solemn and inconspicuous since childhood, so he can only try to be a little more upright.

How did he end up making exception after exception for a lowly concubine, until at last he set his sights on the throne just to give her a higher status?

Content warnings:

Not 1v1. The setting is an alternate version of the Qing dynasty, with everything else thrown into the mix. Please don't nitpick the history.

Domestic scheming in the early chapters, palace intrigue later on. A slice-of-life story. The male lead falls for her first, while the female lead isn't sincere about her feelings.

Everyone has flaws; these aren't perfect, paper-thin characters. Please read with an open mind, and don't argue.