[Marriage swap + reborn + household intrigue + matriarch + devoted love + mutually faithful couple]
When Cui Yuyin sat in the bridal chamber and heard that her stepsister had brought home a beggar, declared that he would one day achieve great things, and insisted on marrying him, Cui Yuyin knew her stepsister had been reborn too...
In her previous life, her stepsister coveted the marriage contract with the Marquis’s household. So her stepmother drugged Cui Yuyin, who was supposed to be the bride, and let the stepsister marry in her place.
But the Marquis’s heir was such a wastrel that he died in a brothel on his wedding day. His bride was then sent to a nunnery to spend the rest of her life.
Meanwhile, Cui Yuyin happened to save a beggar. A year later, he became the new emperor. He wanted no one but Cui Yuyin, and made her his empress...
Her stepsister could not accept this. While Cui Yuyin was out of the palace to pray at a temple, she pushed her off a cliff, leaving her shattered on the rocks...
It seemed her stepsister was determined to become empress in this life...
Cui Yuyin lifted her veil and smiled without a word. The beggar really was a beggar, but whether he would become an emperor was another matter...
[Clearheaded heroine vs. devoted hero pretending to be a playboy]
It's a classic formulaic story, but the lack of forced pairings is a big plus for me. I always dread novels with too many couples and attempts at creating a balanced narrative, especially historical romances, which are notorious for this. It's annoying to read when you see all sorts of characters, from maids to guards. The writing is also quite good, making it worth a read. The video was short because it was downloaded and watched.
It's quite nice to look at; good for passing the time.
This is a very interesting book. It starts with the classic marriage exchange trope, but the later plot is full of surprises. I recommend it.