(A guide for readers: Set in an imaginary dynasty; age gap; both leads have only ever been with each other; being reborn doesn't mean becoming smarter; the heroine is genuinely frail and beautiful, and knows it; she will take revenge to varying degrees on anyone who has hurt her; the hero was given a drug to make him infertile, and is mature, responsible, and virtuous.)
Gu Tang was strangled to death with a rope. Only after becoming a ghost did she learn that she'd been living in a book written from a man's perspective, where she was the beautiful, foolish, restless stepmother of the transmigrated male lead.
In reality, her stepson had tried to seduce her, and when she refused, he framed her for adultery. Was she really doomed to die disgraced just because she wouldn't submit to the “male lead”?
Reborn at twelve, Gu Tang still can't stand up to the monsters in her household. Her father doesn't care for her, her mother doesn't love her, and she's weak and without support. That's fine. She'll endure it!
Three years later, Gu Tang makes her move. While secretly plotting revenge and stirring up trouble, she doesn't forget to find herself a powerful ally.
They say sincerity is the best way to move someone's heart. To secure her patron's support, Gu Tang says, “Your Highness Prince Jing, I admire you.”
Xiao Huai replies, “I'll pretend I didn't hear that today.”
“Your humble subject is sincere.”
“Nor was I lying.”
Didn't win him over the first time?
No problem. She'll keep bothering him, er, keep trying.
At last...
“Did you mean what you said at the flower-viewing banquet?”
“I did.”
“Will you marry me?”
“I will!”
Later, Xiao Huai says, “Tangtang is my future princess consort. We are one, husband and wife. To bully her is to bully me.”
Later still, Xiao Huai asks, “Tangtang, would you like to be empress?”
