Do I Really Have to Become a Powerful Minister?

Just wants to lie low and survive but is forced to step up x determined to become a powerful minister

Yu Que x Xu Jinqing, childhood friends who help each other grow

After transmigrating, Yu Que finally had a complete family.

Her maternal grandfather was a duke, both her parents were lords, her elder sister was an imperial consort, and her sister had a daughter.

Look at it from any angle, and they were a family of powerful relatives with enough influence to threaten the throne.

Yu Que decisively lay flat and played the idle fool.

With a family background like hers, the harder you tried, the worse things got.

Xu Jinqing was different. She was the daughter of her father's old friend, and her greatest dream was to rise to the highest ranks of government.

Two young ladies from the same marquis's household: one was hopeless, the other studied diligently. Rumors and gossip abounded.

Yu Que was unmoved. She kept teasing the cats and dogs, riding through the streets, and going on outings with friends.

Whenever she went home, she remembered to bring something back to cheer up little Jinqing and reward her for studying so hard.

Yu Que: "Study hard, Jinqing. Restore the family's honor, and don't listen to what people say. I'll buy you candied hawthorns. Love you, mwah!"

Xu Jinqing: "..."

She took out a handkerchief and wiped her forehead where Yu Que had kissed her.

Later, the marquis's household still fell into ruin. The imperial consort was sentenced to death, and the family was punished and exterminated. It all happened just as Xu Jinqing reached the highest ranks of government.

The charges were laid out before Yu Que one by one: accepting bribes, forming a faction, scheming for the throne, kidnapping a prince... There were enough offenses to have both marquis households executed.

Yu Que finally realized where the pocket money and precious antiques Xu Jinqing had given her came from, and tears streamed down her face.

Jinqing, we don't call taking bribes and embezzling. We call it friends giving gifts!

*

Given another chance at life, Yu Que swore to set Xu Jinqing back on the right path.

But Xu Jinqing was a natural prodigy. Keeping her from studying was harder than reaching the heavens. After thinking it over, Yu Que could only come up with one solution:

Since Xu Jinqing was so impressive, Yu Que would have to be even more impressive.

Xu Jinqing was aloof and proud. She'd frowned for a long time before eating a candied hawthorn Yu Que had already bitten, so she must find Yu Que a little repulsive.

If someone she disliked became more impressive than her, wouldn't that undermine her confidence at its very core?

Naturally, it failed.

Someone else had their confidence undermined to the very core.

Yu Que was on the verge of tears. "Jinqing... no, you're my Jinqing-jie. Please stop studying. I'll do anything if you just stop studying."

Xu Jinqing: "..."

Yu Que gave up. "They say you are what you eat. Do I have to taste your saliva to become as smart as you?"

Xu Jinqing's face suddenly turned red. "Nonsense!"

Then, after a pause, she asked, "Where do you want to taste it? Now?"

Yu Que: "???"

What's gotten into you, future powerful minister?!

Theme: Strive for a better life