Climbing the Branch [Female-Dominated World]

Mastering the arts of war and letters, one offers one's talents to the emperor.

But with the imperial examinations held every three years, even a top scholar is nothing special.

The senior sister who once rode through the spring streets as the top scholar has been left on the sidelines, too.

She told Yuan Zheng that for someone born into a poor family, without a clan to back them or a powerful patron to help them, rising to the top is harder than reaching the heavens.

Yuan Zheng doesn't want to be a kite with nothing to tether her.

Fortunately, she has a lovely face she can use as leverage.

And if she's going to "sell" herself, she may as well sell herself to the most desirable man in the land.

The emperor's full brother, Lord Huayang.

Handsome, arrogant, and infamous for his cruelty.

Rumor has it that when the emperor once arranged a marriage between him and a noblewoman, he refused to be shackled by it. When he couldn't get out of the engagement, he secretly had the woman killed.

*

In the dark of night, rain pouring down,

in a secret chamber, the notorious Lord Huayang, said to be violent, woman-hating, and heartless, slowly took Yuan Zheng's hand.

"I will give Ah Zheng a branch to lean on."

"Ah Zheng, stop rejecting me."

*

Lord Huayang ran into a fool.

She was exceptionally beautiful, with clear, gentle features. One look at him and her face burned red as a coal.

Lord Huayang scoffed. Another woman consumed by lust.

On a whim, he decided to tease her.

He had an attendant send her a cup of imperial wine in his name.

Leaning against his seat, he watched the fool with an amused smile, waiting for her to lose her composure, look embarrassed, and fawn over him.

But the woman was perfectly courteous, respectful but not warm.

She even... deliberately turned her eyes away from him.

Her gaze settled lightly on a young man sitting beside him.

Lord Huayang narrowed his eyes slightly.

Oh.

So the fool's beloved was sitting right next to him.

PS: Both leads are virgins. The heroine is a scheming, awkward puppy.

Theme: Stay true to yourself.