Lian Qin, a senior hydraulic engineer in the 21st century, transmigrates to ancient times. She opens her eyes in the middle of her wedding night, foam coming from her mouth. What else can she do but fake her death?
Later, disguised as a man, she passes the civil service exam and lands a job in her field. Only a few days after starting work, she rescues a handsome man from a flood. Wouldn’t you know it, he’s her ex-husband, Prince Zhao Xun, whose reputation for killing his wives she helped create.
He keeps insisting that they work together on something big, cleaning up corruption in river management, but the look in his eyes grows more and more unusual by the day.
She smiles at a rich merchant’s daughter. Zhao Xun silently heads to the river embankment to brood: “You two get along so well. I guess I’m just in the way.”
Lian Qin: ? What does he mean?
She bandages one of her subordinates’ wounds. Zhao Xun walks over, expressionless, and holds out his hand. “It’s my turn.”
Lian Qin: ?? Didn’t I already bandage that hand?
She hears that Zhao Xun is discussing a marriage match and cheerfully offers her congratulations. But he looks at her with red-rimmed eyes. “Do you truly not care at all?”
Lian Qin: ??? What am I supposed to care about?
Zhao Xun in Lian Qin’s eyes: A boss with no sense of boundaries.
Lian Qin in Zhao Xun’s eyes: A face like a painting, elegant and otherworldly, as bright as the moon and clear as the wind, composed in a crisis, resourceful, a brilliant strategist, devoted to the people… and completely oblivious to romance.
But with an unresolved river threatening overhead and wolves circling at their sides, every step from the riverbanks to the imperial court is fraught with danger.
Together, they weather one upheaval after another, eradicate corrupt officials, and ultimately protect the river and bring peace to the land.
Sitting in the new home for their second wedding (?), Lian Qin can’t shake the feeling that something is off.
She asks, “Do you like me as a man or as a woman?”
He replies, “Even if you were not human, my heart would still belong to you.”
‖Reading guide‖
1. Slow burn
2. A rational, oblivious, naturally airheaded woman vs. a restrained, devoted, love-struck man
3. The male lead is a man who likes women. He’s restrained and conflicted early on, then boldly makes his move later.
4. An alternate historical setting. The worldbuilding serves the story.
Theme: Women manage rivers and bring peace to the land.
Good-looking sprinkles [Spread Flowers] [Love Eyes] [Star Eyes] Super well written!