[Healing After Traveling from Ancient Times] I Was Never a Clinging Vine

[Cool, self-possessed gentleman × sunny, easygoing sweetheart with a slow-to-react streak] From a refugee in Jiangnan to a lowly cleaning servant, A Ning transmigrated ten years ago. Thanks to the knowledge she had from her previous life, she finally achieved her wish and put down roots in the flower house of the Shen residence. Unable to study prized varieties, she improved the art of propagation by cuttings. Without a garden of her own, she tended the plants and flowers at the estate. Day by day, the flowerpots filled up, season by season. Every morning she watered them, every evening she pruned them, diligently counting down the days until she could buy her freedom. Then one day, Shen Mingyan, son of the Shen family and newly named palace graduate, suddenly summoned her to his study. A Ning heard the first half of what he said and thought he had good taste. After hearing the rest, she thought she'd misheard him. Wait, what? What do you mean, my floral skills are so outstanding that you want to know if I'd be willing to become your concubine? Even if you're the top palace graduate, you still need to make sense. What do you mean I can have a flower garden of my own and decide what to grow, what...? What... Well, I suppose that could work. Perhaps it was because her clivia had thrived, or her peonies had become famous. In any case, her skills had won the appreciation of a nobleman! She was freed from her servant status, registered as a free commoner, given flower fields, and put in charge of a flower farm. Everything turned out better than she had imagined. Only then did A Ning finally realize... He cherished her for more than just her love of flowers. - The male lead already has a wife and observes the duties of marriage, in keeping with the historical setting. Readers who require a chaste male lead, please don't read. - After meeting the female lead, the male lead devotes himself to her alone, loving her passionately in body and heart. Readers who enjoy exclusive devotion are welcome. - There is no infighting between the male and female leads and the female supporting characters, and no household scheming. All the angst comes from outside, with a mix of sweetness and heartbreak overall. - The story includes information about growing flowers, mostly in service of the plot. There may be inaccuracies, so please be gentle. Theme: Better to stand on one's own like a flower than cling to a tall tree to survive