A Delicate Lady's Guide to Avoiding Favor

A rumor circulates through Yangzhou: Master Ji bought a cook from a prince's household. One day, he wanted the cook to come out and show her face, but instead he ended up making a huge fool of himself!

What happened?

Master Ji asked her to steam buns for everyone, but she couldn't. She said she'd only ever carved flowers out of scallions for the buns served to the prince!

When A Jiao heard this rumor, she said, "It's all made up. I was framed."

Reborn into a new life, she still finds herself walking the same old path. A Jiao is desperate, doing everything she can to avoid the master's ever-growing favor.

A skit

A Jiao: My one wish in this life is to be an utterly unfavored concubine, and spend my whole life quietly, unnoticed by everyone.

The Mistress: No. You can forget it.

The Master: Come here. I want to dote on you.

The Rival: Come here. I want to make your life miserable.

A Jiao: ...Then maybe I could just be an honest, obedient concubine.

The Mistress: No. You can forget it.

The Master: Come here. I'll set you up.

The Rival: Come here. I want to hurt you.

A Jiao: Is there a manual for avoiding favor? I'll take a stack, thanks.

Notes and warnings:

1. The heroine can't turn the world upside down, nor does she push the principal wife aside. Read with caution if that bothers you.

2. The hero isn't perfect, but he's no flirt either. He has flaws and plenty to criticize. Read with caution if that bothers you.

3. The heroine is a concubine. She can't wield a world-shaking golden hammer or stir up a raging storm. She just goes with the flow. Read with caution if that bothers you.

4. There are ups and downs, and it has a happy ending, but it's not the kind with everything tied up in a pretty bow. It leans toward realism and may not be especially satisfying. Read with caution if that bothers you.

Theme: There's no need to fixate on love. The world is already beautiful.