The Imperial Consort's Affairs

As a failing computer science student in the twenty-first century, Dong Huahuan woke up one day as the daughter of a wealthy family in the Qing Dynasty, completely bewildered.

What could she do to pass the time in an age without the internet?

Harem intrigue?

Household intrigue?

No, no, no. Opportunity favors the prepared, and a hopeless shut-in like her wouldn't survive even half an episode of those dramas.

Running away from home, making money, traveling, getting into fights, meeting famous figures and heroes from every walk of life, sampling local delicacies, and maybe falling in love with a handsome man named An Qixiu sounded like a much better choice.

Six months later.

An Qixiu said he was Aisin Gioro Fulin, and Father said his name was Dong'e Eshuo.

So was she the famous Consort Dong'e from history?

If it isn't a blessing, it's a disaster. She can't escape the harem intrigue.

She may not know the harem's Thirty-Six Stratagems, but she has read plenty of books.

To stay alive, Dong Huahuan decides to strike first. Taking advantage of the Emperor's favor, she opens a school in the palace and gathers all the imperial consorts. They have a quiz every three days and a major exam every five, keeping the consorts busy until late at night and filling the palace intrigue with positive energy.

When the consorts are busy, the Emperor gets some peace and quiet.

One day, Fulin says, "Could you spare a little time to show your husband some affection, my dear?"

Dong Huahuan: "Sure. I'll let you know after I check my lesson-planning schedule."

Fulin, jealous: "My dear, you go back on your word. You said you'd spend the rest of your life doting on me, but now you're busy building your career."

Dong Huahuan: "..."

She's been a school disciplinarian for so long that she's gotten a little carried away.

In short, this is the story of Dong Huahuan, a patriotic citizen of the twenty-first century, making friends and rising to the top of life in the Qing Dynasty, more than three hundred years ago.

P.S. This is a fictional setting. Every detail serves the story, so please don't nitpick. Thank you~

The next book is "A Match Made by Scheme [Reborn]". Here's the blurb. Please add it to your favorites~

In her previous life, not long after Shen Youling and her childhood sweetheart Cui Mingxuan set their wedding date, Cui Mingxuan was ordered to go to war.

Not long afterward, her maternal grandfather fell gravely ill. To bring him good fortune, and with both families' elders as witnesses, Shen Youling married into the Cui family with her young cousin in tow.

Who knew that in the second year of their marriage, terrible news would arrive: Cui Mingxuan had died on the battlefield.

Shen Youling willingly spent three years mourning her husband, only for him to return to the capital with a new wife and two children.

In an instant, she became the laughingstock of the entire capital.

She wanted a divorce, but was not allowed one, and eventually died of grief.

Living her life over again, Shen Youling resolutely calls off the engagement.

The Cui elders, mindful of the ties between their families, refuse to let her break it off. The head of the Cui family even tells her she may choose any eligible man from the Cui clan.

Shen Youling thinks: Her childhood sweetheart, Cui Mingxuan, with whom she shared mutual affection, turned out to be no better than this. If she has to choose, she'd rather pick a dead man!

Naturally, the Cui family won't let her choose someone dead, so she chooses the Cui family's "living dead," Cui Junmo, Cui Mingxuan's seventh uncle.

Cui Junmo is cold and aloof, with power over the court. He is the Grand Marshal, Marquis of Ding'an, and tutor to the Crown Prince. During the campaign to pacify the west, Cui Junmo led the troops himself, was attacked from front and rear, and suffered severe injuries that left him unconscious. The imperial physicians all declared he would never wake up.

Shen Youling chose him simply because she wanted to use his status to live a little better. Who knew that the day after their wedding, Cui Junmo would wake up!

Looking at the man lying beside her, his gaze dangerous and narrowed eyes fixed on her, Shen Youling's teeth chattered. "Please... Seventh Uncle, take pity on me..."

*

Cui Junmo believed that with the realm in turmoil, there was no place for a family. For the people's peace, a man should be ready to die on the battlefield, so he never regretted it when he fell gravely wounded.

But he had never imagined that one day he would wake up with a young woman lying beside him, and that she would be his nephew's childhood sweetheart.

Looking at the young woman gazing at him with tear-filled eyes, Cui Junmo felt utterly at a loss for the first time in his life.

He thought she would surely regret her choice, and that when his nephew returned, everything would go back to normal. He never expected his nephew to die in battle, while he himself fell deeper and deeper in love.

The day Cui Mingxuan returned, Cui Junmo panicked. He kissed her again and again, telling her over and over, "I'm better than him. I'm more innocent than him. Don't leave me..."

Theme: Harem intrigue is an art. We should give it infinite possibilities.