As a Widow, I Tricked the Little Stickler

Shen Qingyun was widowed at eighteen.

Life was quite easy. Her husband died before she even saw his face, and there were no concubines or bothersome household matters.

But lately, she had lost her appetite and felt listless. Her eyes kept wandering toward strong, strapping men.

Her mother-in-law saw through her immediately. Worried that this would damage her reputation in the capital, she sent Shen Qingyun south to recover.

She arrived in the south, overjoyed, and did only three things:

- Pick up men by the roadside.

- Tease the scholar next door.

- Write to her mother-in-law asking for living expenses.

Later, she settled on a handsome scholar and coaxed him into treating her ailment in every way imaginable.

By day, the old-fashioned fellow discussed poetry and literature with her. At night, his ears turned red as he scolded her for being outrageous.

She sighed. What kind of miserable life had she been living before?

But recently, her mother-in-law's letters had taken a strange turn:

"I went to sweep Heng'er's grave the other day and noticed someone had pulled up the green grass growing on the mound. I find it rather suspicious."

"Heng'er... has come back. Return at once."

On the day she returned to the capital, while the scholar was still asleep, she left him a thousand taels of silver and a letter:

"My mother doesn't approve of our marriage. We should part ways. Take care of yourself."

Two years later, the scholar placed first in the imperial examinations and became the talk of the town.

He stopped her sedan chair, his eyes red with anger. "Shen Qingyun, the mother you mentioned is your mother-in-law."

Reader notes:

1. An imaginary dynasty, light comedy. No need to nitpick the historical details.

2. Romance-focused, with logic serving the romance. Recommended reading without overthinking.

3. The protagonist is not perfect and has a weak moral compass. Expect plenty of absurd situations. Don't take it as a reflection of real-world values. Read with caution if this isn't your thing.

Theme: Live well