After Getting Burned by a Wish-Fulfillment Novel, I Became a Studyholic in Ancient Times

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[A workaholic heroine who excels at every endeavor, and a reserved, scheming male lead who gives his wife advice on how to "handle" him]

Workplace pro Bai Xiaobai transmigrates into the body of Bai Qingzhu, the miserable legitimate daughter of a marquis's household, but she doesn't lose heart.

She has an unpredictable dream-based golden finger, and she's engaged to the sickly crown prince.

Most importantly, she knows three thousand face-slapping tricks from feel-good novels.

There's still hope for the future.

But she soon discovers that those tricks are useless.

For example, when her concubine-born aunt sees her mother's "ghost," she isn't scared in the slightest and absolutely refuses to admit she switched the illegitimate son with the legitimate one.

Then there's the evidence and witnesses right in front of her, yet her grandmother remains as steady as a rock after being caught in the scheme, insisting that her daughter-in-law willingly handed over her dowry.

In the end, Xiaobai gets her scumbag father severely punished for "disobedience," and nearly loses her life in the process.

Feel-good novels have betrayed me!

Wiping away her tears, Xiaobai gives up her fantasies and gets down to business, one step at a time, building her career in the ancient world.

She thinks a 24/7 work schedule is way too low-class, so she plays two roles at once and plans to become the ultimate workaholic of ancient times.

Bai Qingzhu gets promoted and earns a raise in the marquis's household.

Meanwhile, Bai Xiaobai makes her side business thrive outside the estate and befriends a loyal confidant.

*

At last, thanks to her outstanding performance, Xiaobai earns the honor of attending the palace's annual banquet.

During the banquet, she unexpectedly hears her cold, aloof fiancé say, "I have no feelings for you. But as long as you behave yourself, I'll guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and glory."

Wow!

The iconic line of a top-tier male lead in a feel-good novel!

Xiaobai's fantasies about feel-good novels flare up again, but soon she has another warning dream.

In the dream, that dog of a crown prince becomes emperor, while she, who should have been empress, is left chewing tree bark in the Cold Palace!

Feel-good novels have betrayed me again!

That dog of a crown prince lied to me!

Xiaobai is furious: Even if it costs me my life, I'll drag the emperor off his throne.

Just you wait!

*

Her confidant asks, puzzled: Why the long face?

Xiaobai sighs: Someone told me to behave myself, and it's not easy to get back at him.

Her confidant's expression shifts from surprise to inscrutable.

Then he offers Xiaobai a plan.

Xiaobai keeps working diligently on her career and diligently "handling" that dog of a crown prince.

But she soon realizes something is wrong.

At the emperor's birthday celebration, the dog of a crown prince is supposed to marry the great general's daughter, drawing the emperor's suspicion.

Unexpectedly, his remark, "Qingzhu will be my only wife in this life," not only dispels the suspicion but also clears the way for Xiaobai's career.

During a drought in the northwest, the dog of a crown prince is supposed to botch his disaster-relief assignment and be reviled by the court.

Unexpectedly, he not only strongly recommends the Bai family's well-digging technique but also promotes the double-wheel water cart. The court praises the heir to the throne, and the family's business gains both fame and fortune.

When bandits plague the south, the dog of a crown prince is supposed to be trapped behind enemy lines while leading the troops against them.

Unexpectedly, he quickly suppresses the bandits and discovers a "divine stone" carved with a bamboo pattern. An expert interprets its meaning: the crown princess-to-be is destined to be the empress, and will protect the dynasty for thousands of years.

Xiaobai spots the clues and bares her teeth at her confidant. "Give me one more plan, and I'll become empress dowager ahead of schedule and reach the peak of my career!"

Her confidant, who is also the dog of a crown prince: ...

*

Reading notes:

1. One true pairing, happy ending.

2. Plot-focused, with a romance subplot, but not much.

Please pre-save my next novel, A Powerful Minister's Regret Is Worth Nothing!

In the thirty-fifth year of Jiading, the Lin family is caught up in a palace scandal and ruined overnight.

Lin Ruolan happens to save a Jinlin Guard on duty twice. When her father and brothers run into danger and her clan forces her into a marriage, the guard appears out of nowhere and says he will marry her.

Ruolan is ready to bash her head in and die, but his offer of marriage brings her back from the gates of hell to the human world. She resolves to serve her husband well and honor her parents-in-law.

But married life is nothing like she'd imagined.

Her husband's family has high status, but her father and brothers are disgraced.

Her husband's childhood sweetheart died, and her death seems connected to her father.

What's more, her husband agreed to marry her only because someone forced him...

Ruolan grits her teeth and endures.

Until one day, her husband brings home a woman without a word.

At last, her heart turns to ashes.

*

His mother is a princess, his father a marquis, and at just twenty-three, Jiang Xun holds great power over the Jinlin Guards.

When he was young, he nearly drowned. The cousin who once desperately pulled him ashore later died under suspicious circumstances. Jiang Xun has never stopped investigating the truth, and has never cared much about his own marriage.

Until he is forced to marry Lin Ruolan, the daughter of a quack doctor.

Jiang Xun owes her two great favors, and he never repays kindness with harm. But marrying her and offering her protection is all he can give.

As they spend more time together, he realizes that beneath her seemingly delicate appearance, she is remarkably resilient.

He watches her teach her mischievous younger siblings, care for stubborn elders, and fearlessly lead everyone through danger when disaster strikes at home. Before he even realizes it, his heart has fallen for her.

Just as he wants to keep their peaceful, quiet life going, news arrives from the palace that the empress dowager has appointed her a lady official.

Then he watches her hand him a letter and walk away without looking back.

Jiang Xun opens the letter in confusion. The words "letter of divorce" leave him stunned.

Theme: Always be strong, even when facing a desperate situation