This book is also known as "After Marrying a Dandy, I Really Fell for Him"
Blurb One: The Story
After being mad for many years, her mother suddenly regains her senses. By day, she pretends to have lost her memory; every night, she brings up the past and insists that her daughter, Chen Xiao, must place first in the imperial examinations, rise to a high position, and avenge their wrongs.
In Chen Xiao's father's eyes, she is a pawn to be used in a political marriage.
In her mother's eyes, she is a pawn to be used for revenge.
"I refuse to be a pawn. I want to be the one moving the pieces. Since Heaven and Earth are unjust, then I will overthrow them completely. If the Empress Dowager can rule from behind the curtain, then why can't I, the Regent Prince?"
A fictional setting, a fictional setting, so don't dwell on official titles. A political intrigue story, and a satisfying tale of a woman holding office.
Blurb Two: The Romance
To marry a good husband, Chen Xiao studied the classics for ten years. At last, she became a celebrated female top scholar. But on the eve of choosing her future husband and sending a proposal to his family, she was ordered to marry Wang Tong, a dandy as notorious as she was.
Chen Xiao felt like banging her head against a wall, but she didn't want those who were kicking her while she was down to enjoy the show. So whenever she chatted with others, she only had praise for Wang Tong.
When people said the young master of the Wang family spent money recklessly, Chen Xiao replied, "There's nothing to be done about that. Their family is richer than a kingdom."
When people said the young master of the Wang family was good for nothing, Chen Xiao replied, "It doesn't matter. I am learned enough to fill five carts with books."
When people said the young master of the Wang family loved attracting romantic attention, Chen Xiao replied, "Young Master Wang is simply too handsome. It's only natural that young ladies can't help themselves. To marry a husband as handsome as Pan An is the greatest good fortune of my three lifetimes."
Everyone mocked Chen Xiao for stubbornly putting on a brave face, saying she wouldn't be able to keep it up for long. But later, they discovered that she truly did consider herself fortunate.
P.S. One-on-one romance, both leads have had no previous partners, two strong characters, entirely fictional setting.
A charming, socially adept dandy VS a common-born noblewoman who is every bit as capable as a man
2025/3/19
Theme: Women should be self-reliant
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A Promise from a Gentleman
The Female Emperor
Playing the Male Lead's White Moonlight in a Cultivation Novel