The Ancient Life of a Concubine's Daughter

While helping her grandparents in the countryside pick tomatoes, Gu Wan is struck by a bolt from a clear sky and winds up in the body of an unpopular concubine-born daughter in a Duke’s household in the Northern Song. The Duke has five sons and six daughters, making his family one of the largest in the capital. But where there are many people, there’s bound to be trouble. Scheming, rivalry, and deception play out in the household every few days. Gu Wan naturally has no intention of joining in. She’s traveled an incredibly long way to get here, not to take part in household battles. More children naturally mean more expenses, but that’s no problem for the Duchess. The legitimate sons and daughters get everything they need, of course. As for the concubine-born children, hmph, they aren’t hers, after all. As long as they aren’t left cold or hungry, she’s already being kind. In her previous life, Gu Wan was a girl who liked to provide for herself, so what others see as a predicament is no challenge for her. She makes a wonderful life for herself. In the blink of an eye, the girls reach marriageable age. The Duke’s daughters start competing with one another over potential matches: a prince, the heir of a marquis, the eldest grandson of an earl, and the son of the chief grand secretary. They’re snapped up almost instantly. As for Gu Wan, she’s happy to watch the drama from the sidelines, and otherwise keeps busy making a good life for herself. When it comes to her own marriage, Gu Wan always keeps a clear head. They say every pot has its lid. As a lowly concubine-born daughter, she has no dreams of marrying into a prestigious family. She’d rather find an honest, dependable man to spend her life with. Premise: Provide for yourself and have enough to eat and wear