Yang Yinyin transmigrated into an imperial-examination novel and became the wife of the male lead's half-brother.
The half-brother was a supporting character, a foil to the male lead, a legitimate son who was a triple-examination top scorer and rose to the rank of Minister of Rites. He was timid, foolish, insecure, and meek, forever living in the shadow of his dazzling elder brother.
The original wife was a supporting female character, a foil to the female lead, a young lady from an aristocratic family. She came from a merchant family, was ignorant and foolish, had no filter, and spoke with a sharp tongue, constantly making snide, sarcastic remarks that drove everyone around her up the wall, earning her scoldings and punishments.
The couple spent several years in a chaotic marriage, until one day they had such a violent fight that they both fell off a cliff and died.
Newly transmigrated Yang Yinyin: I'll turn over a new leaf, help my husband, and support him in building his confidence and living life on his own terms. So easy!
"Beep! OOC behavior detected in Host. Stop immediately and maintain your sarcastic persona until you kick the bucket. Then you'll receive a huge reward and a brand-new life."
Yang Yinyin: What the heck! It wasn't enough that she'd transmigrated into a book; she'd also been bound to a ridiculous System!
Forced by the System's overwhelming power, Yang Yinyin had no choice but to grit her teeth and play the sarcastic shrew.
When her husband was scolded by his tutor, she said through her tears, "No way, no way. Surely no one can't even recite The Great Learning? Even I know the opening: 'The way of great learning lies in manifesting one's bright virtue...'"
The illegitimate son was deeply shaken. He realized that even this ignorant woman had outdone him, so he stayed up all night studying and earned his tutor's praise the very next day.
When her stepmother appropriated her dowry, she covered her mouth and said, "The overwhelming stench of money is making my head ache. Mother is so refined and otherworldly, smelling this is sure to make you ill. You should keep your distance from these vulgar things."
The illegitimate son watched as she got her dowry back. She took out a few taels of silver and said reluctantly, "Move my dowry somewhere safe and lock it up. Here's your reward. Buy clothes or books, whatever you like."
The illegitimate son: My fists are clenched, but why can't I hit her?
Yang Yinyin played the sarcastic shrew while waiting to kick the bucket. She waited and waited, until her husband, who used to glare at her, started looking at her differently; until their once-constant squabbles gave way to a peaceful life; until her once-mediocre husband passed the imperial exams with top honors at all three levels, entered the Grand Secretariat, and became Chief Grand Secretary.
Rumor had it that Chief Grand Secretary Gu was handsome and charming, learned and cultured, and shrewd in his dealings: a perfect man. With one exception: he was henpecked. He spent his whole life devoted to his wife, with no other women by his side. They said his wife wasn't a virtuous, refined lady from a prominent family, but an ignorant woman with a sharp tongue.
Theme: Language is an art, and acting is a skill.
