A Rock-Bottom Start: Turning the Tables in a Political Marriage (Transmigrating into a Book)

An Shiyi transmigrated into a cannon-fodder female supporting character with the same name in a novel.

As soon as she arrived, her father and brothers were sentenced to death, while the women of the family were sent to the palace to serve as slaves.

According to the book's upcoming plot, the old emperor of the Dayin Dynasty would take an interest in her. She'd get caught up in palace intrigue, be tortured to death by the original heroine, and disappear from the story after just a few chapters.

To save herself, she set her sights on Prince Rui, Xuan Yuhong, the third prince of the neighboring kingdom of Wuxuan, who had come to seek a marriage alliance.

As it happened, An Shiyi's father had once guarded the border between the two kingdoms, so their families had a bit of a grudge between them.

An Shiyi: I never imagined I'd one day fight tooth and nail to marry my nemesis.

To survive, An Shiyi pulled off one outrageous maneuver after another and finally became a "princess" sent to marry for peace. Xuan Yuhong had come to win Dayin's support so he could claim his own country's throne. He wasn't in a position to be choosy. He could only marry her, then thank the emperor for his gracious favor.

Prince Rui wore a funeral-faced expression the whole way, brought her back to Wuxuan, and planned to put her on a pedestal as a lucky charm.

Xuan Yuhong: This prince will never set foot in her room!

He thought she'd make a fuss, but a month passed in peace. Unable to help himself, Xuan Yuhong called his men in to ask what was going on.

Guard A: The princess is teaching the maids to read. They've become best friends!

Guard B: The princess played cards with the guards and took all their money!

Guard C: The princess ran a military drill with the city defense troops and won a great victory!

Xuan Yuhong: ...

That night, Prince Rui and the princess "happened" to meet in their own garden.

An Shiyi: (smiling sweetly) Husband, if I help you take the throne, will you divorce me? How about it?

Xuan Yuhong: (coldly) Who wants that!

According to the news from the palace, Prince Rui ascended the throne and became the new emperor of Wuxuan, and the empress moved out of the palace right after him. It seemed the imperial couple had fallen out.

The chief palace maid at the empress's side pursed her lips: Don't believe rumors or spread them.

An Shiyi was living comfortably in a separate residence, waiting for the right moment to get her divorce papers and leave. But the maids kept coming to deliver news, and not one thing had anything to do with the divorce papers.

Maid A: His Majesty is waiting at the gate. He wants to share dinner with you.

Maid B: His Majesty says he'll personally set off fireworks for you at the city gate tonight!

Maid C: His Majesty has been standing in the snow for three days. He's frozen into a snowman!

An Shiyi: ...

What is this man up to?!

The empress and emperor held a "friendly meeting" at the entrance to the separate residence.

An Shiyi: (coldly) Where are my divorce papers?!

The guards and maids watched in horror as the usually aloof, ruthless emperor, a man of few words, clung to the empress and whispered into her ear. His eyes were red, and he seemed to be acting spoiled?

Xuan Yuhong: (domineering and aggrieved) Ayi, I forbid you to leave. Don't you care about all we've built together? Don't you care about me?

A sweet-looking beauty with a fierce heart who loves building a career

A sharp-tongued, proud, cold, scheming, domineering young prince who says he doesn't care but acts like he does

Reader's Guide:

1. There is both a plot and a romance. The couple develop feelings while building their careers together. It's a marriage first, love later story, and mostly sweet (though I can't promise it's sweet all the way through). There's also a little bit of a light-hearted chase-your-wife-to-the-crematorium arc. One-on-one romance, happy ending, both are each other's first love, and both are sexually inexperienced. The male lead has secondary consorts, but they're only there for show.

2. It's basically a wish-fulfillment story, but the heroine is a little hard-pressed at the start, and the hero will be quite cold, heartless, and unreasonable toward her, so I didn't tag it as one. Later on, though, it's pretty satisfying all the way through, with a few bumps but a steady march toward success.

3. The plot includes political intrigue and war. The setting is entirely fictional, so please don't compare it to real history. Xuan Yu is also an invented compound surname, and all the customs of Wuxuan are made up by the author.

4. I'll add more if I think of anything else. Muah~

Theme: Even in adversity, you must strive to save yourself