The Apothecary Heroine Just Wants to Go Home

[Upcoming] A female-led romance, The Husband I Pursued Is So Sweet. The blurb is below. Its companion story, the completed food novel Yang Family's Garden of a Hundred Flavors, is available in my collection. Tap my profile to save it!

****Novel blurb****

Yin Meng, a senior pharmaceutical scientist, enters an AR game and immediately runs into a classic household-intrigue scenario. She promptly says she wants to quit and start over, only to discover that she can't get back out.

To stay alive and make it home, she throws herself into completing the quests, only to discover that household intrigue is just the introductory task. The real task is [Making Medicine].

Yin Meng: Great, this time I'll definitely get home!

After working away at it for ages, her quest is still stuck at 99%. No matter what she does, she can't finish it.

Glancing at her foolish childhood friend, who came through the game portal after her of his own accord, Yin Meng tilts her head and asks, "Cheng Zhi, when do you think we'll be able to go back?"

Cheng Zhi, looking away: "Maybe after I pass the palace exam?"

Yin Meng: "...I think I'll just focus on making more money."

Bonus scene:

One day, Lord Yin hears that Yin Meng has made a fortune and rushes to her shop with his whole family to claim their relationship.

They make a scene in the street, crying and carrying on for quite a while, when an imperial marriage decree suddenly arrives, ordering her to marry the newly appointed top candidate in the palace examination on an auspicious date.

Yin Meng, glaring up at him: "Cheng Zhi, did you seriously stab me in the back?"

The newly appointed top candidate steps down from his fine steed and embraces her with an innocent, guileless smile. "Mengmeng, maybe this way we'll be able to go home?"

Also known as The Top Candidate's Road to Winning His Wife Back

Notes: One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced.

1. There is a pursuit arc, but the romance isn't angsty. Anyone who likes the scumbag-chasing-his-wife trope, please look elsewhere.

2. This is not a professional work about traditional Chinese medicine. Please don't take it as medical advice.

3. This story contains a mountain of personal headcanons. No nitpicking, please. If you insist on arguing, you're right.

Final blurb dated January 27, 2023; revised March 17, 2023. Screenshot saved.

★Upcoming female-led romance, The Husband I Pursued Is So Sweet. Tap my profile to save it!★

Jiang Xiaokou transmigrates into the ruler of Jingyue Kingdom. Faced with several consorts eyeing her hungrily, she, a woman who has never been in a relationship, flees the city in a panic.

On the road, she encounters a gravely injured man. Despite his frail build, his face is as beautiful as a peach blossom, and Jiang Xiaokou is smitten.

Taking courage from her position as ruler, she immediately brings him back and names him her royal husband.

After returning, she learns that he is the cold-faced husband every woman in the kingdom dreams of: Wei Mingyan, a physician. Jiang Xiaokou then leans into the original owner's outrageous reputation and completely lets loose. Whenever she has nothing to do, she follows him around, giving him anything he wants and making her other consorts green with envy.

But even after half a year of trying everything she can think of, she still hasn't won Wei Mingyan's heart.

Jiang Xiaokou, collapsing: "I'm tired. You can go."

Wei Mingyan, lowering his eyes: "The Imperial Preceptor says divorcing a husband at this time could bring unexpected changes and harm the kingdom's fortunes. I hope Your Majesty will think carefully."

Jiang Xiaokou: "..."

-

Wei Mingyan has always despised marriage. He never imagined that, just after escaping one trap, he would be forcibly married by the ruler and made her royal husband.

Determined to find someone he truly loves, he refuses to simply give in. From then on, he puts on a distant manner, never letting anyone see the slightest hint of his emotions.

But one day, the ruler who is always clinging to him says she'll set him free and puts all the city's medical clinics in his name, so they can go their separate ways with no debts between them.

Is she divorcing him?

But she used to treat him so well... How can she just throw him away now?

Watching her act intimately with someone else, Wei Mingyan clenches his fists and pretends to be calm, finding an excuse to stay.

This time, he won't just claim his place as royal husband. He'll also show her through his actions that he isn't like those spoiled men who only know how to compete for her favor.

Jiang Xiaokou, collapsing: "I'm exhausted. I want to rest."

Wei Mingyan, unwilling to give up: "Relax. Leave it to me."

#You've changed, but I like it#

#If you flirt with someone, take responsibility#

Theme: Move forward bravely!