Kid, Your Mom Doesn't Want to Hustle Anymore

Lian Zhou was born a lowly concubine's daughter in a fallen noble family. She never imagined that one day her family would place such high hopes on her.

She thought she would simply marry a well-to-do young man and live a peaceful life, caring for her husband and raising children.

Who could have guessed that times would change, and by sheer bad luck, her uncles would suddenly insist on sending her into the palace?

There were two reasons:

Her eldest cousin married the late emperor, and the old emperor kicked the bucket and died the following month.

Her second cousin married Prince Rui, who then raised an army in rebellion. He was captured after his defeat, and the couple were both exiled.

After looking the whole family over, they decided she was the only misshapen melon left, so they might as well give it one last desperate try!

Lian Zhou sighed. After all those years of raising her, the mission of restoring the family fortunes could only fall to her.

She got ready to enter the palace, but before the selection, she had a strange dream. It turned out she was the heroine of a laid-back web novel. The original version of her had received the emperor's favor for just one night, but that night gave birth to the emperor's eldest son.

The boy was extraordinarily gifted. He could speak in sentences at two, write poetry at three, and manipulate everyone in the palace by the time he was four. At five, he was named crown prince.

Lian Zhou slapped her forehead. This was the height of good fortune, with a lucky star shining down on her. Why bother fighting? She could just happily wait to coast to victory!

So, the day after she was favored by the emperor, Lian Zhou rubbed her belly and sincerely offered prayers in Baohua Hall.

First, may I stay healthy, free from illness and disaster, and live to be eighty or ninety.

Second, may my child be obedient, a little darling who is loving and considerate and never gives me a thing to worry about.

Third, may His Majesty ascend to immortality soon. This world isn't worth it, and my husband ought to hurry off to the blissful paradise of Penglai.

Lian Zhou had finished burning incense when she spotted the corner of a bright yellow robe behind the altar. Terrified, she asked, "Who are you?"

The man's voice was deep. "I'm that cheap husband of yours who only gets in your way while alive and ought to die young."

Lian Zhou: ...Could you not say the quiet part out loud?

[Reader's Guide]

1. A goofy, sweet story, not a serious court drama. Light and fun.

2. One-on-one, both each other's first.

Theme: Love life, and never count on good luck