Jiang Junyue was born beautiful and was doted on by her family as she grew up.
Her parents had no expectations of her beyond her staying safe and healthy, so although Jiang Junyue was clever, she grew up with an easygoing nature.
When she reached marriageable age, her father, a fifth-rank official in the capital, chose a scholar preparing for the imperial examinations to be her husband.
Her future husband was handsome and refined, with a scholarly air. Most importantly, his family was ordinary, so he could accommodate her in every way.
Jiang Junyue dreamed of eating well, sleeping well, and having fun after marriage, and happily married him.
Xie Juyan had barely had time to savor his PhD diploma when he transmigrated into a book, becoming a scholar whose wife was stolen from him.
In the future, his wife, Jiang Junyue, would catch the Crown Prince's eye and be forcibly taken away. The two would torment each other before finally finding happiness.
Xie Juyan turned to look. At that moment, his little wife was peacefully dozing beneath a peach tree.
Xie Juyan: Make her learn the rules by force, have her serve tea and water every day, and let her suffer for half her life before they finally find happiness? To hell with that. He wouldn't let Jiang Junyue suffer.
Xie Juyan turned, picked up his books, and set his sights on the path best suited to scholars, both in ancient times and today: becoming an official.
Cheng Qu had been reborn. In his previous life, he had been too proud and overbearing, treating the wife he had forcibly married poorly for half her life before finally coming to his senses. This time, he would treat her well.
But when Qu Cheng went looking for her, he discovered that...
The former farming scholar had somehow become a powerful court minister and a member of the cabinet!
He was also deeply trusted by the current emperor and had a very close relationship with Cheng Qu's younger brother.
One day, his sixth younger brother held a wedding banquet and invited guests. Cheng Qu felt stifled watching the happy couple and went to the garden to clear his head.
To his surprise, he ran into Jiang Junyue.
Because her husband was trusted by the Sixth Prince, Jiang Junyue had been made to socialize with guests for quite some time, so she had slipped away to take a break.
Cheng Qu was just about to approach when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xie Juyan heading toward her from the other side.
Cheng Qu assumed Xie Juyan would scold Jiang Junyue for not entertaining the guests and fulfilling her duties as a wife. Instead, Xie Juyan furtively took a bundle from his sleeve.
On closer inspection, it was a roll of pastries.
"I know you like these, so I specially got some from the kitchen."
Jiang Junyue took them and ate with obvious delight. Xie Juyan, a senior court official, rolled up his sleeves and rubbed her waist, saying, "You've worked hard, my dear."
Behind the rockery, Cheng Qu silently gritted his teeth.
Reading Guide:
An academic big shot becomes a political big shot; the male lead is a secretly ambitious workaholic.
The beautiful and clever female lead is a carefree oddball.
The male lead will eventually wield enormous power at court and rise to the highest rank among officials. He'll be able to influence the royal family's choice of Crown Prince.
One-on-one romance, both leads have only each other, married young.
(In the original book, the heroine was married to a supporting character. Readers who require both leads to have been devoted only to each other in every timeline should enter with caution.)
Theme: Persevere and strive, and work hard to create a better future
