The Villain Was Taken Down by His Undercover, Sweet Wife After the Imperial Exams

(Reversed V28-30: Red envelopes for the day!) Coming next: Pure-Hearted College Student Caught in a Seductive CEO’s Sights, The Crybaby Songbird Tops the Flirty Tycoon

This story ↓ [Drama-Queen Little Green Tea Bottom x Black-Bellied, Cool-Headed Top]

1*

In The Dust of Jingluo, the villain He Xianqing is ruthless and treacherous, throwing the court into chaos. To put the crown prince on the throne, he frames the third prince, Mo Wenjing, and has him killed. One day, Professor He Zhixu of A University very unfortunately transmigrates into the book as He Xianqing.

His mission is to save Mo Wenjing, but the plot suddenly goes off the rails. Not only does Mo Wenjing disappear, He Zhixu is inexplicably framed. First he is demoted and sent to the countryside to reform a notorious academy, then a colleague plots against him and forces him into a marriage with a villain.

When the imperial decree is first issued, his colleagues wait for him to be stripped of his home and left homeless. But, to their surprise, He Zhixu receives a fortune from a mysterious benefactor. Not only does he avoid homelessness, he builds a business from scratch and becomes incredibly rich.

His colleagues are annoyed, but they still expect to see him tormented by the academy’s schoolyard bully. Instead, He Zhixu introduces an intensive exam-prep system and publishes Five Years of Imperial Exams, Three Years of Practice Tests, transforming the filthy, chaotic academy into an elite, nightmarish civil-service exam boot camp. From then on, half the court officials are his classmates and schoolmates.

His colleagues refuse to give up, and keep hoping to laugh at his forced marriage. The marriage does take place, but the villain doesn’t become his spouse. He Zhixu marries a man who has been sent in someone else’s place.

Mo Huaining is perfect in every way, except that he’s a bit of a green tea.

He drives away He Zhixu’s childhood friend, whom he has a crush on, kills the courtesan who was competing for affection, and spends every day pleading, “Please, husband, love me,” while insisting on keeping He Zhixu all to himself.

Seeing He Zhixu prosper in both love and career, the colleagues who once kicked him when he was down are horrified. They rush to fawn over him but are coldly rejected, so they have no choice but to start currying favor with his much-adored wife.

When the officials investigate, they uncover plenty of shocking details...

First, the boy who sweetly calls He Zhixu “husband” is not a frail, delicate wife at all. Night after night, his eyes bloodshot, he pins He Zhixu beneath him, ferocious and terrifyingly possessive.

Second, it’s one thing that this darling wife is a man, or that he’s on top in bed, but why does he look so much like the third prince who disappeared from the palace under an assumed name?!

2*

The third prince, Mo Wenjing, was exiled among the common people, enduring humiliation and hardship. One day, he receives the aid of a powerful minister, only to die because of He Xianqing’s schemes and betrayal.

Reborn, he changes his name to Mo Huaining, finds the mastermind, and pretends to be in love, calling him “husband” at every turn as he infiltrates He Zhixu’s side.

He is the wife who wed He Zhixu in a marriage solemnized with all the proper rites, the mysterious pavilion master who helps him, and the sworn enemy who becomes his foe.

He claims he is undercover, but in reality...

Underling: He Xianqing seems short on money.

Mo Huaining pays out of his own pocket: We need him, so I’ll provide it.

Underling: He Xianqing seems about to be given an arranged marriage.

Mo Huaining puts on a wedding dress: We need him, so I’ll marry him.

Underling: He Xianqing seems to have been drugged with an aphrodisiac.

Mo Huaining gallantly offers himself: We need him, so I’ll help him.

The underling finally can’t take it anymore: We don’t need He Xianqing now. Kill him immediately.

Mo Huaining: I say we need him, so we need him! Don’t touch my husband! (crying)

Underling: ???

And so Mo Huaining diligently remains undercover, constantly convincing himself he’s in love. He’s great at pretending to be pitiful and crying, and he doesn’t mind when the act becomes real. Just as he thinks his acting is superb and he has He Zhixu under control, He Zhixu is killed by a hidden arrow.

His past-life enemy is dead, and Mo Huaining should be happy. But the moment he sees He Zhixu’s corpse, he bursts into tears and loses his mind, convinced this man is completely different from He Xianqing in his previous life. He doesn’t notice at all that the body in his arms... is a dummy??

From then on, Mo Huaining wanders around in a daze, until one day he is summoned back to the palace.

By then, the emperor is gravely ill, and the foolish crown prince, heedless of all good advice, hands the regency to a newly appointed right chancellor.

When Mo Huaining first meets him at court, he discovers that this man is virtually identical to He Zhixu, who died in his arms.

At the palace banquet, He Zhixu looks down at him with a smile. Mo Huaining’s eyes grow hot, and then all hell breaks loose...

The officials all whisper among themselves: Why did the third prince lose control in front of the throne, crying and screaming as he went mad over the left chancellor?

Upcoming story: Pure-Hearted College Student Caught in a Seductive CEO’s Sights

[Ice-Cold Beauty CEO Bottom x Younger Top Who Convinces Himself He’s in Love]

Shen Baiyu is known around the company as the ice-cold beauty CEO, Mr. Shen. He has always been strict with everyone, with one exception: he dotes on his niece.

One day, his niece confesses that she has a crush on A University’s campus heartthrob, Ying Zhuxing.

As it happens, Ying Zhuxing is about to start an internship at Company X, so Shen Baiyu places him at his side to evaluate whether he’s good enough to become his niece’s husband.

On Ying Zhuxing’s first day, Shen Baiyu calls him into his office. Looking at him as if he were assessing an heir to the family business, Shen smiles at him suggestively: “Perform well by my side, and everything I own will be yours one day.”

Ying Zhuxing misunderstands on the spot: What?? What does that mean??

Later, Shen Baiyu repeatedly praises Ying Zhuxing to his assistant: “He’s very capable. He really is suitable for marrying into the Shen family.”

Unfortunately, Ying Zhuxing hears him through the wall. His whole face turns red: Marry into the family?? Is that what I think it means??

Even when Ying Zhuxing takes part in a basketball game at A University, Shen Baiyu brings him a bouquet on behalf of his future nephew-in-law. Wearing a suit and smiling warmly, he pats Ying Zhuxing on the shoulder. “We’ll be one family sooner or later. Don’t be a stranger.”

A friend teases Ying Zhuxing, who is holding the flowers: “So that’s Mr. Shen, who’s been ‘taking advantage’ of you at your internship?”

At first, Ying Zhuxing is irritated by the teasing, but little by little, he accepts it. Blushing, he says, “That’s not it. I think... he’s trying to pursue me.”

After a long evaluation, Shen Baiyu decides Ying Zhuxing is good enough to become his nephew-in-law. But then his niece says she’s no longer interested in Ying Zhuxing!?

Shen Baiyu has to start over from scratch. When the next candidate for nephew-in-law joins the company, he uses the same tricks and showers the new boy with attention.

But workplace gossip spreads too quickly. After seeing Shen Baiyu transfer his affections to someone else, Ying Zhuxing can’t take it anymore. He storms into the CEO’s office, pins Shen Baiyu against the desk, and demands, “Didn’t you like me!? Why have you switched to someone else now!?”

Shen Baiyu’s response: I thought you wanted to be my niece’s husband, but you want to sleep with me?

Content Warnings

[★Reader’s Guide | Important Warnings★]

■ First things first: The top is a darling wife! But they’re both strong! Don’t read if you dislike that.

■ Imperial exams + everyday life + political intrigue | [Imperial exams only in Volume 1] |

1. Younger top, nine-year age gap, both each other’s firsts, □□ (or maybe not?)

2. Some original ABO elements: heat cycles and ruts

3. The political intrigue and logic are completely brainless. The author’s just making stuff up.

4. Imperial exams and political intrigue are 3:7. Lots of political scheming! Extremely melodramatic!

5. Plot and romance are 3:7. Very romance-focused! Extremely mushy!

6. Fictional dynasty, made-up systems. If you expect historical accuracy, I’ll get down on my knees.

Theme: Gold will always shine