I’m the Contrarian in a Political Intrigue Novel

Also known as "Everyone Gets Cuckolded Except the Heroine"

Zhaozhao is timid, cowardly, and painfully awkward around people.

After she transmigrates into a book, she becomes a former dynasty's princess in a political intrigue novel, caught in a precarious position. The new dynasty has just been founded, and the various factions are locked in a fierce tug-of-war. She's the unfortunate pawn they keep dragging into everything. But all the leaders of these factions share a little secret: every one of them has been cheated on.

Zhaozhao wants to uphold the fine tradition that silence is golden, but she's bound to a System that will kill her if she doesn't argue with people.

At the first palace banquet after the new emperor's accession, an old minister of the former dynasty asks, "Princess, what do you think of His Majesty's policies for governing the country?"

Zhaozhao's mouth moves entirely without her control. "I don't have much to say about His Majesty's policies. But I know a thing or two about Lord Shangshu's family affairs. You've been raising someone else's son for over twenty years. How does that make you feel?"

The old minister: "??!!"

A great general with an army at his command brazenly asks to marry the former dynasty's princess in front of everyone. Zhaozhao, who hasn't argued with anyone for days and is close to dying of weakness, is carried over. She says feebly, "General, you have a hidden ailment and will never have children. Do you really want to ruin the life of a young woman like me for nothing?"

The great general, who has just learned his beloved concubine is pregnant: "?!!"

The new emperor, Yan Heng, was once the heir to the princely household of the Prince of Equal Rank. After coming of age, he gained the extraordinary ability to hear other people's thoughts.

When he learned that the former emperor planned to kill him once he was no longer useful, he struck first, staging a coup and establishing a new dynasty.

He values talent, but the old ministers of the former dynasty keep giving him a hard time. Then one day, he hears Zhaozhao sighing inwardly.

[Who should I pick a fight with today to save my life? Lord Shangshu, who's been wearing a cuckold's hat for over twenty years? Or the retired emperor, who's secretly supporting his mistress and her son?]

Yan Heng: [?!]

Zhaozhao argues with people to stay alive when she's busy, and stays cooped up at home when she's not. One day, the new emperor suddenly summons her. Nervously awaiting her fate, she sees the emperor who once stormed the palace gates covered in blood now smiling kindly as he has the palace attendants serve her tea.

Zhaozhao's argumentative streak kicks in on its own. "Your Majesty, if you want me to spill the ministers' secrets, just say so. There's no need to smile while hiding a knife."

Yan Heng, whose thoughts have been laid bare: "?"

Then he hears her think, [I'm doomed, I'm doomed! I actually offended the emperor. But he wants to use me. Should I throw this tea in his face and get it out of my system before I die?]

Yan Heng, who had just started to relax but now feels his heart seize up again: [...]

Much later, Zhaozhao has gone from a painfully awkward introvert to an argumentative firebrand whose sharp tongue terrifies everyone. Even then, she still can't figure out why Yan Heng fell for her and insists on marrying no one else.

Maybe he's got a bit of a thing for being argued with.

Theme: Love and peace