Caught in the Powerhouses' Battlefield of Love

The second daughter of the Dai family was born beautiful and alluring. Unfortunately, she was only the illegitimate daughter of a minor official, so her only prospect was marrying beneath her station.

So Dai Yuezai began making plans when she was five.

When she heard that the capricious, arrogant heir to a noble title had been punished with twenty strokes, she hurried over with medicine, tearfully urging him to take care of himself.

The young lord was deeply moved.

When she heard that the elegant young son of the chancellor was lonely, copying books with no one to keep him company, she hurriedly copied out a poem and sent it to him, wishing him peace and happiness for the rest of his life.

The eldest young master was also deeply moved.

When she heard that the crown prince was confined to a residence by the emperor and miserable every day, she hurried over with words of comfort, urging him to dispel his gloom. She told him she believed he would one day be more than a prisoner in a single room.

The crown prince was also deeply moved.

But two years passed, and Dai Yuezai was about to come of age. Her marriage was about to be arranged, yet not one of the young lord, the young master, or the crown prince showed up.

She was bewildered and muttered to herself, "Have I not offered them enough warmth?"

Just then, a man fell out of a tree with a thump and threatened her. "Don't scream! If you save me, I'll grant you one wish. Otherwise..."

Dai Yuezai cut him off. "I want to marry the most powerful person in the world."

The man: "..."

While he was silent, she took the opportunity to offer him a little warmth, too.

Dai Yuezai never considered who the man might be. Then, on the day she came of age, something no one expected happened: the ruler of a neighboring kingdom sent a lavish bridal procession to propose, naming Dai Yuezai as his bride.

Dai Yuezai: "!!!"

But just then, the young lord became a general, the young master became chancellor, and the crown prince became emperor. All three rushed to her home.

The three men: "I, the general / I, the chancellor / I, the emperor, will marry the second daughter of the Dai family!"

Caught in the middle of this romantic battlefield, Dai Yuezai looked at the men closing in around her and fell into deep thought. "Wait, who else have I offered warmth to...?"

Notes:

1. This is a one-on-one romance from beginning to end. Everyone but the male lead has unrequited feelings.

2. The setting is fictional, with plenty of original details. Don't compare it too closely to real history.

3. The heroine isn't very clever. She has a few little schemes, but people see through them too.

4. This is a Mary Sue, naive heroine, romantic-rivalry story, and it's just sweet romance.

5. A reverse harem. I like writing men who do both good and bad things for the heroine, all because they have her best interests at heart.

6. The male lead is Song Weilan. From the start, the heroine has amnesia and has forgotten him, and she gets engaged to someone else. She remembers him later.

Coming Soon: "A Woman Disguised as a Man: The Poor Scholar Who Became Chief Minister"

After Zhou Zhining died of illness, she became the eldest son of the Zhou family's second branch.

The second branch of the family had fallen on hard times. Her father was useless, her mother timid, and she had three older sisters waiting to be married.

Zhou Zhining sighed, put on her secret identity as a man, and resolutely set out on the path of becoming an official through the imperial examinations.

If she could study all the way to a doctorate in her previous life, surely becoming chief minister in this one wasn't too much to ask?

*

Zhou Zhining kept moving steadfastly toward her goal. From the county and provincial exams to the metropolitan exam and palace examination, she was like a piece of jade polished until it shone with a brilliance all her own.

But along the way, people reached out to her, begging her to look their way just once.

Heir to a marquis's estate: "A Ning, will you let me stay by your side?"

Young leader of a foreign tribe: "Big Sister, don't leave me behind!"

Crown prince: "Whatever you want, I can give you."

Zhou Zhining pressed her pale lips together. "Your servant's heart is set on the realm..."

*

Amid a devastating flood, she was covered in mud as she risked her life to save people.

As the earth shook and mountains trembled, she knelt to help a woman give birth.

In golden fields of wheat, the people knelt before her in gratitude.

From a low-ranking local official in an outlying post to fifth, fourth, and third rank, and finally to the chief minister of the Great Ming.

Zhou Zhining's name was destined to leave a bold mark on the history books.

A career-focused heroine uses modern knowledge to benefit the people of the past. Her appeal comes entirely from her own character. Faced with injustice, she keeps her head down to survive; once powerful, she hits back without hesitation.

A feel-good power fantasy, pure and simple.

Notes:

1. Another familiar romantic-rivalry story. The heroine is adored by all, but it's one-on-one from beginning to end. Everyone besides the male lead has unrequited feelings.

2. The male lead is Zhao Huaihui. The heroine will not give up her career, retire to the mountains, and marry him. He will protect her identity, and the two of them will work together in court to benefit the people.

3. The heroine is focused on her career.

4. Blurb written at 8 p.m. on March 14, 2023.

Theme: Love requires the collision of souls and mutual understanding