After My Brooding Childhood Friend Married Me as a Concubine

#A stunning concubine top who will do anything for love x an innocent, naive young master spoiled rotten

#The second male lead takes the crown, childhood sweethearts triumph over love at first sight

Lu Xiaoyue was born into a distinguished family. He was a little slower than other people from birth, and grew up gentle, kindhearted, and easy to fool.

Before his parents died, they couldn't bear to leave him alone, so they specifically asked the Emperor to find him a husband.

The imperial examination results had just been announced. With a grand wave of his hand, the Emperor betrothed Lu Xiaoyue to the top-ranked scholar. Afraid Lu Xiaoyue might be bullied, he decreed that Lu Xiaoyue would be the husband and the scholar the wife.

The top-ranked scholar had once been full of ambition. But after becoming a wife overnight, his official career came to an end. He detested the foolish, childish Lu Xiaoyue and was often dismissive and difficult with him. Yet little by little, he grew used to Lu Xiaoyue's soft-spoken coaxing, to dressing and grooming him, to reading stories aloud and teaching him characters, and to the faint scent of gardenias on Lu Xiaoyue.

Until Lu Xiaoyue suddenly brought home a disabled concubine. Only then did he realize that Lu Xiaoyue held hands when he coaxed people, wrapped his arms around their necks and asked for a kiss when they helped him get dressed, and had his hand held while learning to write. Even that gardenia fragrance came from a scented sachet the concubine had made for him!

*

Li Jingxue grew up with Lu Xiaoyue. He had planned to earn honors on the battlefield and then return to formally ask the Lu family for Lu Xiaoyue's hand. Instead, when he came back, he witnessed Lu Xiaoyue's wedding with his own eyes.

His teeth ground with jealousy. He faked an injury and played the victim, and Lu Xiaoyue softened and brought him back to the estate.

But his ambitions went far beyond that.

Author's note:

The protagonist and the top-ranked scholar are not actually married.

Theme: Stay positive and keep striving