Transmigrated as the Exiled Villain's Wife Who Dies Young

[Blurb]

After the great architect Lu Yunguo dies suddenly, she is reborn as a cannon-fodder supporting female character with the same name in an old-school revenge novel: the male lead's infamous, wicked, short-lived wife, married in name only.

The original Lu Yunguo was the adopted daughter of the Minister of Works. Her adoptive family kept her in the dark and made her take her legitimate younger sister's place, marrying her off to Xue Jianshan, the son of a disgraced official stripped of his title and sent into exile.

The original couldn't endure a life of hardship. She stole what little the Xue family had left and set off to seek refuge with her childhood sweetheart. But someone robbed her and shoved her into a river, where she drowned.

This was when Lu Yunguo arrived. ... Let's just burn it all down.

According to the original story, before long, the male lead's few remaining relatives would all die. He would turn dark, becoming ruthless and vindictive, and eventually take his revenge, ascend the throne, and become a short-lived emperor remembered throughout history.

Faced with a thatched hut full of drafts, two scrawny, gap-toothed children, a gravely ill mother-in-law, and the male lead, who was about to kick the bucket from a deadly poison while doing forced labor, Lu Yunguo walked into the kitchen and picked up a chipped cleaver.

The Princess Consort of Dingwang shielded the two scrawny children behind her and said meekly, "Yunniang, please don't fret. Once we sell the pheasant and hare tomorrow, we'll have money."

The girl held out a boiled egg crushed in her fist and said softly, "You can have the bird's egg, Auntie. Please don't be angry."

Lu Yunguo: "..." She just wanted to build a thatched hut fit to live in!

*

Xue Jianshan, once the heir to the title of Dingwang, had been the most spirited young man in all of Great Zhou. Now, the son of a disgraced official was dying from a deadly poison.

And he'd been saddled with a counterfeit wife, beautiful but wicked to the core.

In his previous life, Xue Jianshan slaughtered his enemies, wiped out the Li and Zhou royal houses, and claimed the throne.

Though he governed with relentless diligence, he lived a life of celibacy and solitude.

Before he turned thirty-five, his strength was spent, and he died in the prime of his life.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back at twenty, lying flat on a broken bamboo bed and waiting to die because he was beyond saving.

He had just gotten up when he saw the counterfeit wife who had run off with the family's money return, a cleaver in her hand.

Xue Jianshan: "...???"

*

At first, he thought it was just an absurd political marriage and promised she could have her freedom whenever she wanted.

Later, when Lu Yunguo brought out a divorce agreement and asked him to sign, his eyes reddened. He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her.

[Little Scene]

To stay alive, Lu Yunguo treated Xue Jianshan like her creditor, diligently racking up favor points with him every day to pay off her debt.

First day of repayment: Xue Jianshan broke his leg. Let's make him a pair of crutches. [Debt -1]

Second day: The scrawny kids need their hair washed. Let's give them a nice, hot bath. [-1]

Third day: Her mother-in-law's eyesight is failing. Let her try some acupressure to ease the problem. [-1]

Everyone said Lu Yunguo must be madly in love with Xue Jianshan.

Xue Jianshan seemed as cool and distant as ever, but thought that as long as she behaved herself, he could put up with her.

On the hundredth day, Lu Yunguo brought out the bamboo tally she'd been keeping and confidently went to say goodbye to Xue Jianshan.

"Darling," Lu Yunguo said with a bright smile, her hands behind her back. "I've paid back all the money I owed your family, as well as the favor I owed for marrying into your family in my sister's place. Please sign here to confirm. Also, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like you to write me a divorce agreement. Ideally, with your signature and seal. Thank you."

Xue Jianshan: "...???"

A stunning, clever, sweet heroine × a rugged hero with peerless combat skills and a wild streak

Reader Advisory:

1. One-on-one romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, happy ending. Marriage before love, the hero falls first. Prepare for him to fall hard.

2. Height and build difference warning.

Blurb written April 6, 2023, revised July 8. Screenshots saved as proof.

Theme: A twist of fate brings together a perfect match.