Li Xuanxuan, a PhD in genetic breeding, transmigrates into the prosperous Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, becoming a princess named "Xuan" in Li Longji's palace.
Before she can even get her shoes on, disaster strikes.
To pray for the recently deceased Consort Wu Hui, Li Xuanxuan is sent to a royal Taoist temple. Her first day as a Taoist is spent doing farm work in the garden.
Back to her old line of work, Li Xuanxuan quickly finishes her share of the chores, only for a little kid to grab her leg. "Fairy sister, please help me."
Li Xuanxuan looks at his tiny, underdeveloped body and the farming tool behind him that's taller than he is, and sighs. Fine, she'll help. What else can she do?
The little kid sticks close behind her, his exposed little legs covered in dirt, looking soft, cute, and pitiful.
He carefully introduces himself: "I was the third son of the Eastern Palace. I don't know what I did wrong, but my father sent me to a Taoist temple as punishment."
Li Xuanxuan is stunned. Isn't this the "Prince Jianning," her little nephew, the young hero who helped Emperor Suzong take the throne, only to be put to death by his own father?
With a ding, a farming System comes online. Raising the approval of the characters designated by the System will unlock premium seeds and advanced farming tools in its space.
Li Xuanxuan looks excitedly at the little boy. Isn't this a godsend?
"Don't be afraid. Your aunt will raise you!"
--
Three months later, Li Xuanxuan watches her first target, Miss Yuhuan, with an approval progress bar at 100%, get taken into the imperial palace by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.
Li Xuanxuan pokes her System. "What happened to those premium seeds you promised?"
The System rubs its hands (not really): [Sorry, Host. I haven't fully developed yet. The seeds are still locked, and I only unlocked silver.]
Li Xuanxuan glances at the endless pile of silver on the System's screen, then at her little nephew Li Tan, whom she's raised to be chubby and healthy...
"Well, silver isn't bad, either."
The underdeveloped System says: [Keep raising the approval of the designated characters, Host, and you can cash out the silver.]
Li Xuanxuan taps the screen and sees the designated characters:
The poetry immortal Li Bai, drinking to invite the moon and entertaining his own shadow, alone in his self-admiration.
Guo Ziyi, in his twenties, still a sixth-rank military officer, living in poverty.
The poetry sage Du Fu, dejected after just failing the imperial examinations.
Zhang Jiuling, the last great chancellor of the Kaiyuan era, full of ambition but banished to Lingnan.
Li Xuanxuan watches her nephew return victorious, now taller than she is, then looks at the mountain of silver in her home. Excitedly, she pats the System. "Who else do I have to win over? I want to bring the Tang Dynasty's golden age back to even greater glory!"
Theme: Grow through adversity and never give up.
