A Young Lady and a Peasant in Troubled Times

In the sixth year of Xinan, Changjing fell, and the people were driven from their homes. Jiang Qiu'er had been raised from childhood for the sole purpose of marrying into a powerful family as a concubine. That year, by a twist of fate, she became a refugee.

After three days and nights without enough to eat, Jiang Qiu'er set her sights on Zhao Manzi, a huge, hulking man who looked like a vicious brute, with nothing but brute strength to recommend him.

“Could you take me in? I'll marry into a powerful family one day, and when I do, I'll repay you.”

Jiang Qiu'er hid her beautiful features beneath the grime and went to Zhao Manzi, who was chewing a flatbread after getting into a fight with someone.

But Zhao Manzi just sneered. “Who do you think you're fooling?”

Jiang Qiu'er was furious, but swallowed her anger and clung to the man.

“I swear to Heaven, if I, Jiang Qiu'er, am lying to you, then... then... then I'll never have enough to eat, and I'll never marry a young lord.” Though the girl was covered in filth, her words rang out with conviction.

“...”

-

Zhao Manzi had no parents. In this chaotic age, all he had to rely on was his brute strength.

He never expected that one day, a filthy little miss would come looking for him, eyeing the flatbread in his hand and asking him to protect her.

He didn't even think twice before refusing to protect a penniless girl in such a lawless time.

But the little miss clung to him like a shadow.

After a while, he reluctantly agreed to keep her safe.

They promised each other that once she won over a young lord from a powerful family and got him to marry her, she would give Zhao Manzi a large reward.

Who knew that this little miss was good for nothing but her beauty? She couldn't draw water or gather firewood, and even managed to tear clothes while washing them. She had never lifted a finger to do housework, just like a sheltered girl from a wealthy family.

He had practically brought home a little tyrant.

As time passed, Jiang Qiu'er really did manage to attach herself to some clueless young lord from a powerful clan.

And then he regretted it.

On the night Jiang Qiu'er married the young lord as his concubine, Zhao Manzi, beaten black and blue by the guards, ran to the bridal chamber and gave her every coin he had, along with half a flatbread.

“You're getting married. This is my wedding gift to you.”

Jiang Qiu'er thought she must have gone mad. Otherwise, why would she abandon a life of wealth and luxury to elope with the brute standing before her?

Unable to accept it more and more, Jiang Qiu'er climbed onto his back and joined him on the road of exile.

“I don't care. You're going to become a high-ranking official, and you'll give me a life of comfort and luxury.”

“Okay.”

Bruised and battered, Zhao Manzi carried Jiang Qiu'er over mountains and across rivers. He went from a rough brute to a local warlord, and eventually to the emperor, standing above all others.

All his life, he lived by those words:

“I'll protect my wife and make sure she has food and clothes for all eternity.”

[An ambitious little miss who dreams of a life of luxury but struggles to survive in a chaotic age x a peasant who climbs the ranks so his wife will always have something to eat]

Reading guide:

1. The leads are both ordinary people in the early chapters.

2. The blurb was screenshotted on 2024/2/1.

Here's an upcoming story. Add it to your favorites if you're interested.

What? I'm a Substitute Emperor?

Blurb:

Three years after the new emperor ascends the throne, the inner palace is still without a single consort. The Empress Dowager summons her niece from her family to keep her company.

As the eldest daughter of the Shen family, Shen Weiyu is clever and refined, a celebrated beauty of talent in Jingzhou. She excels at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is also skilled at blending fragrances. Her father is the Minister of Revenue.

Everyone knows she is the obvious choice for empress.

The day before Shen Weiyu enters the palace, she goes to burn incense and pray to Buddha. By chance, she meets the emperor, whose face resembles someone she once knew, and turns pale with shock.

After entering the palace, she keeps running into the emperor. She personally brings him soup she has cooked, plays music and chess with him, writes scriptures for him, and burns incense to pray to Buddha.

All so she can look at that face a little longer.

-

As the new emperor, Xiao Tingyin is busy with state affairs and has never given himself over to women.

That is, until he meets Shen Weiyu.

He has no particular fondness for her, except that Shen Weiyu is the Empress Dowager's niece. But she is gentle and considerate, always doing things to please him.

She even takes a sword meant for him, shielding him from an assassin.

With her life hanging by a thread, she only clutches the hem of Xiao Tingyin's robe and says bitterly, “Don't go.”

Everyone says she loves him with all her heart, and even Xiao Tingyin believes it.

Very well. I shall make her empress, let her stay by my side, and grant her unrequited love its fulfillment.

-

The truth comes to light. Rain falls for three days, and the parrot beneath the palace eaves falls silent.

In the palace's secluded halls and pavilions, Shen Weiyu trembles as she tries to escape through the window.

Behind her, Xiao Tingyin casually drags the chain back inch by inch. At some point, a scar has appeared on his handsome face, running diagonally from his right eye to his earlobe, horrifying and grotesque.

“I don't look like him anymore, so now you want to run?” he asks with a sinister smile.

“Keep dreaming.”

Reading guide:

1. Both leads are sexually inexperienced.

2. A gentle, scheming beauty x a career-driven, unhinged emperor

Theme: Even when the road ahead is uncertain, one must fight to carve out a chance to survive.