The Lord and the Chancellor

Qu Wan grew up with her teacher and studied medicine. By the age of ten, she knew a thousand medicinal properties.

All she ever wanted was to heal the sick and save lives, and spend her life in peace.

But everything was ruined by a woman from the palace.

She said her name was Jiang Chen: Jiang as in ginger, Chen as in dust.

Qu Wan smiled.

Ginger is pungent and slightly warm in nature. Those with internal heat or yin deficiency should use it with caution.

But the woman's eyes were too sharp, too striking.

That night, in the rainy dusk, Qu Wan gave in to the desire sprouting within her and kissed her softly.

The next morning, the woman had vanished without a trace.

No word from her at all.

.

Jiang Chen once had a brief affair in Jiangnan, where she was saved by a beautiful woman.

The woman's waist and belly were pale and slender, and on her chest... was a tiny black mole.

When she couldn't hold back, she liked to bite her lip and cry softly.

Afterward, the woman denied everything, saying they would never meet again.

"That's exactly what I want."

Jiang Chen crushed her tears with her lips and chuckled. She wanted the same thing.

Jiang Chen always thought of her as a dream.

Until that woman gave up being a doctor and entered the palace.

And became a top scholar celebrated in every street and alley.

The sun shone brightly that day, and clouds drifted overhead.

The woman stood tall in the middle of the resplendent hall, her expression cool. The flower pinned by her ear was even redder than the color on her lips.

As Jiang Chen watched her, she suddenly felt a pang of regret.

.

Her teacher died in a struggle between officials, crushed into dust beneath the hooves of the powerful families.

Qu Wan entered the palace to seek revenge.

The day she entered, her eyes were calm, concealing a heart full of hatred with great care.

Until...

"Raise your head."

A familiar voice rang in her ear.

In the hall, she stared in disbelief at the woman in luxurious robes, her black hair crowned with a silver ornament, her very presence steeped in power.

Jiang Chen smiled at the emperor, her bright eyes half-lidded.

"Imperial Mother, the top scholar is not only learned, but handsome, too."

Watching her casually exchange pleasantries with the emperor, Qu Wan finally understood.

So Chen was not Dust.

The unspeakable secret from three years ago was none other than the second princess, known throughout the court and the streets as a power-hungry tyrant with a terrible reputation. At the age of three, she'd been given the name Chen after an immortal priest declared, "She will be the crown prince."

Jiang Chen.

.

What do I seek in this life?

Only this: my heart is not a stone, so it cannot be moved.

Gentle and resilient & ambitious

Early story: A cool-headed official bent on revenge & an ambitious princess who can turn the world upside down

Later story: A doctor who travels far and wide to heal the sick and save lives & the new emperor

Note: 1. Long novel, shou POV, older gong, both are virgins. The emperor is old and incompetent; most of the women fighting for power are "villains."

2. Romance and plot are in a 4:6 ratio.

3. Not a sweet romance. Bittersweet, with one side couple.

4. The two leads use each other, and neither is a "good" person. Set in a turbulent era, so don't hold them to high moral standards.

5. Alternate history, many original details, melodramatic. Don't read if that's not your thing.

Theme: Save yourself first