Consort Nian Is Taking It Easy (Qing Dynasty)

Nian Hua stumbled into the Kangxi era. She had two older brothers, known as "Elder Nian" and "Second Nian."

With a vague sense that her family was quite wealthy, Nian Hua settled in to coast through life. Her daily antics made her parents and brothers shake their heads.

As time passed, her brothers became increasingly outstanding. Her second brother in particular made a name for himself: Nian Gengyao.

Nian Hua felt her vision go dark. Judging by the timeline, she would eventually have a younger sister who would enjoy boundless fame and be mentioned repeatedly in later films and TV dramas. As for Nian Hua, she would probably lose her life along with the Nian family's tragic downfall.

Once she'd thought it through, Nian Hua sprawled out even more. Since this life experience came with an expiration date, wouldn't she be letting down her lifelong office-worker self if she didn't enjoy it to the very end?

She set up her reclining chair and fruit platter, and the eldest daughter of the Nian household became more and more shameless by the day.

Just as the family was at their wits' end with Nian Hua, the emperor casually pointed at her, and she was carried into the Fourth Prince's residence in a small sedan chair.

Nian Hua, rarely flustered, squeezed the boiled peanuts in her hand until their juices burst out: "This doesn't match the timeline! Why me?!"

The entire Nian family nearly died of fright. They'd sent such a handful into the imperial household. They were doomed.

One month later, at the Fourth Prince's residence.

Yinzhen watched Nian Hua dozing beneath a tree in the shade, then thought of the mountain of assignments and ancient books waiting in his study. He was so jealous his teeth ached.

Even so, the cold and aloof Fourth Prince didn't forget to put a blanket over the lazy good-for-nothing before leaving.

Blurb archived: 2023.09.26

Reader notes:

1. The broad strokes of history remain unchanged, but the plot is original. Please treat it as a parallel timeline.

2. Slice of life, slow burn, food and drink.

A preview of my upcoming story: The Jilted Original Wife Perfects the Heartless Path

[Third-person narration]

That day, snow blanketed Fuyu Mountain, and Yan Tingyun, covered in wounds, knocked on my door.

After three years together, we became husband and wife, living in harmony with the sun and moon as our witnesses.

Until one day, my husband, who had been so passionately in love with me, suddenly donned his immortal robes and said coldly, "Our backgrounds are too different. This was a doomed relationship from the start, so... let's end it here."

I froze in place, still holding the plum blossom wine he loved most.

Only then did I learn that my husband was the chief disciple of Liushuang Sect, that he cultivated the Heartless Path, and that he bore the responsibility of protecting all living beings in the three realms. So our relationship really was doomed.

When my master heard the news, he rushed back with my senior brothers and sisters in a great throng, intent on demanding an explanation on my behalf. But I stopped them.

I told my master I wanted to cultivate the Heartless Path.

With the Heavenly Dao as my witness, whether with or without a heart, what Yan Tingyun couldn't figure out, I would.

/

As the chief disciple of Liushuang Sect, Yan Tingyun had an exceptional spiritual root and extraordinary talent. He chose the Heartless Path early on, and was on the verge of ascending to become the greatest sword cultivator in the world.

Perhaps the Heavenly Dao thought things were going too smoothly for him and wanted to add some twists to his path to immortality. This treasured disciple of the sect fell into a formation while fighting demons in the Myriad Demon Cave, and all trace of him vanished.

When he woke, he had lost all his memories. Following his heart, he married a woman named Qingwu. Though she was mortal, she was the most beautiful and wonderful woman he'd ever met.

It was only when a paper crane bearing a message from his sect arrived that Yan Tingyun remembered what he had forgotten.

He had already entered the Heartless Path, and nothing between him and Qingwu could last. Once he attained the Great Dao, he would leave everything behind and come find her.

But just as his Dao heart shattered and he prepared to abandon his path and start anew, the immortal sects were thrown into an uproar: a female cultivator had entered the Heartless Path and ascended to great attainment.

The immortal maiden's name was Ji Qingwu.

Theme: Life is precious. Love life.