“That young man from the Xie family looks agreeable. Is he betrothed?”
At the matchmaking meeting, Jiang Xun passed over the peach-blossom beauty Xie Youtao and took a liking to the shabby, dazed Xie You'an instead.
*
In his previous life, Jiang Xun repeatedly failed the imperial exams and was deceived into marrying a disaster. Not only was he cuckolded, but his family died horribly, and his mentor’s entire household was executed.
Who could have expected that when he opened his eyes again, a handsome young man was sitting before him, blushing shyly?
Jiang Xun: “…” He’d gone back to the day of the matchmaking meeting.
He didn’t want to relive such a turbulent life a second time.
Jiang Xun was about to refuse when he heard the thoughts of another young man in the room
[...That guy across from me is so handsome, and he’s still destined to be cannon fodder? But Xie Youtao’s lover is the real protagonist. From powerful noble families to ordinary people, no one who goes against the protagonist gets a happy ending. What a shame, what a shame…]
Jiang Xun raised a brow. The protagonist? He refused to believe in fate. He’d been given another life so he could turn the tide!
Though this young man seemed to know an awful lot…
[Whoa! This guy’s got a perfect V-shaped torso and long legs. I heard guys like that are really %$& in bed… Wonder if he’s actually any good…]
Jiang Xun’s temple twitched. He forced a sunny smile and said through gritted teeth, “I’ve taken a liking to this young man. Why don’t we set a date for the betrothal gifts?”
#You’ll find out after we’re married#
*
Xie You'an transmigrated into a book, becoming the cannon-fodder younger brother of one of the protagonist’s many love interests.
His father died when he was young. At eight, he followed his mother into her second marriage. Later, after he stumbled upon his stepbrother’s affair with the protagonist, he was tormented and drowned.
After narrowly escaping death, Xie You'an planned to lie low, save some money, and leave the Xie family’s den of misery as soon as possible.
After getting engaged, Xie You'an discovered that Jiang Xun wasn’t as honest and simple-minded as the book described. Instead, he was cunning, and anyone who tried to scheme against him met a bad end.
Xie You'an thought it over, then packed his things and tried to flee in the middle of the night. If he couldn’t beat him, he could at least run, couldn’t he?
Jiang Xun blocked the village entrance, smiling. “Where are you going so late at night? I’ll go with you.”
Xie You'an: “…” If I say I’m going to the outhouse, will you believe me?
[Bonus Scene]
After placing first in the imperial examinations, Jiang Xun entered the court as a sixth-rank compiler. Before long, he was promoted to an Imperial Lecturer, with a brilliant future ahead of him. His only flaw was his dull, uninteresting husband.
Everyone waited to see his humble husband cast aside.
Until one day, after a banquet, the tipsy top scholar sat quietly to one side.
A carriage approached from afar, and a slender figure stepped out. The top scholar, who had only just seemed a little drunk, immediately broke into a smile and eagerly asked, “Why are you wearing a scarf? Are you feeling unwell?”
Xie You'an shook his head and said he was fine.
[Ugh, and all because of the awful thing you did yesterday. How am I supposed to go out without a scarf? No, when we get home, I’m throwing away that ridiculous waist chain…]
“Good husband, please don’t throw it away…”
Xie You'an: o.O?
He hadn’t… he didn’t think he’d said that out loud.
Everyone: O▽O!!
[May be revised before publication]
==Posted June 2024, screenshot saved==
Theme: Rise through the imperial examinations and fight your way to the top.
