The Princess Bride Grows Crops on the Grasslands

Blurb:

What do you do when you become the male favorite the Empress Dowager picked out for herself? The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are bitter enemies, and the previous male favorite, who entered the palace disguised as a eunuch, was torn apart by five horses. Help, I need an answer fast!

Shen Yuzhang, the next male favorite, who entered the palace disguised as a maid, figures that with no power or connections, he might as well give up on life... No, marry off to another country.

In the sixteenth year of Yongping, the Chuili Chanyu comes to court and asks to marry a princess. Emperor Yongping gladly agrees, deciding to adopt a palace maid as his daughter and give her to the Chanyu.

On the day of selection, Shen Yuzhang slips into the candidates' ranks and is chosen at first sight by the Chuili Chanyu.

The Chuili Chanyu, in his fifties, looks delighted. "If I get to choose, I'm picking the prettiest one!"

And so Shen Yuzhang leaves the capital by carriage, traveling thousands of miles to the grasslands, where he struggles to survive. Fortunately, Heaven has given him a pretty good golden finger.

Shen Yuzhang looks at the sheep in the pen, refusing to eat or drink. "Little sheep, are you sick?"

The little sheep gives him a scornful look. "What are you talking about? I'm looking for a wife!"

The ox teaches him to farm, the goshawk helps him sense changes in the weather, the green-winged duck brings seeds from overseas, the grassland wolves guard his flock, the marmots help him search for ore, and the spider helps keep his secret identity as a woman safe.

With the help of his animal friends, Shen Yuzhang farms, weaves, raises horses and sheep, and works to open up trade. Life on the harsh grasslands is transformed beyond recognition.

Life keeps getting better, until the old Chanyu suddenly dies.

After three seconds of rejoicing, Shen Yuzhang realizes in horror that according to the customs of sons inheriting from fathers and younger brothers inheriting from older brothers, he has to marry the new Chanyu.

Shen Yuzhang cries out in terror: "I only want to be a wealthy, high-status widow!"

With no other choice, he urges the young slave he has taken in: "I'll give you supplies. Go seize the position of Chanyu." That way, he can keep their marriage in name only.

Who would have thought that the once obedient little slave would secure the position of Chanyu, instantly turn into a big wolf dog, and pin him down on the bed with shining eyes?

Shen Yuzhang, who has raised a wolf only to have it turn on him: !!!

1. Younger slave gong, a puppy on the surface but a wolfdog underneath, X older princess shou, a cross-dressing expert with no ambition

2. The shou is eight years older than the gong. Their romance begins when the gong is an adult and after the Chuili Chanyu dies.

3. Also known as "Shen Yuzhang and His Animal Friends" and "A Guide to Managing the Grasslands." A slice-of-life farming story focused mainly on life on the grasslands.

Theme: Live earnestly, and life will be beautiful.