After the Reluctant Slacker Was Forced into a High-Status Marriage

In her previous life, Shen Ningyuan was in a car accident while saving someone. In a single moment, she transmigrated and became the legitimate daughter of a family with five generations of officials in Great Chen. She was frail and sickly from birth, needing medicine three hundred and sixty days a year. Looking at the immense wealth before her and the parents who kept watch by her window every night, Shen Ningyuan thought, Fine. Since I'm here, I might as well make use of it. She stumbled her way through life until she was seventeen, when she was betrothed to Prince Beisu, who had just returned from pacifying the borderlands. Prince Beisu, Xiao Pingzheng, was the legendary cold-faced god of slaughter, the demon in bedtime stories that countless mothers told their children. He recognized no family ties and loved killing. Everyone thought Shen Ningyuan was doomed. On their wedding night, Xiao Pingzheng entered the bridal chamber, intending to put his new wife in her place. He had just opened his mouth and uttered a single word when a violent fit of coughing came from beneath her veil: "Cough, cough, cough!!! Medicine, medicine! If I don't get my medicine, I'm going to die!" The maid waiting outside rushed into the room like a gust of wind. She prepared the medicine, poured water, and fed Shen Ningyuan honey, all in one smooth motion. "..." To test whether Shen Ningyuan was a spy, Xiao Pingzheng planned to give her a shove and see how she reacted. Before he could push her, Shen Ningyuan tripped over a dead branch on the road and fell right onto a stone. Blood immediately welled from her knee, while the maid beside her wailed as if her young lady had been stabbed several times. Later, Xiao Pingzheng brought Shen Ningyuan back to the Shen family. Amid a chorus of calls, he stepped down from the carriage, paused, then turned back and offered an arm to the woman leaning out of the carriage door. "Careful, please." Before they married, Xiao Pingzheng thought: I want to see which reckless fool dares marry me! Later: If she dies, how am I supposed to explain to the Emperor that I didn't do it? Later still: Stay alive. I want you to stay alive! Important: The male and female leads will not have children. Happy ending! Check out my completed novel, A Layabout's Life as a Stepmother in Ancient Times. 1. Shen Lantan was born into this world and lived for nineteen years before marrying Xie Jin, the son of a distinguished family, as his second wife. She also got a chubby, adorable stepson as a bonus. After marriage, Shen Lantan was virtuous and gentle, respectful and courteous to elders, kind to children, and full of love for life. In plain language, this meant: Eat and drink as she pleased, never take the bait when she shouldn't, and never interfere in what wasn't her business. She never achieved anything great, but no one could find fault with her. Then one day: Her second aunt came to discuss the betrothal of the family's younger daughter with her mother-in-law. Shen Lantan: "The man who's supposed to marry Fourth Miss already has a concubine, and he hangs around brothels and behaves like a libertine. That won't do. I'll think of a way to stop this engagement." Second Aunt and Mother-in-law: !!! "Third Brother will ruin the Xie family's reputation if he keeps hanging around with his good-for-nothing friends. Someone ought to throw a sack over his head and give him a good, physical talking-to." The next day, the strong and healthy Third Brother broke his leg after stepping out with his left foot first. Shen Lantan: "..." Shen Lantan thought that, at best, she was a six-out-of-ten daughter-in-law to the Xie family, just barely passing. She never expected her mother-in-law to clasp her hands tightly and say with deep feeling: "Lantan, three generations of our Xie family have done good deeds to earn a daughter-in-law as wonderful as you!" Shen Lantan (leaning back defensively): Are you overdoing it a little? 2. Xie Jin knew that only matters Shen Lantan truly cared about could make her inner thoughts slip out. One day, because of an oath made by his ancestors, he had no choice but to bring the daughter of an old acquaintance into the residence. Though he had housed her in a separate courtyard, he still felt uneasy. When he saw Shen Lantan approaching, his heart tightened, but his eyes held a glimmer of hope. Shen Lantan walked past without even looking his way, her heartbeat steady, calm as an old dog. Xie Jin: "..." Message: Everyone must love themselves well in order to receive love from others