The Reborn Power Minister's Daily Rat Race

[Marriage First, Love Later] x [Irresponsible Yet Devoted]

Liu Ruwei was graceful and virtuous, beautiful and talented, and the model young lady of the capital's noble families.

But for the sake of a love affair, she ran away from home with a poor scholar and never returned.

For the sake of so-called love, she gave up everything in the capital, washing clothes and cooking for more than a decade. But once her husband had risen to power and fortune, he mercilessly cast her aside.

A powerful man never lacks for beautiful women. When Liu Ruwei died, her husband was still enjoying the company of another woman and couldn't even spare her a glance.

When Liu Ruwei opened her eyes, she found herself back on the day she had left home.

A letter from her lover arrived. Liu Ruwei read it with an impassive face, then burned it and scattered every last bit of ash.

Later, when suitors came calling and her mother asked about it, she declared that she would marry only a man of high rank and power.

No amount of doting or infatuation is real. Only power and status are something you can truly hold in your hands.

Since she chose wrong in her previous life, this time she would marry the most powerful official in the land, whoever he might be.

*

Yue Chong had secretly loved Liu Ruwei for years. The wealthy young master, who used to get a headache and fever whenever he opened a book, had finally realized the benefits of studying.

Books hold beauties within, and his mother really hadn't lied to him!

The year of the imperial examinations, Yue Chong studied with such diligence that he stayed up late and worked himself to the bone. He lost a great deal of weight and successfully won first place in the exams.

For the next few years, Yue Chong worked diligently and climbed the ranks without ever daring to relax. Even during his time off, he read through official documents.

Even the emperor advised him, "Minister Yue, don't work yourself too hard. I see all the effort you're putting in."

Yue Chong thought expressionlessly, "What good is it that you see?"

The day he successfully got engaged to Liu Ruwei, Yue Chong finally slept soundly, a smile on his face.

He wept tears of joy. "Heavens, if I can really marry Miss Liu, I'd gladly spend my whole life loving her and growing old by her side!"

*

Yue Chong's classmates, from their days at the academy to their time in government, all suffered under him.

He doubled their coursework and raised the passing score. Once they entered government service, he even took away their one day off every ten days.

Terrified by Yue Chong's sudden transformation from a spoiled playboy, they clung to his leg and wailed, "Please, stop making us work so hard!"

Yue Chong, seeing a rival and fearing he might be outdone, worked himself to the point of exhaustion: "Let go of me! I can still climb higher! Peiniang, look at me! Ahhhhh!"

Theme: A springtime for the underachiever.