Coming soon: A Taste of the Capital, a food-themed story. Cheerful cook x aloof, picky Commander. Please add it to your collection!
A legitimate daughter has it rough, so cherish what you have
After transmigrating, Zhou Ziyue became the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites. That night, she dreamed of the tragedy awaiting her family after she turned sixteen.
Her eldest sister would leap off a cliff after being betrayed by her lover. Her second sister would be betrayed and die of depression. Her brother would suffer a mental breakdown and hang himself. And she herself would be poisoned. She was fourteen now.
A faithless prince, a nobleman who preferred men, a broken sister, a brother on the verge of collapse...
To survive, she resolved to change her family's fate.
In the two years she spent studying under a master and changing her family's destiny, Zhou Ziyue used what she had learned to avert one crisis after another.
*
To her eldest sister, Zhou Ziyue said, "I've blended a perfume for you. It has a calming, sleep-inducing effect. Light it at night, and you'll sleep more soundly."
The Prince of Ding's already-scarce chance of having an heir took another hit.
To her elder brother, Zhou Ziyue knocked over one of his little group, pressed a dagger to his slender neck, and asked with a smile, "I hear you can't stand Zhou Ziyu, is that right?"
Still reeling from the joy of being invited to meet a young lady and the sudden pain that followed, the man nodded in a daze, then shook his head in terror.
When her second sister saw her prospective match behaving intimately with another man at a teahouse and turned pale, Zhou Ziyue leaned close to her ear and said, "His character is poor, Sister. I don't think he's the one."
*
Her handsome, dashing cousin said, "If you say the word, Cousin, I'd even go and steal you away from your wedding!"
The domineering prince said, "Ever since I met you, I haven't cared about anyone else. I only want you to be my princess consort!"
The cool, chaste heir said, "As long as you're here, I'm happy."
Zhou Ziyue: "..."
*
After the Imperial Academy competition ended, the emperor looked fondly at the two students. Zhou Ziyue had taken first place, and Qi Yu had come second.
One was a graceful young lady, the other a handsome young man.
Recalling his beloved consort's sweet words, the emperor decided to play matchmaker and granted them an imperial marriage decree on the spot.
Zhou Ziyue: "!" The word "no" reached her lips, but she forced it back down.
Qi Yu: "..."
Under the astonished gazes of everyone around them, the two accepted the decree.
*
The late emperor passed away, and a new emperor ascended the throne.
The young crown prince asked, "Grand Tutor, are you really going to marry Scholar Qi?"
Holding a bowl of osmanthus rice balls, Zhou Ziyue replied, "It was your imperial grandfather's decree, Your Highness. Of course I have to marry him."
In her heart: Do I dare not to?
The crown prince added, "I can ask Father for an imperial decree letting you divorce him. If he treats you badly, divorce him and come live in the palace."
Zhou Ziyue: "..."
A few days later, the new emperor gazed at his son and his tutor, torn between laughter and tears.
Zhou Ziyue explained helplessly, "Um... this really wasn't my idea."
The new emperor said, "Fine, I'll grant it to you."
The Hanlin Academy.
Zhou Ziyu whispered a few words in Qi Yu's ear.
Holding a book, Qi Yu asked, "Really?"
Zhou Ziyu nodded. He hadn't expected his sister to obtain an imperial decree allowing her to divorce her husband before she was even married.
Qi Yu coughed softly.
I absolutely cannot let there ever be a day when that decree comes in handy!
*
Note: The heroine isn't perfect. At first, she's too busy saving her family to have time for romance, and mostly uses people to achieve her goals.
Theme: What happens depends on what people do; human determination can overcome fate
