Living in Harmony with My Childhood Friend, the Chief Councilor

Jiang Yin's father is a third-rank commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, her mother is the only daughter of Prince Zhongshan, and her full elder sister is a Noble Consort in the palace.

Though still young, Jiang Yin already holds the fourth-rank position of Head of the Imperial Kitchen's Shangshi Bureau.

The only hardship she will ever face in this life is taking medicine when she's sick.

But when it came time for her to marry, Jiang Yin met the first obstacle she couldn't overcome. The man she loved rejected her, and then the emperor decreed that she marry Gu Ze, this year's top graduate in the palace examinations.

Who is Gu Ze? Her childhood sweetheart, whom she knows better than anyone.

Besides, Gu Ze doesn't like delicate, sheltered noblewomen like her. He likes his cousin, who comes from a military family.

And she doesn't like Gu Ze either. She likes his older brother. For his sake, she has spent years pretending to be a dignified, gentle, refined young lady from a good family.

Jiang Yin could have cried. Wasn't her imperial brother-in-law just arbitrarily arranging marriages?

-

Gu Ze comes from a distinguished family. He is graceful and handsome, with a noble, cultured air.

But when it came time to discuss marriage, Gu Ze saw his childhood sweetheart, Jiang Yin, rejected to her face by his older brother. His brother immediately went to ask for the hand of their cousin from a military family, while poor Jiang Yin was mocked and ridiculed behind her back by the noblewomen of the capital.

So Gu Ze secretly went to the emperor and asked for an imperial marriage decree, rescuing Jiang Yin from her predicament.

His new wife avoids him every day.

Gu Ze can't make sense of Jiang Yin's thoughts. They're so familiar with each other, so why is she still so shy?

Until one day, Gu Ze learned the reason.

"You said you hated delicate little flowers like me, the sort who look so weak and easy to bully," Jiang Yin reminded him.

"But you aren't some frail, delicate young lady. You've got strength and cleverness to spare." Gu Ze suppressed the grin tugging at his lips and saw right through her act: a demure, coquettish lady in public, but strong enough to lift a cauldron in private.

Jiang Yin's cheeks turned red as she caught on. "You're so annoying!" She flirted with him like an ordinary young lady, lightly punched him in the chest, then lifted her skirts and ran off.

Gu Ze was left coughing blood in the wind.

Thank goodness he was sturdy, or he might not have survived a blow from a woman with the strength of nine oxen and two tigers.

-

Jiang Yin hadn't expected that the first obstacle in her life wouldn't be an obstacle at all.

When did Meng Guang start serving Liang Hong at their table?

When? Jiang Yin didn't know.

Somehow, she and Gu Ze simply ended up living together in harmony until their hair turned white.

[Reading Guide]

Set in an alternate Ming Dynasty. One-on-one romance, both leads' first relationship, happy ending.

The heroine's superhuman strength is not a fantasy element.

Theme: Love with warmth.