I Gnawed on the Princess to Keep Myself Alive

* Entirely fictional setting. Women may hold office, and same-sex couples may marry.

* Romance is the main focus, with the plot as a secondary focus.

Qin Xiao'er is a county magistrate in Shangjin, devoted to her duties and good at keeping the people content.

Sadly, talent invites the envy of heaven. The year she was supposed to be promoted, at eighteen, she nearly died.

One day, she discovers that she can see how much time she has left to live. She is also told that one person can extend her lifespan: whether she listens to this person speak, smells their scent, or gets a hug, a kiss, or a lift into the air, it will all extend her life, though by different amounts.

With only fifteen minutes left to live, Qin Xiao'er runs into this person. So, for the first time, she abuses her official power, has them brought over, and hugs them.

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Princess Cen Qing has always been decisive and formidable, with exceptional skill. She never expected to be captured by a minor county magistrate while traveling incognito.

The little magistrate is frail and sickly, unable even to stand steadily, and clings to her day and night.

Later, she takes the little magistrate from Shangjin to Chang'an, then from Chang'an into the princess's residence.

Qin Xiao'er: Nobody told me this delicate, soft-bodied, debauched merchant was the princess!!!

With enough crimes to get her executed ten times over, Qin Xiao'er can only cry, work out, and make money to help her wife fight her way through trouble and pay off the debt.

Qin Xiao'er, who used to be so enthusiastic about catching corrupt officials, never thought she'd become a merchant colluding with the authorities herself!

Theme: When good officials and good merchants join forces, they can benefit the people.