I Became the Cast-Off Wife of a Harem Novel's Hero

[Complete] The story is finished, and a new one, "The Tyrant Insists I Usurp His Throne", is now open for follows. I hope you'll add it to your collections. Thank you! *bows*

Yu Man was betrothed to the boy next door when they were young. They shared many interests and got along well. Then she accidentally bumped her head and remembered that she'd been born into a harem novel aimed at male readers, as the discarded wife who would be divorced and become everyone's laughingstock.

When she awoke, she held her injured head and looked at her fiance, Pei Ji, who was brewing medicine and bringing her water. She studied him for a long time, but couldn't see any potential for him to be the male lead of a harem novel.

The System, which had unexpectedly bound itself to her: He's definitely just pretending!

Yu Man carried on as usual, though she grew increasingly demanding. One day she wanted the new jewelry from the East Market, and the next, new clothes from the West Market. Pei Ji said nothing and simply did as she asked.

The System watched in alarm. Take it easy! He might indulge you for a while, but he'll end up with women on both arms!

Yu Man thought it over and decided that made sense. She blinked lightly and told her fiance without the slightest hesitation, “I don't want you to join the army. I want to be the prime minister's wife.”

The System: ? My lady, stop pushing your luck! The male lead is supposed to become a famous general and build a harem!

After she spoke, Pei Ji gently smoothed her tousled hair and agreed. Then he paused and asked, “Has someone been saying things to you these past few days?”

The cowardly System trembled in fear.

Yu Man kept a straight face. “You've changed. You never used to ask so many questions.”

Her fiance, blamed despite doing nothing wrong, smiled helplessly. “Whatever you say.”

The System: No, just you wait and see. The male lead will fall for someone else.

*

Even after Yu Man moved into the prime minister's residence, her temper remained unchanged. She had Pei Ji running around doing her bidding, and he was still happy to oblige.

The System was almost ready to give up when it suddenly heard that Pei Ji had brought a beautiful woman back from his tour of Jiangnan.

It perked up again and frantically signaled to her. See?

Chin propped on her hand, Yu Man watched the bustling streets welcome the prime minister back to the capital, unsure whether she should run away.

As soon as she lowered her foot to the ground, Pei Ji came in from outside and knelt to carefully put on her shoes and socks. Looking at the man before her, she felt reluctant to let him go, but still said, “Pei Ji, let's divorce.”

Pei Ji's hand paused. He looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot from days of travel. Rubbing her calf, he slowly asked, “Is that so?”

Afterward, Yu Man lay sprawled like a salted fish and couldn't help complaining, “I don't think you were right about that.”

The System, which had frozen up earlier because of the restrictions on what it could say: ...I dunno. Wasn't that how it went in the original?

Fine. You two are stuck together for good.

Coming soon: "Isn't My Mother Hated by Everyone?" Please add it to your collection!

Qin Shiwei was born into ancient times and opened her eyes to find herself a fatherless child. Her mother was famous for miles around, wielding a butcher's knife and going wherever she pleased, with no one daring to cross her.

Yet this tough mother loved reminiscing about the old days. She always claimed she'd been a celebrated beauty in the capital, making noble young men fight over her, repeatedly winning the flower-viewing banquets, and even “coming this close to becoming empress.”

Qin Shiwei's eyes lit up. A hidden powerhouse! She hurried to ask, “So am I the real daughter of some high-ranking official?”

Her mother shot her a casual glance. “Not at all. Your father... was a subordinate of my husband. He's been dead for eighteen years. His body is probably in a mass grave. If you go to the capital, you can stop by and offer incense, to show your filial piety.”

Qin Shiwei: ? Did I hear that right?

She refused to give up and asked again, “Then why were you sent to this manor?” The capital was thousands of miles away. What could she have done to make them hate her so much?

Her mother smiled. “I got tired of the capital. And after you were born, your maternal grandfather's family sent me here. Mostly because your aunt thought I was annoying and called me a troublemaker.”

“Oh, right. My husband was originally engaged to her.”

Qin Shiwei: “...I need a moment.”

Got it. Her mother was exactly the sort of woman from a story who steals her younger sister's fiance, turns the capital upside down, cheats on her husband, and eventually gets banished to a manor: the woman everyone hates.

But her mother truly loved her. Whatever Qin Shiwei did, her mother would watch with a smile from her chair, as if she were the only treasure in the world.

So, before her mother died of a serious illness, she told her, “Go to the capital.”

Qin Shiwei nodded without hesitation, then privately worried she didn't have what it took to avenge her.

Her mother leisurely added, “I just remembered, I think I arranged a marriage for you before I left the capital...”

After burying her mother, Qin Shiwei packed a small bundle and the jade pendant that would prove her identity, then set out for the capital, ready to face the tragic fate of being the daughter of a woman everyone hated.

First stop: offer incense at the mass grave.

Male lead's point of view:

Zhang Yingshu first heard the name “Qin Shiwei” from a close friend, who said she was a distant country relative with no real connection to him, coming to the capital to seek his help.

He paid it no mind at the time.

Only later did he happen to discover that his friend had lied. She wasn't some distant relative. She was his friend's legitimate fiancee.

By then, however, there was no way to turn things around.

He looked at Qin Shiwei before him, tears falling one after another as she pretended to faint, and felt a slight headache coming on.

He had never been able to bear seeing a woman cry, and in this matter, his friend was indeed in the wrong.

For once, he reached out and awkwardly patted her back in consolation.

“Stop crying,” he said in a low voice. “I'll do it.”

The woman in his arms raised her tearful eyes and asked with a sob, “...Do what?”

Looking into her shimmering eyes, he calmly replied:

“Marry you.”

Reading guide:

1. Both leads are each other's only partner, from first love to old age.

2. There's a reason for the “beauty” mentioned in the blurb.

Blurb written May 18, 2025

Theme: Believe in the people around you who love you