A Secluded Life Begins With an Arranged Marriage [Farming]

【Main story complete, extras updating】 After spending several years farming for the Empress, Xia Zhen was dismissed from office when the Empress died. On the way into exile, she faked her death and escaped, disguising herself as a man as she wandered from place to place. She had planned to find a quiet place in the countryside to live in seclusion, but instead the chieftain of the Ning family strong-armed her into marrying their daughter. On their wedding night, Xia Zhen confessed to her new bride: “Actually, I'm a woman.” The bride lowered her fan and smiled. “All the better.” The Ning family had once ruled their region like kings. But after a branch of the family mistreated the Empress's relatives when she fell on hard times, the Empress took revenge, nearly wiping out the entire clan. Ning Xiu escaped that fate, but by eighteen she was already renowned for her beauty, and a cruel official over fifty had set his sights on her. With no other choice, she had to find someone easy to control and marry in a hurry. The solitary Xia Zhen caught her eye. Before the wedding, Xia Zhen: You can't make a melon sweet by force. After the wedding, Xia Zhen: This one's sweet. **Reading Guide** 1. Marriage first, love later; woman disguised as a man; System farming; king of fruits. 2. Five-year age gap. A scheming older top who plays the fool X a younger bottom who is a regional chieftain. (Mainly top-focused, but there will be role reversal. Read with caution if that's not your thing.) 3. Neither heroine is perfect. 4. Set in a fictional dynasty, with customs inspired by the early Tang. Theme: Cherish the good times and the people by your side.