The First-Rank Maid

Gu Qingyuan is an inconspicuous illegitimate daughter in the Minister’s residence. Her father favors her not, and her legal mother bullies her. Even her own mother says illegitimate daughters are born lowly, and expects her to work like an ox and a horse for her legitimate sister and mother.

In her previous life, the Gu family fell into ruin, and the women of the household were reduced to slave status.

Out of pity for her frail legitimate sister, Gu Qingyuan did her work and ran errands for her. Meanwhile, her sister won a position as the heir apparent’s secondary consort by pretending to be uncompetitive and aloof as a chrysanthemum. Then she turned around and called Gu Qingyuan vile, even having the heir apparent’s principal consort chop off both her hands.

Reborn, Gu Qingyuan lives for herself alone. Without her schemes, her sister’s selfish and spiteful nature is laid bare, and the heir apparent casts her aside in disgust.

Gu Qingyuan, meanwhile, rises steadily from an illegitimate daughter everyone can bully to a first-rank princess personally ennobled by the emperor. Along the way, she even wins the impossibly handsome Prince Jing’an.

Her cold-blooded family members fall to their knees and fawn over her. Gu Qingyuan looks up and says, “What filthy things are these? Get out of my sight, before you offend this princess.”

People outside say, “That illegitimate Gu girl is scheming and overly ambitious, and she has the face of a femme fatale. She’s not fit to be a wife.”

But Prince Jing’an says, “My princess is beautiful and kind. Having her is my good fortune.”

Everyone says Prince Jing’an has fallen for the illegitimate girl’s beauty trap, and even Gu Qingyuan thinks so.

Only Prince Jing’an knows that she thinks her own wiles won him over, never realizing that from beginning to end, he has been willing, eager to turn his heart toward her...