Short Story
I Faked My Death to Escape My Husband
During the first year of our marriage, at my birthday banquet, a songstress appeared wearing a silk dress identical to mine.
My husband’s expression turned ice-cold. “Someone, strip that dress off her.”
He was clearly defending my honor, yet I felt not a single spark of warmth in my heart.
For I knew that he was also the man who had once spent a fortune on that very songstress and made a pact to elope with her.
I Fear Death, So I Sue My Family First
From childhood, Lin Qingcai copied case files and transcribed testimonies in her father Lin Huaizhang’s study, yet she was always kept hidden behind the Lin Family’s spotless reputation. By chance, she discovered a confession in a secret compartment that had been forged to match her handwriting, and learned that her father, elder brother, and mother were preparing to make her take the blame for the Luo Family’s old case.
She was afraid of dying, and long since afraid of being cast out by her family. So before they could speak first, she beat the drum and brought her accusation before the court, charging her father and brother with falsifying testimony and shifting the blame onto her. Using the copied case records she had secretly preserved over the years, along with witness leads and fragments from the old case, she gradually exposed the truth in the prefectural yamen: the Lin Family and Duke An’s Mansion had colluded to alter statements, take silver, and frame innocent people.
Her father was exiled, her brother was stripped of his status, and her mother finally came to see the rift her favoritism had created. Lin Qingcai left the clan and opened Qingcai Writing Service in West Lane, turning the pen she had once used to help others conceal evidence of their crimes into one that wrote the truth for the weak.
I Heard You Like Me
In the seventh year of having a crush on my childhood friend, encouraged by my best friend,
I carried flowers and a cake onto an overnight train to confess my feelings to him.
But on a basketball court roaring with noise and people,
I ran straight into the sight of the two of them kissing.
With his arm around my best friend, my childhood friend asked coldly, “What are you doing here? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Disheveled and humiliated, I was just about to explain
when his roommate beside him let out a soft laugh. “My girlfriend came to bring me a cake. What’s it got to do with you?”
I Helped My Mother-in-Law Take Down a Homewrecker
I married well.
My husband’s family was one of the most prominent in the area.
My hopelessly devoted husband did whatever I asked, and although my mother-in-law wasn’t entirely happy with me, she was an upright woman who never picked on me.
Then one day, my father-in-law’s two-faced stepsister came back from abroad and made my mother-in-law’s life a living hell.
That was when I stepped in.
I Never Loved the Prince
I accompanied His Highness through three thousand miles of exile, yet after he reclaimed his throne, he found me lowly and loathsome.
Later, when the time came to reward merit in the Golden Luan Hall, I asked only one thing of him.
His Highness assumed I would ask for a title or a place by his side.
Instead, I prostrated myself deeply and spoke softly yet firmly: “I ask that Your Highness grant your subject’s daughter a marriage to General Shen.”
His Highness’s eyes nearly split with rage as he finally understood-
Throughout those three thousand miles of exile, from beginning to end, it was never him that I loved.
I Never Loved You
My wife is the kindest person in the world to me.
I know I should cherish her, but looking at her body, which has been out of shape since she gave birth, I honestly can’t muster a spark of interest.
I ended up keeping a mistress on the side. She’s been pressuring me to get a divorce, but I refuse.
I tell her that my wife loves me too much-that she wouldn’t be able to survive without me.
I’ll stay in this marriage out of pity for her.
I Offed Every Villain and Came Out on Top
My younger sister and I are quick transmigrators who can never agree on how villains should be handled.
She believes in saving them with love.
I believe in eliminating the threat before it grows.
When identical worlds put our methods to the test, she keeps offering the villains mercy—and keeps dying for it.
I kill them first, seize every advantage, and rise to the top in world after world.
I Offered My Hand in Gratitude and Married the Right Man
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review withstood enormous pressure, uncovered the true culprit, and cleared my father’s name, sparing our entire family from exile to Lingnan.
My father was immeasurably grateful and swore he would give his life to repay the minister’s kindness.
After a little polite hesitation, Lord Fu said, “My son has reached marriageable age, and I hear the vice minister’s household has several fine young ladies.”
My father understood.
I Overturned the Realm
The noble consort who had been cherished all her life said on her deathbed that she regretted everything.
“If there is a next life, I would gladly trade places with you. I would be a lowly palace maid, endure until I turned twenty-five, then leave the palace and be free.”
“The emperor’s favor, all this hollow wealth and splendor – whoever wants it can have it.”
Tears ran down her face as she said that all she wanted was a love that was pure and true.
Just before she closed her eyes, she clutched my hand.
“Cherry, will you do it? Will you trade places with me?”
Weeping, I pressed my lips to her ear.
“This servant is willing.”
I had spent a lifetime cleaning up her messes.
I was so tired.
I Really Don’t Want to Work This Job Anymore
If I managed to ascend the throne, it was entirely thanks to my five short-lived older brothers.
Thanks to them, I now live like a beast of burden.
3:00 – Rise and wash up, then pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
4:00 – Morning lessons.
5:00 – Imperial Gate Audience.
7:00 – Breakfast.
8:00 – Handle state affairs and review memorials.
13:00 – Lunch.
14:00 – Riding and archery; inspect the princes’ studies.
15:00 – Handle state affairs.
17:00 – Free time.
19:00 – Evening lessons.
20:00 – Review memorials.
23:00 – Bedtime.
I am so done with this job!