Summer Solstice, Capital City

Wei Yishang sized up the newly arrived Ye Mingzhen from head to toe.

The young man wore a red robe, poised and composed, his eyes like pools of spring water.

His eyes had a faint redness at the corners, his brows sharply arched, and his dark hair was neatly tied up with a jade crown, exuding an untamed air.

Ever since this top scholar appeared at the Shuyu Poetry Gathering, the ladies present abandoned their usual decorum, their gazes either blatantly or subtly fixed on him.

Before Ye Mingzhen’s arrival, his striking reputation had already spread through the Shuyu Poetry Gathering.

It was said that with one glance at the Golden Palace, the Eldest Princess had taken a liking to him.

It was customary for a top scholar to become a prince consort, and if not for the previous consort’s death just three months prior, the Emperor might have immediately named him consort, dashing the hopes of countless eligible ladies.

At first, everyone thought this top scholar was merely handsome, but now, seeing him in person, he seemed almost divine.

“Master Ye, attending our Shuyu Poetry Gathering today is a bit of a waste of your talents. Most here are young scholars still in school or ladies who rarely leave their chambers. I hope you’ll go easy on us later.”

The Anping County Lady, the organizer of the Shuyu Poetry Gathering, spoke up. Since Ye Mingzhen’s arrival, everyone had been staring without speaking, so she naturally stepped forward to break the ice, displaying her hostess charm.

Ye Mingzhen bowed with both hands clasped to the Anping County Lady. “You flatter me, County Lady. The young masters here are quick-witted, and I’ll do my utmost to keep up.”

With his fine looks and humble, gentle speech, Ye Mingzhen easily won favor.

The Anping County Lady’s cheeks flushed as she covered her face with a fan, gesturing with a “please” motion. “Do take a seat.”

After Ye Mingzhen sat, the Anping County Lady invited everyone to drink.

A cup of peach blossom wine touched Wei Yishang’s lips, its taste sweet yet tart.

As the fourth-rank official’s concubine-born daughter, Wei Yishang knew her status was insignificant among this crowd, merely a foil like green leaves. She doubted she’d get to say much, so she indulged in a few extra cups of fine wine.

Since it was a poetry gathering, drinking naturally came with poetic recitations, and the flowery verses paired well with the wine.

Suddenly, a burst of applause and bell-like laughter erupted from the crowd. Wei Yishang glanced over and realized it was Ye Mingzhen who had just recited a poem.

She hadn’t heard the poem itself, so she couldn’t judge its quality, but the noble ladies’ enthusiastic response was certainly generous, sparking visible jealousy in the eyes of the young masters who had recited earlier.

Wei Yishang popped a chilled lychee into her mouth. In the sweltering summer heat, ordinary officials’ households wouldn’t have access to such fine fruit.

Focused on eating and drinking, she called for more wine when her cup ran dry, not sparing a single glance toward Ye Mingzhen.

First, she didn’t want to. Second, she didn’t dare.

According to the plot, she was supposed to steal her friend’s poem at this gathering to gain attention and strike up a conversation with Ye Mingzhen, whom she was smitten with at first sight.

But she knew the consequences: her actions would incite jealousy among the other ladies, leading the Anping County Lady to scheme and disfigure her in retaliation. Later, when it was revealed that the poem was plagiarized, her reputation would plummet, forcing her to retreat to her family’s home to pray to Buddha, never daring to step out again.

This was because the world she now inhabited was a novel. Ye Mingzhen was the story’s heartthrob supporting male character, and the friend whose poem she stole was none other than the novel’s female lead.

In the novel, after Wei Yishang used the female lead’s poem to impress Ye Mingzhen, he grew fond of her.

But when he later discovered the poem’s true author, his affection turned to disdain, and he devoted himself entirely to the female lead.

For the female lead, he rejected advances from many women, including the Anping County Lady, the Eldest Princess, and the Minister of Works’ daughter. On the day the female lead married the main male lead, Ye Mingzhen even castrated himself with a sword, vowing to remain chaste for her.

When Wei Yishang read that scene, her eyes widened in shock.

The author explained that such a perfect second male lead couldn’t be given to the female lead, nor could he be wasted on another woman.

Back then, Wei Yishang had muttered complaints. “What did this heartthrob second male lead do to deserve this? If he can’t have the female lead, he could just stay single. With ancient medical standards, castrating himself could easily lead to infection and an early grave.”

She never imagined that a few months later, she would inexplicably transmigrate into the body of the cannon fodder Wei family daughter.

Knowing the plot, she naturally wanted to live a peaceful life and avoid any entanglement with Ye Mingzhen.

As the poetry gathering paused and the atmosphere cooled, the Anping County Lady, who rarely spoke to Wei Yishang, suddenly called her name.

“Miss Wei, why so quiet today? I haven’t heard you say much. By the way, where’s that famously talented sister of yours? If she were here, things would be livelier.”

The “sister” the Anping County Lady referred to was the novel’s female lead, Feng Yueqiao.

Wei Yishang inwardly scoffed. ‘Isn’t it because you, Anping County Lady, thought the Feng family’s status too low to invite her? Or perhaps you were afraid she’d steal your spotlight.’

Wei Yishang stood, curtsied, and replied, “My sister Feng has a slight cold and couldn’t attend. As for me, my talents are shallow. Hearing everyone’s brilliant verses just now overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t come up with anything worthwhile. I hope I haven’t made a fool of myself.”

“Then, Miss Wei, whose poem did you find the best?”

The Anping County Lady seemed determined to make Wei Yishang give a definitive answer.

Wei Yishang pursed her lips. She’d been distracted earlier and hadn’t listened to anyone’s poems.

She only recalled a line from the novel where Ye Mingzhen said, “Changping has no endless night; lamplight shines for those apart.”

“Master Ye’s poem was excellent. Changping’s years of war are like an endless night, yet there’s always a lamp lit for the soldiers on the battlefield—a noble sentiment with great depth. And with today’s overcast rain and the lamps lit in this pavilion, it feels especially fitting.”

Wei Yishang spoke as if solving a reading comprehension question.

The Anping County Lady, visibly displeased, gestured for Wei Yishang to sit.

As soon as Wei Yishang sat, she caught the appreciation in Ye Mingzhen’s eyes and the displeasure on the Anping County Lady’s face, realizing she’d misstepped.

The Anping County Lady had called on her to make her a laughingstock, to highlight her own elegance, and Wei Yishang had missed the cue.

Recalling the novel’s disfigurement outcome, Wei Yishang shivered and quickly downed a cup of wine to calm her nerves.

Fortunately, the Anping County Lady didn’t press further and continued discussing poetry with the group.

Having drunk a bit too much, Wei Yishang excused herself to freshen up.

The Anping County Lady’s mansion was vast, with winding corridors. Drunk, Wei Yishang lost her way.

Her maid, Cuier, was equally clueless and couldn’t find the way back to the pavilion.

Wandering like headless flies, they overheard voices from behind a garden rockery. “The County Lady has her eye on him. How could I steal her beloved?”

“Miss, whether the County Lady has intentions or not isn’t the issue. What matters is whether Master Ye feels the same. Today, though the County Lady is the most distinguished, his gaze didn’t linger on her. Their interaction was shallow, with no signs of affection. But Master Ye paid close attention to you, miss, and even praised your poem.”

“Exactly. Master Ye values talent. The County Lady, a mere warrior’s daughter, lacks literary depth. How could he fancy her? And in terms of status, she’s outranked by the Eldest Princess.”

Wei Yishang found the words familiar, then recalled a similar scene in the novel.

These words came from Pei Xiaorou, the daughter of the Minister of Works, and the one agreeing was likely her maid.

Not wanting trouble, Wei Yishang pulled Cuier away. After wandering a bit longer, they finally returned to their seats.

Just then, thunder rumbled, signaling bad weather.

The Anping County Lady, reluctant to end the gathering and part with Ye Mingzhen, had no choice but to conclude, as the mansion lacked enough guest rooms.

After a closing speech, she stood to see the guests off.

As everyone headed out, Wei Yishang breathed a sigh of relief, eager to leave and avoid further ties with Ye Mingzhen.

But in her distracted state, she tripped over the threshold, catching her skirt and stumbling forward.

About to fall and embarrass herself in front of everyone, a hand suddenly caught her by the waist, steadying her.

As Wei Yishang regained her balance, the hand withdrew.

She looked at its owner. The red-robed young man clasped his fists and said gently, “It was an emergency, and I feared Miss Wei might be injured. I hope I haven’t offended.”

“Thank you.” Wei Yishang nodded to Ye Mingzhen, her tone distant, and stepped out.

Behind her, Pei Xiaorou’s voice rang out. “Master Ye, until we meet again.”

Ye Mingzhen’s voice was faint, hesitating. “May I ask which family’s miss?”

“You don’t know me?” Pei Xiaorou’s voice carried shock.

He’d forgotten her name but remembered Wei Yishang’s.

Cuier, sensing drama, turned to look, but Wei Yishang pulled her back.

“What are you looking at? It’s none of your business,” Wei Yishang whispered.

She and Cuier boarded their carriage as thunder grew louder, its ominous rumble unsettling.

She urged the driver to hurry, hoping to reach home before the rain.

With a “crack” of the whip, the carriage rolled forward. Wei Yishang closed her eyes, exhaling in relief.

She’d survived the poetry gathering and altered the plot. She should be able to live quietly as the Wei family’s second daughter in this world.

Just as she relaxed, a voice echoed in her mind.

[Host, you’ve altered the story’s course. The攻略 system has been activated. Conquer the novel’s supporting male character, Ye Mingzhen, and achieve a marriage ending to receive generous rewards.]

[System detects Ye Mingzhen’s favorability toward you at 20. Please continue your efforts.]

[Ye Mingzhen will soon return to his hometown in Ju County for a gathering. As it’s your current identity’s hometown, you can travel there to create a chance encounter and boost favorability.]

Wei Yishang: What?!!

She had a system cheat?

She’d worked so hard to avoid the plot’s disfigurement fate.

Yet the system was pushing her back into danger, urging her to pursue a heartthrob male character coveted by noble ladies.

Never mind the powerful Eldest Princess—even a minister’s daughter like Pei Xiaorou could easily crush her father, a hard-working vice minister who’d risen from the bottom.

Wei Yishang frowned, mentally asking the system, ‘What are the rewards for succeeding?’

If the rewards weren’t substantial, taking on such a life-threatening task wouldn’t be worth it.

System: [Host will receive bonuses: Wealth: ten thousand taels of gold; Status: titled lady; Ability: mind-reading; Luck: wishes come true, with a chance to bring acquired items back to the modern world.]

Wei Yishang:

With such lavish rewards, she had no reason to refuse.

Generals risking their lives on battlefields and scholars studying for decades might never achieve even one of these rewards, yet the opportunity lay before her.

The condition? Simply conquer one man.

Wei Yishang opened her eyes.

Rain pelted the carriage roof, like drumbeats striking her heart.

A horse’s neigh rang out as someone reined in their steed.

Wei Yishang lifted the window curtain and saw Ye Mingzhen’s carriage stopped by someone.

He, too, lifted his curtain, their eyes meeting briefly.

He nodded slightly, then looked ahead.

The interceptor, astride a fine horse, flashed a token and said to Ye Mingzhen, “Top Scholar, the Eldest Princess requests your presence at her mansion.”

Ye Mingzhen visibly frowned.

Chapter 1: 1. Cannon Fodder Wei Family Daughter

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