The Ming Marquis’s Mansion backed the wrong side between the prince and princess, and was raided!
The Marquis of Ming committed suicide, his legitimate sons and illegitimate brothers were all exiled to the frontier.
The Empress ascended the throne, showing mercy, and only demoted the women of the Marquis’s Mansion to commoners.
Eight wives, concubines, and delicate daughters, each with their own charm and grace.
Raised with hands that never touched spring water, bodies unaccustomed to labor, ignorant of the five grains,
They only knew to open their mouths for food and extend their hands for clothes,
To paint their eyebrows, apply powder, and tint their lips, to play the qin, recite poetry, and play chess.
At most, they could handle needles, split threads, and use an abacus,
But had no idea how to wash clothes, clean vegetables, or pull radishes,
Let alone how to grow vegetables, raise chickens, or work the bellows.
Everywhere was chaos, everywhere was wrong, step by step they corrected, step by step they adapted.
The principal wife and concubines, no longer competing for a man’s favor,
Instead became close friends who understood each other.
The legitimate and illegitimate daughters, freed from status distinctions,
Instead became true sisters.
From washing and ironing clothes for others, to becoming the leading clothing store in Pianjing;
From writing letters home for two coins, to taking the imperial examination, meeting the Emperor, and women entering officialdom;
From one full meal and one hungry one, to a small restaurant even the Empress comes to visit.
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Currently, three couples are set:
Legitimate daughter Ming Baoqing × Chang’an Buliangshuai (inferiority complex wolf, love at first sight)
Stepmother Lan Panxiao × Accompanying steward (older virgin, years of secret admiration)
Younger sister Ming Baojin × Neighboring little rascal (childhood sweethearts, male virtue training)
Added (possible trigger):
There is also a pair of pen pals turned confidants, with a nine-year age gap, open-ended ending.
This story is about the girls’ struggles, but also includes romance.
I don’t think the romance is too heavy, but some readers feel it is.
Currently, the ruler is an Empress, and the next ruler will also be an Empress, but it is not a female-dominated world.
