Gilded Ashes: When Shadows Reign - Chapter 243: Anything Within Reason

【Time Travel + Workplace Competition + No Lazing Around + Ambitious Female Lead】Overachiever Shen Wei traveled through time and found herself as the lowest-ranking maid in the grand residence of the Yan Prince.The Yan Prince held a prestigious position, but his consorts were all content to live dull lives. The noble-born princess consort was as tranquil as a chrysanthemum; the concubine sought a life of monogamy; the reincarnated woman was utterly disillusioned with the Yan Prince and had given up on striving for anything; and the other timid concubines dared not make a move…The queen of workplace competition, Shen Wei, declared: Don’t stop me! I’m going to outwork these unambitious slackers!…The Yan Prince had grown accustomed to the stagnant atmosphere in his harem, until a particularly skilled courtesan appeared.This concubine was stunningly beautiful, adept at both literature and dance, hardworking, and always brought him fresh excitement. The Prince couldn’t help but take a second, then a lifetime-long, look at her.Years later, Shen Wei became the all-powerful Imperial Noble Consort, with children and the emperor’s exclusive favor.Meanwhile, the princess consort remained as tranquil as ever; the concubine was aging and had yet to experience a monogamous life; and the reincarnated woman was still eating simple meals in her modest abode…After half a lifetime of striving, Shen Wei finally reached retirement and revealed her true nature, fully embracing a life of leisure. The retired emperor interjected: “You competed for favor just to retire?”Shen Wei snacked on melon seeds: “What else?”Living is all about retirement!The retired emperor was even more surprised to find, in midlife, that other men were vying for his wife’s affections!

After years of hard study, she finally became a master's degree holder. One day, she suddenly finds herself traversing into a different world as an illegitimate daughter.In her previous life, she was a prominent student from a prestigious university; in this life, she is a weak girl from a noble family.She hides her brilliance, conceals her sharpness, aims for survival, and seeks peace. However, the scholarly family she is part of is also fraught with countless disputes and endless troubles.The concubine schemes against her, her legitimate sister plots, leading to her ruin and disgrace.Retaliation is a must!Her attitude must be gentle!Her methods absolutely ruthless!She retaliates fiercely with gentle means, and what's next is...Marriage?To whom?Can she choose her own spouse?This is a serious issue.*******************************

“My fiance has a change of heart. Your fiance isn’t in love with you. Why don’t we get together and get married instead?” Natalia spoke without a hint of irony to the mysterious man—the embodiment of elegance as the man stood at the entrance to the cathedral under an umbrella on a rainless, cloudy day.

After defying her family’s wishes to marry Vasili and agreeing to retreat from her budding modeling career, Natalia’s life turned upside down when her fiance abandoned her for another rising model from the same company on their wedding day. Amidst Natalia’s contempt, Alex Bruch came into the picture. Natalia thought her marriage with Alex, the man with blood-red lips and violet eyes, would be as mundane as asking each other what to have for breakfast...

Above all else, she would have her revenge.

“I can’t accept this! I can’t! Even as a ghost, I’m going to spend eternity cursing that your relationship will shatter like glass! Break apart like a pair of mandarin ducks that fly away from each other!” With such a persisting obsession, it would be difficult for the vengeful departed spirit to move on.