Benjamin picked up a mushroom with his fork. The sliced mushroom had been grilled simply without any sauce. As she took a bite, the mushroom was softly chewed in her mouth. Aster smiled and then feigned ignorance.
“Our family all prefer simple flavors. We like sauces that preserve the original taste. The seasoning is moderate, and we don’t particularly enjoy anything stimulating.”
“Reprimand the chef for that.”
“The texture of the mushroom is tender and chewy like meat. It would be good to eat with shredded chicken.”
Aster cleared her throat and continued.
“Speaking of which, Your Majesty.”
Aster asked Benjamin.
“The palace gate was chaotic early this morning. What happened?”
“The gate? Ah, that?”
Benjamin nodded.
“I also received a report this morning. Someone has been looking for me in front of the gate for a few days. I told them to report to me again if the person comes back.”
“It’s been a few days then.”
“About three days? If they come every day, we should at least ask what the reason is, but we couldn’t hear it because of the fools who drove them away by their appearance.”
Charlotte closed her eyes silently.
‘Is it already that time?’
Benjamin looked down at Charlotte and served her some mushrooms.
“Are you done eating?”
“I’ve eaten a lot.”
“Only that on the appetizer plate?”
Aster shredded some smoked chicken and placed it on Charlotte’s plate.
“You need to eat a lot to have strength. Eat this too. Eat that too. Cozette also has a small appetite, so we used to serve food on her plate when we were children.”
Aster placed asparagus on Charlotte’s plate and smiled.
“Please eat a lot.”
The meal ended like that.
Charlotte was seen off by Windsor and the family. The servants were all dismissed. Someone laid a heavy shawl on her shoulder. Leandro patted her shoulder with his wrinkled hand. His weighty gaze reached the back of her head.
“May I speak freely as your grandfatherinlaw?”
“Please don’t say that, feel free.”
Leandro wrapped Charlotte’s arm.
“The wind is cold. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
“If the expression of a married child is dark, will the family’s footsteps falter?”
Charlotte shook her head.
“Listen well. I may treat you as an adult of the royal family, or as a child. But our relationship does not change… … ”
Find your center. As he repeatedly said.
“Take care.”
His calloused grip was rough, reflecting the harsh years sent by his grandfather.
(This is a time separator.)
“Usually, they receive it separately at the temple on the day of the merger….”
Charlotte’s voice trailed off.
“I’ll help you with your hair.”
Charlotte entrusted herself to the maids. They put a lilyofthevalley flower in her hair and dressed her in a chamber robe. The hem of the robe flowed loosely.
Charlotte revealed her slender neck and brushed her hair back. The long hair that fluttered below her hips created a mysterious atmosphere.
“Do you need anything else?”
“Bring the liquor.”
“What?”
“His Majesty was looking for liquor before bed. Just bring one bottle.”
The chamberlain placed the liquor the Emperor often drank.
“Then, rest comfortably.”
As Charlotte lit the candle on the table, the liquor beside the candle came into view. Charlotte put a cherry in her mouth and uncorked the bottle. A pungent aroma of liquor wafted.
Knock[Dash].
Benjamin, dressed in a gown, knocked on the bedroom door.
“I found the liquor?”
“It looks better if the Emperor finds it rather than the Empress. Surprisingly, he seems to drink strong liquor frequently. The chamberlain brings it familiarly.”
Benjamin nodded his head.
“I drank it often.”
“……”
“It’s not like I drank it by the bottle like you, Char.”
Charlotte poured the liquor into her mouth by the bottle.
“It’s a bit hard to pretend to be refined.”
If wine was a faint fruity liquor, this was just alcohol.
It was very harsh. As the liquor flowed down the esophagus, her throat burned.
“You drank it often though it’s strong?”
“Was I? It’s as insignificant as you now, so I must have been too.”
“There’s nothing I can say if you say so.”
Charlotte swirled the liquor with her tongue. Gulp, as she swallowed, the strong aroma pricked her nose.
“After all, the talk about not challenging the Winsorga in drinking isn’t groundless.”
They gulped down that liquor. Even men, after only a few glasses, would get drunk and collapse.
In Winsorga, they would frown and scold, but Charlotte casually shook the liquor bottle and offered it to Benjamin.
“Don’t look too astonished.”
Charlotte wiped her lips with the back of her hand. The intoxication gradually settled in. As she tousled her hair, a faint scent of soap spread.
“Was the past time not tough?”
“It’s not a place to show it even if it was particularly tough.”
“You’ve come to a tiring position. Although there was no other choice.”
Benjamin took the drink and drank. By now, it was familiar liquor.
“I came to this position because there was no choice.”
“Would it have been different if there had been other choices?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think it would have been particularly different.”
Benjamin mumbled, trailing off.
“I’ve grown numb now, but these days, I feel complicated inside.”
“What happened?”
Benjamin took another sip of liquor. One sip, two sips, it increased.
“I don’t know. Nothing happened.”
Benjamin trailed off and shook the liquor bottle. It was already empty. He took another bottle from the cabinet. This time, it was a liquor contained in a silver bottle. As he uncorked it, the aroma rose faintly.
“Something just feels suffocating.”
Benjamin closed his eyes calmly.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
