I Forced the Brooding Scholar to Marry Me—and Regretted It - A. Introduction

In my previous life, I forced a handsome young scholar to marry me—a man talented enough to place first in the imperial examinations.

I made him give up his official career and stay in my merchant household, supporting his wife and raising our children.

He taught both children well. He handled household banquets and every social obligation without a single misstep.

Making my way in business as a woman was hard enough. Thanks to him, at least I never had to worry about home.

I was perfectly content. We would be buried together when our time came, and that would make for a life well lived.

Then, on his deathbed, he left me these final words:

“If there is another life, may we never meet again.”

Only then did I realize he had resented me all those years.

So when I was reborn and saw Shen Mo selling paintings on the street again, I stopped my servant from going over to make trouble.

This time, I merely sent him a hundred taels of silver and promised to help him travel to the capital for the examinations.

In our last life, you worked for my family until the day you died.

In this one, why shouldn’t I, Zhao Tang, help you rise to greatness?