“I had four male concubines, and each of them hated me to the core.
They would make all sorts of excuses even when it came to meeting me once.
In a fit of anger, I went to the street and snatched thirty handsome men into my mansion.
They said that although I was a princess, I was so dissolute that I couldn’t even compare to a single hair of the Holy Maiden.
It didn’t matter. I was just a time – traveler, a vicious female supporting character who pushed the plot forward.
I would do whatever the system told me to do.
When the Holy Maiden led the enemy troops to break through the city gate, the four of them picked up their swords and surrounded me.
Without a second of hesitation, I pulled out the sword from my sleeve and neatly slit my throat, faking my death.
Being in a po – novel world, I had no thoughts of defying fate.
In this era with backward medical care, dying with one blow was better than getting infected with a disease.
1
When Jiang Xian led everyone into the main hall, I was sitting on the dragon chair.
Arranging the remains of my younger brother, the emperor.
Mu Yang was truly a beast, and he was a beast I had raised with my own hands.
I had the responsibility to end his life with my own hands.
When I first transmigrated into this book, he was a gentle and kind – hearted boy who would call me “Sister” with red eyes.
In just five years, he had become such a dissolute and cruel person.
There was no way around it. Just like me, he was a vicious villain in this world.
So I fed Mu Yang the Qianxiang Powder that I had treasured for a long time.
It was colorless, odorless, and would not cause any pain.
This was a preferential treatment given to me by the system.
Now I gave it to Mu Yang as compensation.
At least it could let him leave this world without pain.
“You venomous woman! You actually killed your own brother!”
Bai Ze was extremely shocked, and his finger pointing at me trembled slightly.
And I was completely confused.
Should I keep him alive for you to kill?
Can’t you understand such a simple plot?
Forget it. When he was in my mansion, Bai Ze was the one with the worst brain.
It was all my fault. When I was looking for famous doctors to treat his leg disease, I forgot to check his brain.
“Mu Yao! You are extravagant, lustful, and greedy for money! Mu Yang even more so, harming the common people and being tyrannical! You both deserve what’s coming to you!”
Xiao Jifeng walked out from behind Jiang Xian and said.
There was a water – red scar on his beautiful face, which was my doing. Unfortunately, this scar did not ruin his appearance. Instead, it made his phoenix eyes more charming.
I couldn’t help but play my role and whistled:
“Seeing that Xiao Lang is still as charming as ever, I’m truly – yearning for him.”
“You! Shameless slut!”
Xiao Jifeng drew his sword and stabbed at me, but was blocked by Gu Liancheng. He comforted:
“The saintess said that she will deal with Mu Yao herself.”
Then he glanced at me and continued:
“Do you think that after killing Mu Yang, the new emperor will spare your life?”
Of course not. I rolled my eyes secretly in my heart.
I was a time – traveler! I knew more than you guys!
The new emperor was the saintess of the Southern Yao Kingdom, that is, the female protagonist of this porn – like novel. She was once given to Mu Yang as a birthday gift by the king of the Southern Yao Kingdom. After being humiliated and toyed with by Mu Yang for two years, she escaped back to the Southern Yao Kingdom and became the emperor. Now she led the troops to attack the capital of the Qingyang Kingdom, completely destroying my Northern Qi Dynasty! Becoming the first empress in this era!
And the four handsome men standing in front of me, hypocritically accusing me, were once my male concubines and would later be in the empress’s harem.
I put my eyes on Jiang Xian, who had not spoken. Even today, he was still dressed in white, gentle and calm, as if his hands had never been stained with blood.
Just like when I first saw him, gentle and peaceful, making people couldn’t help but want to get closer.
But I knew that the one who most wanted me to die was also him.
Forget it… I sighed.
“Jiang Xian.”
I took the initiative to speak, and he replied faintly, with no discernible emotion on his face.
“In my mansion, there are thirty male concubines, two hundred and sixty – seven maids and servants. Some of them may have done evil, but they all followed my orders. It’s not easy to live in troubled times. Give them a good place to go.”
“The saintess will not make things difficult for ordinary people.”
That’s true. I nodded. Actually, I quite liked the female protagonist. Unfortunately, I was just a vicious female supporting character and couldn’t be her friend.
“As for you…”
Jiang Xian spoke slowly. I looked at his cold eyes, and my heart panicked for no reason.
He was a bit different from the other three.
In order to die more comfortably, I had also tried my best to please the four of them. I traveled all over the country to find famous doctors to treat Bai Ze’s leg disease; I searched for ancient books and music scores for Xiao Jifeng; I knelt outside Mu Yang’s palace for a whole day and night to protect Gu Liancheng’s entire family.
They were all more or less moved.
Only Jiang Xian, his heart could not be warmed.
No one knew that I gave him all my secret guards and dead soldiers, which were my most precious chips, just so that he could give me a good death.
But a year ago, when I was kidnapped by bandits, he still wanted to take the opportunity to kill me.
He was like a poisonous snake, cruel to himself and even more cruel to others.
If I fell into his hands, I was afraid I would really have to shed a layer of skin, literally – skinning, after all, he was not someone who had never skinned someone before.
So without a second of hesitation, I drew the sword hidden in my sleeve and neatly slit my throat.
Faked my death.
Jiang Xian was stunned on the spot. In his usual indifferent expression, there finally appeared a crack.
I laughed!
Unexpectedly, you pervert! I was one step ahead of you!
As long as I was fast enough! Your torture methods couldn’t catch up with me!
I originally wanted to perform a last words, but it was too painful. I shed a few tears and couldn’t say a word. Forget it, anyway, no one would want to listen.
“Mu Yao!”
Before losing consciousness, I seemed to hear the saintess’s voice.
2
The system arranged a new identity for me, a female doctor in the Hua Rong Kingdom.
The Hua Rong Kingdom was a small border country, good at making spices.
Spices could be used in medicine, cosmetics, and food, and were needed by many countries.
Therefore, the Hua Rong Kingdom was prosperous and its people lived in peace, which was the good place I had always dreamed of.
Unfortunately, I knew nothing about medicine. After studying for more than half a year, I still didn’t make much progress. Occasionally, when treating a cold or fever, I would even grab the wrong medicine.
My master was so angry that she would often whip my butt with a rattan.
I was also very helpless about this. I was like someone who got into Tsinghua University but chose the wrong major.
I could only bite the bullet and learn, work with gritted teeth.
Although I didn’t have much ability, my master was the number one doctor in the Hua Rong Kingdom!
Thanks to her, I was able to work for the royal family again. I was granted the title of female official and accompanied the Ninth Prince to the imperial city to congratulate the empress on her ascension to the throne.
“Xiao Yao, what are you looking at?”
As soon as we entered the city, I saw Mu Yang’s bones still hanging on the high wall.
My heart sank for no reason.
My feelings for this younger brother were very complicated, both guilty and afraid.
He was different from me. He was a pure – blooded villain, and cruelty was the setting given to him by the author. With just a little guidance, he learned faster than anyone else.
I was a half – breed villain, a time – traveler, and could only follow the system’s requirements and do things superficially.
Was I any better than him?
No, my hands were also stained with a lot of blood. So, I was no different from him.
I was luckier than him because my sins were outsourced.
As long as I had a thick enough skin, my conscience wouldn’t be condemned at all.
“Your Highness, I just didn’t expect the imperial city to be so… simple.”
I put down the curtain and casually found an excuse.
The Ninth Prince was kind – hearted and gentle – tempered, and he also liked to wear moon – white clothes. He always reminded me of an old acquaintance. The difference was that Jiang Xian’s kindness was all an act.
Unfortunately, good people didn’t have good rewards. The Ninth Prince, with a weak body, was still forced to come for a political marriage.
All countries were sending people to the empress’s harem, and the Hua Rong Kingdom naturally couldn’t miss this chance to curry favor. Anyway, the king, that old lecher, had plenty of sons and naturally didn’t care about a weak prince.
“This place has just experienced a war. The Mu family was extravagant, and I’m afraid the national treasury has already been squandered. I’m here this time…”
“To give money?”
“It’s more decent to give it actively than to give it when the new emperor’s army is at the city gate someday, right?”
That’s right. I nodded. Everyone knew that the Hua Rong Kingdom was rich.
Instead of sitting on mountains of gold and silver and being eyed by wolves, it was better to rely on the dynasty earlier.
“Your Highness, don’t worry. Even without the mountains of gold and silver, just relying on your peerless beauty, you will surely make the new emperor protect our Hua Rong!”
I knew the saintess very well. She had no resistance to the type of the Ninth Prince.
“Smooth – talking.”
“Who goes there? Stop immediately!”
Hearing this, my heart skipped a beat!
The door curtain was picked open with a sword, and a familiar face came into view!
It was Bai Ze!
Wasn’t he supposed to be in the harem? Why did he come to be a guard outside the palace? What kind of new play is this? Uniform temptation?
No wonder I was thinking too much. After all, this was a porn – like novel.
“Hua Rong Kingdom, Hua Jin, specially comes to congratulate the new emperor on his ascension to the throne.”
“So it’s the Ninth Prince! I’m Bai Ze! The empress’s personal guard! I’m very sorry for the offense this time!”
Perhaps seeing that I was a bit uncomfortable, the Ninth Prince gently comforted:
“It’s okay. It’s just a routine inspection before the imperial court.”
I replied nervously and got off the carriage with my head down. Although I had a different face, I was still a bit nervous when I met an old acquaintance.
“Who are you? Why are you riding with the Ninth Prince?”
“This woman is named Xiao Yao, and she is my medical official.”
Seeing that I was a woman, Bai Ze didn’t search me. He just gestured at me with the sword sheath, which was quite like going through the security check on the subway.
“Oh, right. I heard from the empress that your body is not good, and she specially allows you to drive in the temporary palace.”
Body not good? Hehe, Bai Ze was still so naive.
No wonder he changed into a guard’s clothes and came to guard the gate. It wasn’t to play with the female protagonist, but to compete with our prince.
Since I went offline, the system hadn’t contacted me again. It was said that the ending of this book was that the female protagonist lived happily ever after with many male concubines. I really didn’t remember if Hua Jin was among them.
But according to my observation, Hua Jin seemed quite normal – minded and didn’t seem like a protagonist.
“Thank you for the empress’s kindness. Hua Jin will keep it in mind.”
You see, I said he was a normal person. He wouldn’t fight with his rival outside the hall because of a few sarcastic remarks.
How embarrassing. Only Bai Ze, this idiot, would do that.
“Xiao Yao, let’s go.”
I was about to jump onto the carriage when Bai Ze reached out and pulled me back.
Very good! Our prince doesn’t fight with him, so he comes to pull my hair!
“The empress only allows the Ninth Prince to ride in the carriage.”
“If I can’t sit, I won’t sit… You just need to say so, sir!”
I rubbed my scalp and muttered softly.
“Bai Ze, don’t be rude.”
A slightly cold voice sounded. Hearing this, my feet seemed to be filled with lead and I couldn’t move! A chill slowly rose from the bottom of my heart, and I couldn’t help but shiver.
My heart was pounding, and it was difficult to breathe.
It was as if an invisible big hand was choking my throat.
It was Jiang Xian.
After so long, when I saw him again, I was still afraid. The feeling of being entangled by a cold – blooded reptile was creepy.
“The Ninth Prince is a distinguished guest of our dynasty. His medical official is naturally also a guest of honor. I’m sorry, miss.”
Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. I didn’t dare to make a sound, not even look into Jiang Xian’s eyes.
“I didn’t even use much force. Look how scared you are!”
“Prime Minister Jiang is over – exaggerating. Xiao Yao, come up and go back to the temporary palace.”
Hua Jin’s tone was indifferent, and it was hard to tell what emotion he was in. But I knew that he was angry.
He was a prince of the Hua Rong Kingdom. Being blocked by a male concubine and then saved by another male concubine, anyone would be angry in this shabby dynasty like a makeshift stage.
I climbed up on all fours, for fear that if I was a step slower, I would be stopped by Jiang Xian.
I could feel that his gaze was always on me, pressing me so hard that I couldn’t breathe.
Of course, after climbing up, I knelt obediently at Hua Jin’s feet, looking like a good servant, for fear that the two lunatics outside would think I was Hua Jin’s lover and find a chance to kill me.
“What are you doing?”
“Your Highness! They are both the empress’s… you know… What if they are jealous of your peerless beauty and go to the empress to spread rumors that you are having an affair! Then this marriage won’t happen!”
Speaking of having an affair… this was a world full of such things.
Besides making some anti – inflammatory medicine for Hua Jin, there was nothing else I could do to help him…
“It’s not to the point of…”
“Of course it is! You don’t know! When men are jealous, it’s really terrifying!”
“You seem to know a lot about it.”
Of course I know! Come on! I’m a woman who has had thirty – four male concubines! What haven’t I seen!
Except for those four ungrateful wretches, which of the other thirty handsome men I snatched back with great effort didn’t pull each other’s hair to get my favor.
So I curled my lips:
“Your Highness, you don’t understand men. With your kind nature, you’ll be bullied to death in the harem.”
Hua Jin smiled and said, “So what do you think I should do?”
I grinned, got up and said:
“Let me adjust your body! Guarantee that you’ll outshine everyone! We’re providing both people and money, so you should at least become the empress!”
“Your ambition is quite great…”
3
At the dynasty’s dinner party, princes from various countries gathered together. Naturally, I couldn’t enter the main table and sat in the side hall with most of the envoys, frowning at the few vegetarian dishes on the plate.
They can’t show their poverty like this!
Was the national treasury really squandered so much by Mu Yang and me?
I looked towards the main hall and felt relieved when I saw that what they were eating wasn’t much better.
Not to mention, it was quite spectacular to see dozens of men sitting there trying their best to seduce the empress. It seemed that the male concubines in my mansion before had too thin skins.
Look at these people. The one who was performing sword – dancing to entertain was only wearing a pair of fur trousers.
At this dinner party, some were taking off their clothes, and some were singing erotic songs. In this damned porn – like novel world, my eyes were almost blinded!
Compared with them, our Ninth Prince was really – a celestial being.
After the dinner party, as expected, Hua Jin was left behind.
I stood outside the side hall, winking at him, motioning for him to touch the sachet around his waist.
There was a special tonic I made for him in there! Hua Jin’s body was too weak, and his physical strength was poor.
This wouldn’t do!
Don’t worry, Your Highness! What the author didn’t give you, I will!
After giving instructions to Hua Jin, I hummed a tune and bounced towards the temporary palace!
If everything went smoothly tonight, it wouldn’t be long before I could return to the Hua Rong Kingdom with the envoys.
“Where is the girl going alone?”
It was Jiang Xian again.
My smile froze on my face.
He followed me so quietly. Could he really be here to silence me?
This place was too dangerous! I had to go to a place with more people.
So I walked quickly, while laughing and saying:
“Hello, Lord Jiang! The Highness and the empress have important matters to discuss! I’ll go back to the temporary palace first!”
“You live in the Water Pavilion Hall. Taking this road is closer.”
“Oh, oh. But I think the lights over there are very beautiful, and I think it’s better to take the main road. I’m a country bumpkin and I just like the hustle and bustle!”
What bad luck! Wherever I went, Jiang Xian followed!
“Where are you going, Lord Jiang?”
“To see you off.”
See me off? Where to? Don’t tell me he wants to send me to hell?
My face turned pale instantly. The system was gone, and if I died this time, I would really be dead.
What on earth did I do to offend this bastard again!
Could he really be helping the saintess eliminate her love rival? Is he that in love?
No! He’s got the wrong person! I’m innocent with Hua Jin!
“No… no need… I’m just a little medical official. How can I trouble the prime minister to accompany me!”
Unexpectedly, after I said that, Jiang Xian really stopped.
“If you don’t like it, I won’t send you.”
Huh? I raised my eyebrows. After not seeing him for half a year, was this guy so easy – going now?
Sure enough, the power of love was great! Even a pervert could be melted!
Thinking of this, I bravely flattered him:
“The prime minister is really considerate of his subordinates! It’s a blessing to work under you!”
“Then, do you want to come?”
What? Did Jiang Xian also need to see a doctor for male problems?
I said this porn – like novel world was harmful!
But when he said this, I relaxed a lot. So he was trying to recruit me!
“Thank you for the prime minister’s kindness, but I still prefer to return to the Hua Rong Kingdom.”
“Xiao Yao, you haven’t left yet?”
Hua Jin caught up and was quite shocked to see me with Jiang Xian.
And I… was even more shocked.
But with Jiang Xian around, it was not convenient for me to ask.
“I got lost. The prime minister was showing me the way.”
“This girl Xiao Yao is really muddle – headed. Thank you, Prime Minister Jiang.”
After saying that, he took me towards the temporary palace.
I didn’t look at Jiang Xian anymore and followed Hua Jin’s steps, gossiping:
“Didn’t my medicine even last for one stick of incense?”
Hua Jin was speechless for a moment:
“What are you thinking! The empress just talked to me about state affairs!”
“Oh.”
I was greatly disappointed. Such an ordinary plot didn’t deserve to be in a porn – like novel, right?
Seeing my dejected look, Hua Jin smiled:
“Even if there is really a marriage, it won’t be so urgent, right?”
Not urgent?
I curled my lips and poked his shoulder, motioning for him to look at the princes of neighboring countries in front.
“See those guys? I’m afraid they’ll give birth right on the hall!”
“They really are… not quite normal.”
After Hua Jin said that, we looked at each other.
At that moment, we both saw… fear in each other’s eyes.
Fear of this world.
Suddenly, I thought of something, and a sense of unease welled up again.
Jiang Xian… wasn’t the kind of person who loved to make small talk.
Could the reason he came to me be…
No, no! I shook my head. Not to mention things like the system and reincarnation that transcended nature, just look at my current face. It was completely different from before. You couldn’t find the slightest similarity even with a lantern.
How could he possibly recognize me?
“Tonight, there was another big event.”
“What?”
“Do you know Princess Ming Le?”
Of course I knew… wasn’t that me!
“She used to have thirty male concubines in her mansion. The empress was kind – hearted and raised them in a country villa outside the city. But just now, when I was alone in the hall, the guard came to report that there was a fire in the villa, and they all died.”
4
What…
How could this happen?
Was it my enemy?
Or… I subconsciously looked back. Jiang Xian was still standing there.
That gaze… was still lingering on me.
My legs went weak, and I almost fell to the ground.
This was too much of a coincidence. It was the first day I returned to the imperial city, and they had an accident.
At night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Hua Jin and I were arranged to live in the Zhaohua Palace. This was Mu Yao’s childhood temporary palace. When I came, she had already left the palace to open a mansion and take in male concubines.
So I wasn’t very familiar with this place, and I didn’t have a sense of belonging.
There was a cold fragrance burning in the hall, the same as the one Jiang Xian lit in my room in the past.
The imperial city was in decline, and the national treasury was in urgent need. They couldn’t even serve a few decent dishes at the palace banquet, but they lit the precious Snow – Region Cold Fragrance worth thousands of gold for foreign envoys.
It seemed like a trap in every way.
including the death of those thirty male concubines.
These were all tests for me.
Except for Jiang Xian, I couldn’t think of anyone else who could be so crazy.
Obviously, he was suspicious of my identity, even though this was our first meeting.
I didn’t sleep all night, and my mood was restless.
I no longer went out with Hua Jin to visit and discuss matters, but concentrated on making medicine in the Zhaohua Palace.
Unexpectedly, the empress suddenly fell seriously ill, and Bai Ze led people to block the door, asking me to go and treat her.
He didn’t have a good look at me. Well, the imperial decree to confer Hua Jin as the empress would come down soon. Bai Ze had been playing the guard – temptation game for so long, but he still hadn’t even got a title. Of course he would hate us.
Thinking of this, I realized that I hadn’t heard any news about Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng since I entered the palace for almost a month.
It was said that the empress was diligent, and her harem was empty. That’s why all countries tried their best to send people in.
But during this period, the empress only took a fancy to Hua Jin.
Still because of money.
Strange. Wasn’t this a porn – like novel? Why was she starting to focus on her career now?
Thinking like this, I walked to the empress’s bedroom. I was more familiar with this place because Mu Yang used to live here.
I lowered my eyes and took the empress’s pulse through the curtain.
“I’ve been feeling dizzy these days and occasionally coughing up blood. The imperial doctors in the palace couldn’t figure it out. Hua Jin said you were highly skilled in medicine, so I asked you to come and take a look.”
Highly skilled in medicine…
I awkwardly twitched the corners of my mouth. Hua Jin knew exactly how much I weighed.
He could brag about himself, but did he have to brag about me too?
I forced a few laughs, but soon, the pulse made me stop laughing.
Because she wasn’t sick, but poisoned.
The good news was that I could cure this poison. The bad news was… this was a special poison made by the Hua Rong royal family!
It was called Snow – Moon Dew, a plant – based toxin, colorless and odorless, which could cause chronic death.
“What’s going on? Can you cure it or not? Say something!”
Bai Ze got impatient and grabbed me from the ground to question me.
“Don’t be rude.”
The empress lifted the curtain and waved her hand at Bai Ze and the others:
“You all go out first.”
I finally saw her face again. It was no different from what I remembered. She was still as fair – skinned as ice and as beautiful as a flower, but her temperament was very different from before. She was no longer the weak and charming little white flower, but had a bit more sharpness, the murderous aura forged in real battles on the battlefield.
Such a powerful and beautiful woman could only be a camera – like female protagonist in a porn – like novel.
So pitiful.
“Why are you looking at me like this?”
She smiled.
I quickly leaned forward with a flattering look and praised:
“Your Majesty, it’s because you’re so beautiful!”
“Interesting. You’re the second person to praise my appearance so straightforwardly. What’s your name?”
“Xiao Yao.”
Hearing my name, the empress’s expression froze. She closed her eyes and murmured:
“Even the name is so similar…”
“Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?”
I leaned forward, carefully probing.
She just shook her head:
“No, I just thought of an old acquaintance. If I had come earlier, she wouldn’t have died…”
Hearing this, I was stunned.
Recalling the day the city was broken, the call I heard before I fell was not an illusion.
It was really her!
Could it be that she came to save me that day?
“Forget it, it’s all in the past. Your name is very nice. I really envy you. I’ve lived until now without even having my own name.”
After the empress said this, I realized that in this book, from being a saintess to a favorite concubine, then to a general and an empress.
She had all kinds of titles.
Just no name of her own.
Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but frown. The author claimed that she was the big female protagonist of a porn – like novel, but didn’t even give her a name.
So ridiculous.
“A name is just a name. Your Majesty is now the most honorable person in the world. You can call yourself whatever you want.”
“Yes, a name is just a name. It doesn’t matter if I don’t have one. It can’t determine my life. Let’s not talk about this. Let’s talk about something serious. I saw you hesitating and looking uneasy just now. Can’t you cure my illness?”
Of course not. I sighed in my heart. I could naturally cure the poison from the Hua Rong Kingdom. The problem was how to cure it to both save her life and preserve the marriage between the two countries.
After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to tell the truth.
“Your Majesty, you’re not sick, but poisoned.”
“What?”
She frowned, as if recalling something.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry. This poison is called Snow – Moon Dew, from the Hua Rong Kingdom. The antidote is right here. But please, Your Majesty…”
After presenting the antidote, I knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to the empress:
“Please believe that our Hua Rong Kingdom has no disloyal intentions. This must be someone’s frame – up.”
The empress was silent for a long time, then got up and helped me up:
“Keep this a secret. I will investigate it carefully.”
Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a voice came from behind:
“Your Majesty is kind – hearted, but the Hua Rong Kingdom cannot be trusted.”
It was Jiang Xian again.
Why was he everywhere!
I turned around and glared at him fiercely, no longer able to hide the disgust in my heart.
“Minister Jiang, coming uninvited, is becoming more and more unruly.”
The empress’s tone was cold, as if there was some conflict between her and Jiang Xian.
“I’m just afraid that Your Majesty will be hurt. If Your Majesty protects the Hua Rong Kingdom because of your favor for the Ninth Prince, it may cause dissatisfaction among the various countries.”
“If you don’t say it, who will know?”
Jiang Xian curled his lips, and the smile didn’t reach his eyes:
“For Your Majesty’s safety, I’m willing to be the villain.”
“Are you threatening me?”
The empress was so angry that she laughed instead. Everyone in the hall knelt down, not daring to look up.
I didn’t kneel because at this point, pretending to be stupid was useless.
The knee that was half – bent just now simply straightened up after I thought it through. The scene was very funny, making Jiang Xian laugh until his eyes bent. I used to like his smile the most.
Every time he smiled at me, I felt that I was one step closer to keeping my whole body.
Later I realized that these were all acts.
I was tired and fed up. I shrugged indifferently and said: “What does Lord Jiang want to do? You might as well say it directly.”
“The conferment ceremony is approaching. Out of consideration for both sentiment and reason, I don’t dare to make things difficult for the Ninth Prince. So I have to trouble Miss Xiao Yao to come with me.”
Although I had expected it, I still couldn’t help but be terrified. I had witnessed Jiang Xian’s means of interrogating people. Once, a rather good – looking male dancer sneaked into the Princess Mansion. After being found out as a spy, Jiang Xian skinned his face, cut off his hands and feet, and threw a bloody mass that could barely be called a human in front of me.
I can’t describe the fear I felt at that moment. It was the first time since I transmigrated into this book that I clearly felt that this was a cannibalistic era.
At that moment, I couldn’t see anything. All I saw was the shocking red in front of me and the calls from hell one after another. Jiang Xian left him a tongue so that he could clearly hear his pain and pleading.
The dancer begged me to kill him, word by word, full of blood and tears. When I came to my senses, the knife had already stabbed into his chest.
Later I learned that this was Jiang Xian’s evil taste.
Watching me kill someone with my own hands, my white clothes stained with dust, made him feel happy.
Thinking of this, my face turned ashen, and I cast a pleading look at the empress. But before I could get a response, I heard Jiang Xian’s cold voice ring out again: “Your Majesty should distinguish what is most important.”
The empress was defeated. Her eyes flickered with unwillingness, and she could only clench her teeth and warn: “There is a happy event in the palace, and blood is not allowed. Do you understand, Minister?”
“Your Majesty, please rest assured.”
I was escorted into the Zhao Prison by Jiang Xian’s men. From beginning to end, a small person like me had no right to refuse.
The empress couldn’t save me, and naturally, Hua Jin couldn’t either.
Causing dissatisfaction among the various countries was just an excuse. What really made her afraid was the power in Jiang Xian’s hands. That was given to him by the author, the so – called “second only to the emperor, above all others.” All the female protagonist could control was his love.
Except for her seemingly noble status and countless useless men, the female protagonist didn’t have any good cards in her hand.
The familiar sound of footsteps gradually approached, and my heart suddenly rose to my throat again.
“You seem to be very afraid of me.”
Jiang Xian spoke slowly, word by word. He didn’t seem very happy.
I forced a smile with a pale face: “Lord Jiang is joking. Who wouldn’t be afraid when being thrown into the Zhao Prison?”
“The empress has an order. I won’t torture you. I’m just here to ask you a few questions.”
“I didn’t poison her.”
“I know.”
Jiang Xian blinked his eyes and continued matter – of – factly: “Because I was the one who poisoned her.”
5
It was like a thunderbolt from the blue. A series of questions rushed to my mind, but I didn’t know where to start.
For example, why did he have the poison of the Hua Rong royal family? Why did he want to murder the female protagonist? And more directly, what on earth did he want to do?
“A year ago, you sent jewelry and silver to Shao Meiling’s family in the south of the city. I want to ask, why did you do that?”
Hearing this name, I immediately understood.
I never thought that the things I sent through several hands would still leave a trace.
Once, in order to establish my character, I flirted with the well – known male tofu beauty in the North Sixth Alley on the street, that is, Shao Meiling’s husband. I wanted him to enter my mansion. He knelt down and begged me for forgiveness, saying that he only had his wife in his heart.
I pretended to be unhappy, overturned his stall, and was about to end this farce when Jiang Xian suddenly struck with a sword and dug out his heart.
On the long street, the crowd fled in panic. I stood there, unable to move for a long time.
He said: “If you don’t dig out his heart, how can you know if what this person said is true or false?”
I knew that Jiang Xian was trying to ruin my reputation. But I was already notorious, so why did he have to sacrifice the life of an innocent person, and in such a cruel way.
Shao Meiling was disabled in both legs, and her husband never left her side. This should have been a beautiful story in troubled times, but because of me, it became a nightmare in the imperial city of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Since that day, most of the handsome men in the city disfigured themselves for fear of being taken a fancy to by me.
I didn’t kill many people, but my hands were stained with countless blood. I could escape, but the common people couldn’t. When I was reborn and living freely in the Hua Rong Kingdom, in my dreams at midnight, I was always oppressed by a sense of guilt and couldn’t breathe.
So I sent that bag of silver, hoping she could live a better life.
I was so lost in thought that a pair of hands quietly approached and then suddenly clamped my neck.
The cold cedar fragrance drilled into my nose. It was my favorite cold fragrance.
“I’m asking you a question.”
I couldn’t breathe, so I could only raise my hand to show weakness: “I once received kindness from Mrs. Shao. It was just a small token of gratitude to repay her…”
“You grew up in the Wanxiang Valley and never left the Hua Rong Kingdom. How could you know Shao Meiling?”
“I…”
Just as I said one word, a short knife stabbed into my right palm. I cried out in pain: “Jiang Xian, you’re crazy! The empress has an order. How can you torture me!”
“She can’t control me. I’ll ask you again. Who exactly are you?”
The strength in his hands grew stronger and stronger, and I gradually couldn’t breathe. For a moment, I thought it would be better to die. Staying in his hands was too painful.
Thinking of this, I simply stopped struggling.
As soon as I thought it through, Jiang Xian let go.
So I said this guy was a masochist. I gave him a provocative glance. My throat hurt so much that I couldn’t speak, so I could only look at him with extreme contempt through my eyes.
But Jiang Xian ignored my provocation. He seemed to be in a daze. He threw me to the ground and muttered to himself: “It’s you, isn’t it? You want to leave me again?”
I frowned tightly, unable to figure out how the plot had developed to this point.
The relationship between the male and female protagonists was tense, and the empress had become Hua Jin.
No matter what…
I gritted my teeth, and a strong thought emerged in my heart… Maybe this needed to be thought over carefully, but at the moment, I only had a few seconds.
Missed this opportunity, and it would be gone forever.
So in an instant, I pulled out the short knife from my palm and stabbed it into his heart when he wasn’t prepared.
I was gambling, gambling that my imprisonment hadn’t been made public, and that the rift between the male and female protagonists couldn’t be repaired. Then, by removing the empress’s serious trouble, I might be able to save my life.
However, unfortunately…
My left hand didn’t have much strength, and I stabbed it a bit off – target.
Jiang Xian expressionlessly pulled out the knife. Blood spurted out, splashing on my face. His face was pale, and he staggered, holding onto the prison door and laughing: “You want to kill me? You can’t kill me!”
There’s no turning back once an arrow is shot. Today, either Jiang Xian died or I would be torn to pieces.
Just as I was about to strike again, I saw Jiang Xian unhurriedly unbutton his clothes.
The blood flowed continuously, but he smiled brightly and desolately: “Look, I’m much more ruthless than you, but I still can’t die.”
Only then did I see that there were countless scars on Jiang Xian’s body, especially on his chest. Every knife wound was fatal, yet he… was still alive.
“I don’t remember when, a bothersome voice appeared in my head. It said that I was a character in a storybook world, the author’s favorite male protagonist. So I can’t die, and everyone here loves me.”
Hearing this, I gasped.
I never thought that Jiang Xian was also bound to a system!
“But I think it’s lying because there’s one person who doesn’t love me, even hates me. So I’ve always suspected that she’s not from this world.”
“But that voice told me that she just lusts after my beauty. No matter how many men she has, she loves me the most.”
Could it be talking about me… I secretly rolled my eyes.
This is a porn – like novel! Didn’t your system tell you?
Not just me, everyone is like this! I just made a mistake that all women would make!
“I believed it. But later, I met many women, including the saintess of the Southern Yao Kingdom. Then I realized that Mu Yao, your love is fake. You were more sincere to other men than to me.”
“But your sincerity is also quite cheap. Those thirty male concubines pleased you so much, but when they died, you didn’t even go to see them.
Your once – beloved Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng died, and you didn’t care either. You hid in the Zhaohua Palace, pretending to be confused. Your heart is really hard now. So many people died, and you didn’t even shed a tear. I had no choice but to find a way to get you into my hands, Mu Yao. I really want to see you cry.”
What? Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng are dead?
I didn’t know this news at all…
So he killed so many people and poisoned the female protagonist just to test me.
Damn it.
I gritted my teeth, trying hard to hold back my tears.
I would never let this pervert get what he wanted.
“Jiang Xian.”
I said: “The past is like smoke. I’m already Xiao Yao. If something happens to me and it affects the marriage between the two countries, then you’ll be the sinner of the imperial city.”
“Do you think I care about them?”
“I didn’t want to snatch you into the mansion back then, and I never forced you to do anything. Jiang Xian, I think I’ve treated you well. Why do you hate me so much?”
Was it just because I lied to him?
Jiang Xian was silent for a long time. In the silence, I saw his wound slowly heal, just as he said. He was the male protagonist, and he couldn’t die.
Was I, a cannon – fodder, trying to kill the male protagonist? It was like an egg hitting a stone.
I laughed self – deprecatingly, threw the short knife aside, and completely despaired.
“The princess is right.”
Jiang Xian suddenly laughed: “I have to find a way to make the princess stay by my side legitimately. Since it wasn’t your wish before, this time I’ll be the villain. I’ll say that I, Jiang Xian, have a low moral character and tried to misbehave with Miss Xiao during the interrogation. For the harmony between the two countries, I believe the empress and the Ninth Prince will be willing to give me a chance to make amends and marry Miss Xiao.”
I was shocked and took a few steps back in a panic: “No… I won’t admit it. This is false…”
Jiang Xian bent down and kissed my lips: “Now it’s true.”
6
I was taken back to the Princess Mansion by Jiang Xian.
He found a doctor to bandage the wound on my palm.
I stared at the wound and said gloomily: “Will water leak when I wash my face in the future…”
Jiang Xian beside me couldn’t help laughing. I glanced at him and didn’t say anything more.
Not until the doctor left did he come up and kiss my eyes: “I’m not making fun of you. Don’t be angry.”
I tried to dodge his kiss, but he picked me up and slowly walked towards the hot spring bath.
In this mansion that was like a man – eater’s place, only here could I get a moment of relaxation.
Jiang Xian slowly unbuttoned my belt.
One by one, he took off my clothes.
“Your hand is not convenient. I’ll help you wash.”
I sat naked in the hot spring, but my body was getting colder and colder. I started to hate this place.
Those beautiful, slender hands wandered around my waist, and the breathing by my ear became a bit heavier. It should have been a warm and affectionate scene with the atmosphere heating up.
But I heard him say: “Princess, do you like me more, or Xiao Jifeng?”
As a vicious female supporting character, I was once forced by the system to follow the plot. Once, “I” was suddenly inspired and asked Xiao Jifeng to soak in the hot spring with me.
According to the plot, something should have happened between us.
But thinking of the tragic ending in the future, I had the desire but not the courage. I soaked for five hours and finally just kissed his face and fainted.
After Xiao Jifeng carried me out, he also fainted.
We clearly fainted from soaking, but it was distorted into something pornographic.
“Why did you kill them?”
For me, this was the most important thing.
How exactly did Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng die?
But I didn’t dare to ask directly. Jiang Xian was so smart and had the male – protagonist halo. He would definitely guess what I was thinking. So I could only test it slowly and then investigate it myself.
“Didn’t I say it? I just want to see you cry.”
“I didn’t cry. Are you very disappointed?”
“No, actually, I’m a bit happy.”
Jiang Xian turned my body around, forcing me to look at him.
A kiss fell, lingering against my forehead.
I didn’t refuse, but I couldn’t control my shaking body.
Feeling my fear, Jiang Xian slowly let go: “When the imperial decree comes down, we’ll get married.”
I shook my head. The empress and Hua Jin wouldn’t agree, but I didn’t say it out loud because I knew they couldn’t stop this crazy Jiang Xian. So I nodded mechanically.
“What the princess couldn’t give me before, I will do my best to give you. In this life, you are my only wife.”
When he said “only”, I heard a strong sense of hatred in these two words.
Jiang Xian hated me for lying to him, for my hypocrisy, for not loving him alone.
Then what did he hate about Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng?
Because I was nice to them?
But I was also nice to Bai Ze! I treated the four of them equally, not daring to neglect anyone!
Could it be…
I had a vague guess in my heart.
I suppressed my emotions, pretended to be exhausted, and fell onto his chest: “Jiang Xian, take me up.”
His heart was pounding like a drum. It took him a long time to answer: “Okay.”
7
The imperial decree came down soon, and our wedding date was arranged after the conferment ceremony.
Jiang Xian would hold me in his arms every night to sleep. Occasionally, when he got emotional, he could stop in time. He said he wanted to wait until we got married. I didn’t know what the significance of that was.
I thought he should like me.
A person like him would think it was dirty if someone else touched him, but now he was squeezing into a bed with me all day long.
But he didn’t love me, or rather, he didn’t understand what love was.
So should I teach him?
I sneered in my heart. I should indeed teach him.
So after his routine good – night kiss, I hooked his neck and took the initiative to deepen the kiss.
Jiang Xian was stunned for a few seconds, and his response was a bit flustered.
“We’ll get married tomorrow.”
“What if I want it today!”
I pretended to be angry, testing his bottom line.
“Then let it be today.”
His eyes darkened, and he tightly held my hands.
We slept with our necks intertwined, being very intimate.
But no matter how close our bodies were, our two hearts were still… so far apart.
“What did she send you?”
The “she” Jiang Xian mentioned was the empress.
My breath caught, and then I boldly touched his face: “Some jewelry. The eunuch in the palace said it was a wedding gift.”
“Is that so?”
Jiang Xian’s voice was indifferent, and it was hard to tell what emotion he was in.
His teeth pressed against my neck, as if with one bite, he could cut off my throat.
My expression remained normal, but my hands had already started to tremble.
“Mu Yao, you don’t know how important a title is to me.”
Jiang Xian didn’t ask any further questions. Instead, he said something out of the blue.
8
Among the wedding gifts sent by the empress, there was a portrait of Princess Ming Le.
Although I had burned it, I was still terrified because once a psychological strategy was broken, it would never succeed again.
Jiang Xian had the male – protagonist halo, but he didn’t know that there were actually four male protagonists in this book.
Since he couldn’t die, then Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng should be the same.
Before, I had been thinking about what exactly Jiang Xian hated about them.
And what had happened that led to their deaths?
Did the deaths of Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng also mean that Jiang Xian was not invincible? As long as I found that secret, I could completely kill him.
Slowly, I had a guess in my mind.
I remembered that on the day I committed suicide, when I fell to the ground, the first one to rush towards me was Xiao Jifeng.
Originally, I thought he was going to give me a few more stabs to vent his anger. Now that I thought about it, maybe not.
So when I went to the palace to express my gratitude, I left a note, asking Hua Jin to help me investigate the causes of Xiao Jifeng and Gu Liancheng’s deaths.
Xiao Jifeng was not killed by Jiang Xian, but was assassinated by an enemy assassin.
As for Gu Liancheng, he was indeed killed with a sword through the throat three days after Xiao Jifeng’s death, in the new mansion bestowed by the empress.
These were not enough to prove my conjecture. Fortunately, today, the empress sent the precious relics collected by Xiao Jifeng’s family.
A portrait of me.
In a trance, many memories flashed back in my mind.
I realized belatedly that Xiao Jifeng liked me.
So I guessed that once they fell in love with another woman, their male – protagonist halos would disappear.
After all, the author gave them power, status, and wealth. The only expectation was to make them love the female protagonist wholeheartedly.
The love of the male protagonists was the best way to show their charm.
It was the common expectation of the author and the readers.
Once they fell in love with someone else, this charm would disappear in the eyes of the author and the readers.
And their male – protagonist halos would naturally disappear.
So as long as Jiang Xian fell in love with me, I would be able to kill him.
9
“Today’s tea seems a bit sweeter.”
Jiang Xian hadn’t been sleeping well recently, and he had lost some weight. Coincidentally, it was a snowy day. He was sitting in the corridor wrapped in a plain – colored cloak, his eyes light, not knowing what he was thinking.
My hand that was grinding tea paused for a moment, and I put on a smile and said: “Is that so? Then let me have a taste.”
Jiang Xian handed me a cup. I forced a smile, put down the work in my hand, washed my hands in front of the water basin, and washed the handkerchief twice.
Seeing that I really couldn’t avoid his gaze, I had to bite the bullet and go forward.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xian took back the cup and drank it all in one gulp, then said with a cold expression: “So slow. The tea is cold.”
“Oh.”
I touched my nose guiltily, then got into his arms: “It’s so cold in the imperial city. When can we go to the south?”
Jiang Xian didn’t say anything. I leaned forward to kiss him flatteringly, but was pushed away: “Wait a while.”
I didn’t know if he was talking about going to the south or about the kiss.
Jiang Xian held the military power of the Southern Yao Kingdom. Staying here was always a threat to the empress.
Moreover, he was the prime minister of the dynasty. If I killed him here, it would be very difficult for me to escape. Even if the empress wanted to protect me, it would be useless. A court official died in vain, and she couldn’t just pretend not to see it.
I secretly made a kind of slow – acting poison and put it in the tea every day to feed Jiang Xian.
Without accident, in half a year, he would be poisoned and die.
Everything was going smoothly, as long as he could fall in love with me.
10
Jiang Xian wasn’t dead yet, but I got pregnant first.
I thought he would be happy. After all, when the doctor announced it, there was a smile in his eyes.
Unexpectedly, a few days later, he brought a bowl of abortifacient.
He force – fed it into my mouth with a cold face.
During this process, I kept groaning. I wanted to say that I could drink it myself, okay?
As if I was so eager to give birth to your child, big brother!
It was said that this was a secret medicine of the Southern Yao Kingdom. It wouldn’t harm the mother’s body, and even the pain was very weak. In all the stories I heard about childbirth, there was no painless one. So I didn’t believe this secret medicine at all. After drinking it, I nervously covered my stomach and rolled on the bed.
Unexpectedly, this medicine was really miraculous.
The Southern Yao Kingdom really lived up to its reputation as the “leader of chaos” in the porn – like novel! They were really good at family planning!
Obviously, I was the one in pain, but it was Jiang Xian who was shedding tears: “You don’t like children, so don’t have them. Whether it’s mine or someone else’s, you won’t have to experience this in the future.”
What did he mean?
Was it a sterilization drug?
So I said Jiang Xian was really crazy. His way of thinking was different from others.
What normal person would abort their own child and then cry and ask: “Mu Yao, am I good to you?”
11
We went south after the spring began. Jiang Xian said he would take me back to his hometown.
Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived in Yunmeng City, he died.
It turned out that he fell in love with me earlier than I thought.
I didn’t know where his hometown was, and he didn’t leave me any words.
Vaguely, I remembered he once asked me if I loved him.
At that time, I naturally nodded and said yes.
He was satisfied, and so was I, although we both knew it was a lie.
This trip, he only brought me and a group of secret guards. I had seen them once. They were the ones I had given him when I was Mu Yao.
The order Jiang Xian left for them was: “Protect Xiao Yao well.”
The prime minister of the dynasty and his wife thus died of the plague in a foreign land. All the secret guards brought back was a handful of ashes.
This was the best ending, better than what I had planned myself.
I hummed a tune, counting the property and shops he left behind while celebrating my revenge and regaining my freedom.
Suddenly, a trace of coolness brushed across the corner of my eye.
I panickedly wiped the tears on my face, and then remembered that not long ago, Jiang Xian drank the tea in the cup and smiled, blaming me: “Mu Yao, you have a really hard heart. You actually gave me… such cold tea.”
– The End –
