“You say you are omnipotent. Can you help me?” Xiao Mingyue asked.
[Of course! What would you like us to do?]
“I want to know what has happened to my father and the Xiao family. And that Hua Heng—who on earth is she? Why does she want the Xiao family’s military tally?” Xiao Mingyue asked.
The system replied: [General Xiao and the rest of the Xiao household have all been imprisoned, but their lives are not in danger. Hua Heng is a mission taker from an alternate world who makes a living by earning commissions through romance targets. She is currently pursuing the male lead of this world, Feng Buji. Once the male lead’s favorability toward her reaches 100%, her mission will be considered a success, and she will earn tens of millions of coins. As for the military tally, it is one of the crucial power centers of this world. Possessing it grants immense influence. She only wants it so she can curry favor with the male lead and boost his favorability rating.]
“I see,” Xiao Mingyue nodded thoughtfully, but her brow furrowed again shortly after.
“My life is already forfeited and my path destroyed. Even if you can help me, what can I possibly do?”
[You are the female lead of this world. According to the original plot, you were never meant to die. Since we appeared specifically to repair the storyline, we can naturally resurrect you. As for what you need to do, your mission is to repair the known storyline, win over Feng Buji’s heart, and end up with him.]
Win over a man who once loved her but then turned his back on her? The mere thought disgusted Xiao Mingyue; she had not forgotten how brutally Feng Buji had treated her.
She held grudges. No matter his reasons, she would never forgive him.
Xiao Mingyue immediately shook her head, refusing the proposal.
[You have a second option: enter the imperial palace as a consort and win the heart of the current Emperor, Xie Changsu.]
[Xiao Wei would like to remind you that Xie Changsu’s character archetype in the plot is scheming and deep. He excels at playing the fool to catch the wise. The difficulty of targeting him is five stars. Are you sure you want to change the original plan?]
Xie Changsu?
It had been a long time since she last heard that name. Ever since Feng Buji sent her betrothal gifts three years ago, no news of him had come out of the palace.
He had been frail and sickly since childhood. While others practiced martial arts on the training grounds, he could only sit in a corner reading books.
Feng Buji had taken advantage of his status to mock and ridicule others, yet he treated only Xie Changsu well; the two were as close as brothers. Rumor had it that without the Feng family’s backing, Xie Changsu would never have been able to secure his throne.
However, after Xie Changsu ascended the throne five years ago, the distance between sovereign and subject caused them to gradually drift apart…
Xiao Mingyue pondered for a moment before ultimately choosing to target Xie Changsu.
Later, through Xiao Wei, Xiao Mingyue learned why Feng Buji’s attitude toward her had changed so drastically—it turned out Hua Heng had used a charm spell provided by her system.
In hindsight, it made sense. Feng Buji had been pursued by women since he was young; what kind of beauty had he not seen? Hua Heng’s looks could only be considered above average in the Imperial Capital, nowhere near top-tier.
No matter. Regardless of Hua Heng’s methods, all Xiao Mingyue cared about now was the safety of her father and the rest of the Xiao clan.
[Has the host made up her mind? Once you shoot the arrow, there is no turning back. Once chosen, your choice will be tied to your life and death. If you fail to complete the mission within three years, the dynamic will reverse—you will become my slave and have to travel to various sub-worlds to target other protagonists.]
[If you succeed, it will work out greatly in your favor: the Emperor’s exclusive favor, the status of Empress presiding over the world, and the Xiao family’s enduring power and status for a hundred years…]
Xiao Mingyue interrupted before it could finish: “Say no more. I am willing.”
[Understood. Xiao Wei will reshape your body and transport you out of here. Moving forward, I will do my utmost to assist you, Host. Please prepare yourself.]
“Mm.”
Immediately after, a faint, sage-green light radiated from Xiao Wei and slowly flowed into Xiao Mingyue’s body. Before long, the bloody whip wounds covering her body healed visible to the naked eye, and a powerful suction pulled Xiao Mingyue’s soul back into her original physical form.
Strangely, even though Xiao Mingyue was conscious, she could not open her eyes; she could only hear rustling sounds outside.
Xiao Wei explained: [Your soul just left your body, and your physical form is still integrating with your soul. Therefore, you cannot freely control your body yet. You will return to normal in three days.]
With that, it floated back into Xiao Mingyue’s mind.
Shortly after, a group of people entered from outside, led by Baoyu. She said with a face full of disgust:
“You useless dogs don’t know your own strength—how could you beat her to death?”
“Next month is the grand wedding between the Prince and our mistress. If the Prince finds out, how unlucky would that be?”
Hearing this, several guards behind her smirked, fawning over Baoyu: “Miss, look at what you’re saying. Even if the Prince finds out, it won’t matter. After all, he was the one who ordered the hundred lashes himself. Xiao Mingyue comes from a noble family and is frail; how could she survive such punishment? This was clearly the Prince’s intention all along.”
“Alright, alright. Wrap her in a straw mat and haul her to the mass grave before the corpse starts to stink.”
“Yes, yes, right away.”
In a place they could not see, a tear fell from the corner of Xiao Mingyue’s eye.
Indeed, even the servants could see that Feng Buji wanted her dead for Hua Heng’s sake. Why had she held onto foolish hopes?
Xiao Mingyue had never felt so pathetic—cheap beyond measure. Knowing full well that he loved someone else, she had foolishly come to the Prince’s manor to welcome him back, only to be framed. Not only did her fiancé disbelieve her, but he also turned around and used his military achievements to marry another woman.
Xiao Mingyue, oh Xiao Mingyue. Since Heaven has granted you a second chance, do not foolishly pursue that illusory love ever again, destroying yourself and your family in the process.
This time around, as long as the Xiao family remains safe, everything else can be treated as trash or stepping stones to climb upward. Seek only wealth and glory, not a single drop of true affection…