Xu Yue rolled her eyes dramatically at the sky:
“Then what’s the use of having you, this system!”
The system grew anxious: “How could it be useless? Every achievement you accomplish will earn you rewards. For example, didn’t you receive a skill reward when you successfully enrolled in school?”
“So what conditions do I need to meet for my next reward?”
The system replied:
“Before officially entering the imperial court, the five milestones are passing the Tongsheng, Xiucai, Juren, Gongshi, and Jinshi exams. You can receive rewards at these points.”
Xu Yue pointedly remarked:
“What does any of that have to do with my current three-heads-tall body?”
The system also felt the host made a valid point—distant water can’t quench a nearby fire.
After thinking for a while, the system suddenly had a flash of inspiration. It dug out a subroutine from a remote corner, installed it with a snap, forcefully clicked a few times, and the program began running.
It cheerfully told the host:
“Host, I’ve found a way for you to gain intelligence boosts, though there’s a tiny little flaw.”
Xu Yue was first delighted then suspicious—what was this “tiny little flaw”?
The system carefully explained:
“I installed a system subroutine. This system predecessor was called the Perfect Male God Sign-in System.”
“Because the hosts it painstakingly cultivated kept getting snatched away by people in the mission worlds, it swore never to work in this field again.”
“In a fit of anger, it went back for reforging, and the leftover subroutine ended up in my hands.”
Xu Yue: So how does this subroutine help improve my intelligence?
“This subroutine allows you to sign in to gain attribute points. You can sign in once each year on New Year’s Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, and your birthday.”
Seeing Xu Yue’s delighted expression upon hearing this, the system preemptively coolly reminded:
“Due to the system’s characteristics, although this subroutine can sign in for intelligence attribute points, the probability of obtaining beauty attribute points is the highest.”
Xu Yue’s heart skipped a beat, and her expression turned serious. Beauty was certainly nice, but without matching status or knowledge, beauty only brought disaster.
Just as modern people say—beauty alone is a losing hand!
By extension, if her talent and status didn’t reach the same height as her exceptional looks, it would equally be a mistake.
Never mind that she appeared to be male on the surface—ancient times were quite open, with male favoritism being highly prevalent.
Many scholars, officials, and even nobles particularly favored this taste.
“So, host, have you decided whether to activate this program or not?”
The system calmly waited for Xu Yue’s decision.
After a long time.
“Activate the program.”
Xu Yue finally answered. Gains come with losses—wanting intelligence improvements made bearing unknown risks quite worthwhile.
Besides, it wasn’t such a bad thing anyway. Official circles also valued appearance and demeanor, Xu Yue thought optimistically.
The system comforted:
“Although the probability of getting beauty attribute points is high, besides intelligence, you can also sign in for courage, strength, and other strange talent fragments. You don’t need to worry too much.”
Xu Yue nodded hopefully.
The subroutine activated, detected that Xu Yue was already three years old, and since Mid-Autumn Festival hadn’t arrived yet, it automatically supplemented eight sign-in opportunities.
Xu Yue took a deep breath. It had to be intelligence, strength would be acceptable too. She closed her eyes and pressed down.
Intelligence +1.
An auspicious start. Xu Yue felt a refreshing coolness in her brain, very comfortable, and her understanding of the “Classic of Filial Piety” she studied yesterday deepened slightly.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Xu Yue used all eight remaining chances in one go.
Beauty +1, Beauty +1, Intelligence +1, Beauty +1, Changxiao Talent +1, Beauty +1, Intelligence +1.
Four points in beauty, three in intelligence, and one in Changxiao Talent.
Xu Yue didn’t know whether to be happy or worried about this result. After a moment, the system chimed in:
“…Host, look on the bright side—at least you can be a stunning beauty with an off-the-charts IQ.”
Xu Yue: Heh…
Fortunately, after observing herself, she noticed she had become slightly prettier, though the change wasn’t particularly obvious.
Of course, beauty has no upper limit; it would naturally take accumulation over time to become truly noticeable.
Relieved, Xu Yue finally felt the weight of exhaustion. A child’s body may be energetic, but it also tires easily.
Soon, she burrowed under the covers, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
The system was conflicted. Should it tell the host that the beauty attribute boost was a gradual process?
Since the host was still young, the changes would be even slower, but within half a year at most, this potential would manifest fully.
Glancing at Xu Yue, who was sleeping soundly, the system decided to keep quiet. What was done was done, and telling her now would only add unnecessary worry.
Why bother?
…
As dawn broke, the Xu household was already stirring with activity. The kitchen clattered noisily, a hive of busyness.
Servants from each wing hurried to tidy themselves up before attending to their masters.
Having slept too late the previous night, Xu Yue couldn’t stop yawning upon waking. Her eyes struggled to open, and her soft little hands formed fists as she rubbed them vigorously.
Lan Fen brought a basin of water and directed the two young maids, Xique and Bailing, to dress Xu Yue and comb her hair. She wrung out a cloth and wiped Xu Yue’s face.
The warm water splashed on her skin finally roused her somewhat.
Lan Fen carefully inspected Yue Ge’er’s body for any signs of redness or swelling, her voice crisp as she asked:
“Did mosquitoes get into the bed net last night? Did Yue Ge’er not sleep well?”
After washing her face, the child’s skin was as fair and translucent as a freshly peeled lychee. She shook her head, and Xique, distracted for a moment, loosened the freshly styled hair, exclaiming in dismay.
She hurriedly told Xu Yue to stay still, while Lan Fen shot Xique a sharp look and scolded:
“How many times have I told you? You need to use more strength when combing the young master’s hair, or it’ll come undone in no time.”
“Understood,” Xique replied listlessly.
Xu Yue: No matter how you style it, it’s still just two little buns—at most, the difference lies between fluffy buns and tightly wound buns…
Lan Fen turned her attention back to Xu Yue, satisfied to find no mosquito bites. Her gaze lingered on Yue Ge’er’s face, and for a moment, she nearly lost her focus.
…Why did she feel Yue Ge’er had become much prettier? Truly, like a figure carved from jade—exquisite and lovely.
At the same age, her own younger brother rolled around in the mud every day, looking nothing like this.
The thought flashed through her mind, but she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she earnestly advised:
“Yue Ge’er, your father has brought a new brother home. Hmph, he’s not a proper brother, if you ask me. I’ll say this much—don’t get too close to him, and don’t eat anything he gives you.”
As if recalling something, Lan Fen added with a mix of disdain and caution:
“As for that so-called Li Niang and Tian Jie’er, pay them no mind at all. It’s best to stay far away from them!”
Xique and Bailing, hearing this, nodded gravely, their expressions equally serious.
Xu Yue’s eyes flickered as he obediently nodded. It seemed the servants generally held unfavorable views toward Li Niang and her three children, even showing rejection.
At the dining table, Xu Yue listened numbly as Landlord Xu, Master Xu, Second Master Xu, and even Yuan Niang repeatedly praised how much brighter and healthier he looked after waking up that morning.
Xu Yue inwardly groaned: Enough with the compliments, enough! I don’t want to hear any more!
At the table, the newly arrived Yuan Ge’er huddled in a corner, completely ignored by everyone.
After all, he was only five years old and understood little of what was happening. Seeing that neither his mother nor sister were present—the Xu family didn’t acknowledge them—and that his usually affectionate father paid him no mind, focusing entirely on that unfamiliar younger brother instead, the spoiled child forgot all the instructions Li Niang had repeatedly given him about pleasing Yue Ge’er to integrate into the Xu family.
Yuan Ge’er suddenly threw his bowl and burst into loud wails, flailing his arms and legs: “Daddy, let’s go back… I don’t want this brother! I want sister! I want mother… Drive them all away!”
Landlord Xu’s face darkened as he slammed his bowl heavily onto the table. Such disgraceful behavior!
Yue Ge’er had stopped throwing such tantrums since he was one year old.
After all, this child wasn’t a proper descendant of the Xu family, Landlord Xu thought with growing impatience. He only needed to care about Yue Ge’er anyway.
“Eldest Son, take him away and teach him properly. If he can’t learn, don’t let him come to the dining table again—he’s an embarrassment.”
Master Xu, who had been repeatedly humiliated and embarrassed by Li Niang and her son since returning home, now felt some resentment himself.
Abandoning his meal, he promptly took the child away.
Having enjoyed the entire drama unfold before him, Xu Yue finished his meal in high spirits and boarded the Xu family’s only carriage to attend school in the county town.