Lu Zhao was sizing up the person opposite her when the dormant system suddenly activated. A monotonous electronic voice echoed in her mind: 【Host, the personal data in the backend has been successfully modified. Please review it promptly.】
The system’s voice sounded listless, clearly indicating it had expended too much energy and was running low.
Without showing any outward reaction, Lu Zhao asked mentally, “System, are you alright?”
Rarely receiving proactive concern from its host, the system’s voice perked up slightly: 【I’m fine. As long as you diligently complete the streaming missions, I’ll be perfectly fine.】
It was now irrevocably bound to its host and genuinely wished for her well-being.
Lu Zhao acknowledged and opened the backend personal attributes panel to check.
【Streamer’s New Identity: Name: Shen Qi / Lu Zhao】
【Age: 16】
【Gender: Female (disguised as male)】
【Origin: Seventh Prince of Da Yong / Hunter from Xishan Village, Liangzhou, Da Yong】
【Original Talents: Hunting → Post-Fusion: Combat, Assassination, Tracking, Others】
【Original Combat Power: 3 → Post-Fusion: 23】
【Acquired Skills: None】
【Number of Followers: 1000】
【Current Popularity Value: 0】
Lu Zhao’s typically unflappable eyes finally showed a change. The earlier gentleness vanished as she raised her voice to question the system: “Where did all my Popularity Value go?”
She distinctly remembered receiving numerous rewards before the system modified the data, totaling over two thousand. How could it have been wiped clean all at once?
The system trembled at her outburst and weakly explained: 【Perhaps… maybe… some data was accidentally lost during the modification process, resulting in the unexpected disappearance of the Popularity Value…】
“Unexpected disappearance?” Lu Zhao was speechless.
Recalling how the system usually coveted Popularity Value, she asked coolly: “Did you take the opportunity to embezzle it?”
The system issued a triple denial: 【No, no, absolutely not! I’m a good system! I would never do something so unethical!】
Fearing Lu Zhao would dwell on this, it quickly changed the subject: 【Host, after this data modification, an additional attribute that can be enhanced has appeared on your personal panel. Please check it promptly.】
Lu Zhao wasn’t one to dwell on things unnecessarily. She mentally noted this for later and continued examining her personal panel.
The final row of the personal panel now displayed “Mental Power,” with a value of 5.
Lu Zhao was delighted: Mental Power was something she had possessed in her previous life.
She carefully assessed her senses and found that with the support of Mental Power, her perception seemed sharper: the people outside the carriage, the swaying plants nearby, the passing breeze—everything was clearly perceptible.
The original body was severely depleted. If Mental Power could be increased, perhaps it could gradually recover and become as robust as her previous body?
Since other attributes could be improved, Mental Power must be improvable as well.
“System, can Mental Power also be exchanged for Popularity Value?”
The system replied: 【The system store does not currently offer Mental Power exchanges. It might become available after the host levels up.】
The personal attributes panel originally recorded by the system didn’t include Mental Power at all. In other words, this might be an attribute inherent to the host’s soul.
The system hadn’t yet figured out how to accumulate Mental Power.
【With just 10,000 Popularity Value, the host can level up to LV2. LV2 streamers can unlock more streaming benefits…】
Lu Zhao couldn’t be bothered to respond to it: she currently had zero Popularity Value left.
The matter of upgrading could wait; she needed to study the improvement of spiritual power further.
“Let’s start the live stream first.”
System: It’s fine. One day, the streamer will be tempted and take the initiative to upgrade.
It opened the live stream, and almost instantly, a large crowd flooded into the stream.
The number of online viewers skyrocketed from eight hundred to two thousand, then stabilized at two thousand.
The blank space in the live stream was instantly filled with scrolling subtitles.
[Shuaidebumingxian: Ahhhh! I’ve been waiting for a whole day and night, finally the streamer is live!]
[Jianmengtianxia: Same here, waited a whole day and night. I thought the Child of Destiny had died and the streamer got eliminated by the Live Stream System.]
[Zuipao Tianwang: Where is the streamer now?]
Lu Zhao instinctively looked up and out of the carriage, her eyes meeting Qiao Chi’s handsome, puzzled face.
No wonder Qiao Chi was confused—Lu Zhao had been staring at his injured wrist for as long as she had been communicating with the system. Though it wasn’t extremely long, it was certainly not short either.
Anyone would find it strange to be stared at like that.
The seventeen-year-old youth, having practiced martial arts for years, already exuded the vigor and vitality of a young man. His well-defined features and handsome face appeared even more exceptional under the high-definition, close-up camera shot.
The live stream audience instantly swooned.
[February Red: Holy crap, what an incredible face! Where did this handsome young man come from? Has the streamer changed the theme? Is it “Flirting with Men in Ancient Times” now?]
[Bajiaolian: Ahhh, I’m dead! Thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose bridge, and most importantly, that wheat-colored skin—it’s exactly my type!]
[Driver No Brake: This one is truly handsome! This must be what they mean by “sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes” in books!]
[Sucking a Pacifier to Conquer the World: Speaking of which, there are so many handsome men in Da Yong where the streamer is. That Child of Destiny from before was exceptionally good-looking too!]
The live stream was filled with praises.
But some grew impatient.
[No Thunder on Rainy Days: Stop swooning! I’ve waited so long just to find out what happens after the Child of Destiny dies. What’s the streamer going to do next?]
[Ji Ji Fu Ji Ji: Right, right! I’m almost dying of anxiety! Where is the streamer now? What about that Child of Destiny?]
Soon, the viewers asking about Shen Qi’s fate after death overwhelmed those fawning over appearances.
They had followed every stream and were extremely curious about the follow-up.
Lu Zhao explained, [When someone dies, of course they’re buried. The streamer is now Shen Qi, the Seventh Prince of Da Yong who was living in exile. As you can see, the young gentleman in front and the dozen or so people behind him were sent by the emperor to find the Seventh Prince.]
Only then did everyone notice that the stream’s theme had quietly changed to—The Plan to Cultivate a Wise Ruler: Live Streaming the Fight for the Throne to Become Emperor.
[IQ Offline: Huh? So the streamer has taken over Shen Qi’s identity? Planning to live stream becoming emperor?]
[National Little Cutie: But, is this really okay? The streamer is stealing someone else’s identity, someone else’s parents, someone else’s throne—isn’t that a bit too much? And isn’t the streamer female? How can a woman become emperor?]
The moment this comment was posted, it was immediately met with a storm of criticism.
[Weilai Shouxi Zhudao: What kind of outrageous comment is that? What do you mean by “stealing”? What rightfully belongs to whom? That Shen Qi is already dead. The streamer is kindly helping him honor his parents, reclaim the throne, and ensure his name is remembered through the ages—how is that too much?]
【Jianmengtianxia: Exactly! I’ve long disliked that so-called Child of Destiny! I’ve been wanting the streamer to eliminate him and take the throne herself.】
【Driver No Brakes: Right, why let middlemen profit from the livestream? The throne should be taken directly—what’s the point of being an Empress?】
【Super Cool: Since when can’t women be emperors? Wu Zetian became emperor! If the person above doesn’t like it, they can leave!】
Classic curses flew one after another, the scrolling subtitles densely packed, making Lu Zhao dizzy.
Having waited without any reaction from her, Qiao Chi frowned slightly and called out coldly, “Seventh Highness!”
Hearing his tone, Qiao Bing kicked him in the shin.
Wincing in pain, Qiao Chi softened his tone and called again, “Seventh Highness…”
Lu Zhao finally refocused her attention on him: This young man seemed reluctant even while handing her water.
Clearly, he held some resentment toward her.
After all, she was the one who had injured him, so she asked gently, “Is your hand alright?”
Seeing her finally speak, Qiao Chi instantly breathed a sigh of relief: “A minor injury, it’s fine.”
Lu Zhao expressed sincere gratitude: “Thank you for saving me today, Young Master Qiao.”
Hearing her form of address, Qiao Bing quickly interjected, “Seventh Highness, you may call my son A-Chi.”
Lu Zhao readily complied: “Thank you for saving me today, A-Chi.”
Qiao Chi immediately felt uncomfortable: His father had searched for the Seventh Highness for five years, and this was the only time he had definite news, bringing him along. It was all so he could become familiar with the Seventh Highness. If she were to achieve great things in the future, he would have the bond of shared hardship to help revitalize the Qiao family.
He ought to follow his father’s instructions and get closer to the Seventh Highness.
But he still wasn’t used to anyone outside his family calling him by his given name.
He stiffly said “You’re welcome,” immediately earning another glare from his father. Qiao Bing then cupped his hands and apologized, “Seventh Highness, please don’t mind him. A-Chi has always been like this since childhood—cold on the outside but warm inside.”
Lu Zhao nodded: “I know.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reached out to pull her from the frozen lake.
This young man was full of spirit, at an age where pride was most prominent.
After apologizing, Qiao Bing turned a cold face to Qiao Chi and said, “Hurry inside and attend to the Seventh Highness. Be quick about it.”
Qiao Chi boarded the carriage with a stern expression, and the carriage continued on its way.
Lu Zhao couldn’t hold on and bumped against the carriage wall again. Qiao Chi promptly reached out to steady her, solemnly helping her settle into the innermost corner. He then took out a waterskin, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to her.
Lu Zhao took the teacup and drank a few sips, her throat feeling somewhat relieved.
Qiao Chi immediately followed up: “How did you escape from the mine, Seventh Highness?”
Lu Zhao mixed truth with lies: “That mine wasn’t an ordinary one—it was a black mine secretly producing weapons for the Liangzhou Governor. Those who entered could only die inside. Taking advantage of the soldiers transporting weapons and the relaxed guard at the mine, we all split into two groups and escaped through the east and west gates. Brother Lu and I disguised ourselves as cooks and fled through the front gate…” She recounted the thrilling tale, ending sorrowfully: “Poor Brother Lu died tragically to save me. I must bury him properly. But I didn’t expect to lose strength and fall straight into the lake…”
Qiao Chi carefully recalled: When he pulled her out, he had indeed seen mud caked on her fingertips.
Had she actually dug a grave with her bare hands to bury him?
The master he was to serve in the future seemed to be someone who valued loyalty.
The live stream audience was stunned by Lu Zhao’s audacity.
[National Little Cutie: Hahahaha, the black-hearted lotus can rest in peace now. Who knew the streamer would portray him as so righteous and loyal!]
[Driver No Brake: This isn’t about glorifying the black-hearted lotus—it’s clearly the streamer finding ways to glorify herself. She’s trying to win Qiao Xiaogege’s favor.]
[Trash Talk King: Young Master Qiao is clearly fooled by the streamer. His attitude toward her has improved quite a bit.]
[Bajiaolian: Streamer, don’t tell me you’re trying to hit on the young master?]
Lu Zhao’s lips twitched slightly. [I’m a serious streamer, everyone. No wild speculation!]
The live chat erupted in laughter.
Feeling helpless, Lu Zhao turned her attention to questioning Qiao Chi. “When you rescued me, did you investigate the Black Mine? Were there any others who escaped?”
Qiao Chi replied, “Father sent people to check. Besides you, there should be others who escaped. Xie Jinchi, the son of the Liangzhou Governor, personally led a large force there. When we left, we overheard them planning to set the mountain on fire to force the escapees out.”
Lu Zhao frowned. “Didn’t it just rain? The trees on the mountain are damp. Can they really start a fire?”
Qiao Chi said coldly, “They brought fire oil. Even the dampest mountain can be set ablaze! The Liangzhou Governor is ambitious and won’t care about the lives on the mountain or the nearby villagers. If they don’t find the escaped miners, they’ll likely bury the entire mine to prevent the news from leaking.”
Hearing that the Liangzhou Governor’s men planned to set the mountain on fire, the live chat began cursing the governor again.
[Driver No Brake: Setting fire to the mountain? They deserve to rot in prison! This Liangzhou Governor has no bottom line!]
[Jianmengtianxia: Streamer, does your channel take requests for live content? If there’s a chance to take down this Xie Jinchi and the Liangzhou Governor, I’ll donate a sports car!]
[Super Cool: I’ll match that with another sports car!]
The viewers in the live chat echoed the sentiment, and Lu Zhao felt tempted. But her body was severely depleted. Another high-intensity chase would likely be the end of her.
For now, she needed to play it safe, recover her strength, and bide her time.
Multitasking, she continued listening to Qiao Chi.
“We need to hurry into the city. Xie Jinchi and his men will probably start searching the area after setting the fire. The roads are muddy, and the carriage tracks will be easy to follow. If they catch up to us, it won’t end well.”
Lu Zhao set down her teacup. As the carriage swayed, the cup trembled almost imperceptibly.
Her expression shifted, and she suddenly spoke up, “Stop the carriage quickly! A large group of riders is closing in from behind.”
Qiao Chi frowned. “How can Your Highness the Seventh Prince be so sure?”
He considered his martial skills decent, yet he hadn’t noticed anything.
The Seventh Prince’s body was so weak, and judging by her physique and the way her hands and feet rested, she didn’t seem like a martial arts expert.
The viewers in the live chat also voiced their doubts.
[Driver No Brake: Is the streamer serious? Are there really pursuers?]
[Jianmengtianxia: The streamer’s expression doesn’t seem like she’s lying. It’s probably true.]
[Super Cool: But how? I’ve heard about pressing an ear to the ground to detect pursuers, but the streamer has been inside the carriage the whole time and didn’t move just now…]
Lu Zhao had no time to explain. She threw open the carriage curtain and raised her voice, shouting, “Stop the carriage now! Let me out!”
Her clothes clearly marked her as someone from the mine. If they were caught, the entire convoy would be implicated, and she’d be forced into a fight.
If she weren’t with the convoy, even if they were caught, the Liangzhou Governor’s men would have no grounds to cause trouble.
Hearing the commotion, Qiao Bing immediately halted the convoy and rode forward to ask what was happening.
Lu Zhao repeated his words once more. Qiao Bing’s expression turned grave as he instructed Qiao Chi, “Quickly help the Seventh Prince take cover in the grass up ahead!”
Qiao Chi frowned. “Father, none of us noticed any pursuers. How could he know? We mustn’t delay our journey…”
Qiao Bing roared, “Go when you’re told! Military orders are as unyielding as mountains—go now!”
Only then did Qiao Chi leap from the carriage, bend down to carry Lu Zhao on his back, and head toward the concealed thicket ahead.
Qiao Bing dismounted and stepped directly into the carriage, ordering the convoy to continue forward.
Almost the moment the convoy began to move, pursuers appeared in sight from behind.
Leading them was a young nobleman, exceptionally handsome, dressed in brocade robes with a jade belt, exuding arrogance. From afar, he shouted, “Everyone ahead, halt for this young master!”
Hidden in the grass, Qiao Chi was stunned: There really were pursuers! And the one who had caught up was none other than Xie Jinchi, the son of the Liangzhou Governor!
Author’s Note: