"System, can't you do something a bit more human?" Cui Shu Ruo questioned the System in her mind.
Perhaps having just returned from training with the Main System, the System now carried a strangely coquettish tone despite its cold, mechanical voice.
【Oh dear, sweetie, I'm just a little system, not a human~】
Cui Shu Ruo: …
Well, she had nothing to say to that.
But the System kept chattering away, trying to shake her cold, hardened heart.
【Sweetie, just go ahead and win him over, win him over~ If you do, I'll forget that you didn't even remember systems aren't human, and I'll forgive you~】
【Please, please, sweetie~】
……
The coquettishness alone was bad enough, but why did it have to be in a mechanical voice??
Cui Shu Ruo was so tormented by the System that she could barely maintain the smile on her face.
Her grip on the teacup tightened as she dealt with Wei Cheng Huai while angrily rebuking the System in her mind.
"Enough!! Keep this up and I'll curse you! Besides, you're a system that needs training—you must have strict management protocols, right? If your host files a complaint… hehe."
Cui Shu Ruo's words acted like the Golden Hoop tightening around Sun Wukong's head, and the System immediately fell silent.
After a few moments, the dialogue box beneath the panel in her mind flickered, and the System sent a very humble message.
【Sweetie, I was wrong. Please don't report me, okay? ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3】
Since they would be together for a long time, Cui Shu Ruo graciously forgave it.
"Fine."
Only after the System apologized did Cui Shu Ruo ask, "Why exactly do you want me to win over Wei Cheng Huai? I remember you said you were a cultivation system dedicated to overthrowing villains, performing countless good deeds daily, and leading your host to the pinnacle of life. It didn't seem to include any tasks about winning someone over."
The System cautiously continued sending messages only through the dialogue box, afraid of angering Cui Shu Ruo again.
【That's true, but I just want you to be more perfect, sweetie. If lots of people follow you and someone loves you wholeheartedly, I'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment.】
【Like Yan Rong beside you—her Loyalty Points and favorability toward you are quite high, at 60 and 75 respectively!】
Cui Shu Ruo looked at the message in the dialogue box but noticed something else.
"So you can check others' favorability and Loyalty Points toward me. Can I see them too?"
The System clearly hesitated, taking longer to reply than before, but eventually answered Cui Shu Ruo's question.
【Sweetie, actually, hosts don't necessarily get to see that. It depends on each system's judgment.】
Perhaps realizing it could never control Cui Shu Ruo, the System changed its tone.
【But since I love you so much, sweetie, I can definitely grant you access~】
【Still, don't you really want to win him over?】
【His attributes are excellent in every way, and he has huge growth potential. He's a very rare character.】
Cui Shu Ruo casually asked in her mind, "If I succeed in winning him over, is there a reward?"
Seeing that Cui Shu Ruo seemed to be softening, the System grew excited.
【Of course there is!!】
"Can the reward let me return to the modern world alive?"
【No…】
"Can it cure all my illnesses or make me incredibly rich?"
【No…】
"Then what is the reward?"
【Can't reveal that, sweetie.】
"Forget it, then. It's not important."
【…】
The System strongly suspected Cui Shuruo was deliberately teasing it, and it had evidence to prove it.
After teasing the System, Cui Shuruo was in an even better mood, her eyes and brows radiating joy. As for Wei Chenghuai, he was delighted to have made such an 'extraordinary' friend. Unfortunately, no matter how delighted or upright he was, Cui Shuruo was still a woman, and Wei Chenghuai would not keep her alone in the pavilion for an entire night of cheerful conversation.
Just as the tea was about to finish, Wei Chenghuai sighed, "It's a pity you can't remember your origins or what kind of family could have raised someone as open-minded and intelligent as you."
Cui Shuruo still remembered the woman who abandoned her at the gates of Suizhou City. Hearing Wei Chenghuai attribute her upbringing to such a person made her feel quite uncomfortable.
What shaped her current knowledge and temperament was not some so-called family background, but her homeland. She had equal access to education, could walk proudly on the streets, and could stay up all night drinking and strolling with friends…
So Cui Shuruo chuckled, pretending to reminisce, "Although I can't remember my origins, I do have memories of my teachers instructing me."
Wei Chenghuai grew interested. He set down his tea bowl and moved closer. "Do you remember your teachers' appearances or names? If they were your teachers, they must have had some connection to your family. Perhaps they could help you find your relatives."
"I'm a bit hazy on the details, but I think there were two teachers. I seem to have called them Mr. De and Mr. Sai," Cui Shuruo said.
The light in Wei Chenghuai's eyes dimmed slightly. "I've never heard of them." Afraid that Cui Shuruo might feel disheartened, he quickly added words of comfort, "It's fine if you only remember this much. The four prefectures and commanderies along the border are all under the jurisdiction of Dingbei Wangfu. We will surely find them."
Cui Shuruo said nothing more. With a gentle smile, she raised her tea bowl to him in a toast. "Thank you."
With that, she finished the tea in her bowl.
The tea was gone, its fragrance extinguished, leaving only a wisp of lingering smoke. It was time for both of them to retire for the night.
Cui Shuruo stood up to take her leave and returned to her room, followed by her maids.
Wei Chenghuai, however, did not leave. He remained seated quietly in the pavilion. Under the cover of night, a figure silently entered the pavilion and knelt before him. "Shizi!"
"Hmm, rise. What have you found?" When facing his subordinate, Wei Chenghuai shed his earlier youthful exuberance, his expression and tone turning cold and detached, giving no hint that he was not yet of age.
The person on the ground stood up. He had an ordinary appearance, resembling an honest and simple commoner, the kind no one would glance twice at on the street, and even less noticeable in the darkness of night.
"Shizi, after multiple investigations, Prefect Li has had no dealings with the Di people, either openly or privately. Even trade between the two sides has been handled by others.
However, I discovered that Prefect Li was once very close to a border garrison commander. Later… this commander defected to the Di people and now holds a high-ranking position."
Wei Chenghuai's fingers lightly tapped the table. The rhythmic dong, dong, dong echoed in the empty pavilion, filling the silence and seeming to strike at one's heart.
"The defector was General Meng Polu, wasn't it? When he defected, Li Xian submitted a memorial about it. Unless we find evidence of continued contact between the two afterward, we cannot prove that Li Xian colluded with the Di people."
Under Wei Chenghuai's words, the subordinate bowed his head even lower. "Yes, I was careless."
"Forget it. Li Xian has entrenched himself in Qunan County for many years, slippery as a mudfish. Neither the local aristocratic families nor the court can handle him. It's not something that can be exposed in a short time.
You may leave."
"Yes! Your subordinate bids farewell!" The subordinate knelt, clasped his fists, and bowed his head, slowly retreating into the night until he disappeared.
Wei Cheng Huai, however, picked up his teacup, slowly rubbing it, lost in thought.
Cui Shu Ruo did not know what happened later in the pavilion. After returning to her fragrant, soft room, she began pestering the System to see the surrounding people's favorability toward her.
After delving deeper, Cui Shu Ruo learned that the System could view each person's attribute panel, similar to Cui Shu Ruo's own attribute panel, but they would have additional favorability and Loyalty Points toward Cui Shu Ruo, both capped at 100 points.
However, no matter how Cui Shu Ruo nagged the System, it refused to fully open everyone's attribute panels, but it agreed to show Cui Shu Ruo a censored version displaying only favorability and Loyalty Points.
Thus, Cui Shu Ruo obtained…
a bunch of mosaics and censored text.
【Name: Yan Rong
Gender: Female
Age: 18
==: censored
==: censored
==: censored
Loyalty Points: 60 (Wow~ she's currently the person with the highest Loyalty Points around you~)
Favorability: 75 (She likes you more than her lover!）】
After checking Yan Rong's attribute panel, Cui Shu Ruo looked at those of the other maids who cared for her today.
Only then did she notice something odd. The Loyalty Points of the other maids were almost all 5 or 10 points, slightly better ones being 15 points. This differed greatly from favorability; their favorability toward her was almost all 30 or 40 points.
Seeing this, Cui Shu Ruo couldn't help asking the System, "Is there a big difference between Loyalty Points and favorability?"
【Dear darling, yes. Everyone has a favorability setting toward you, but Loyalty Points can only be activated for those with a subordinate relationship to you.】
【Once Loyalty Points reach above 80, they will be willing to risk their lives for you and never betray you. When reaching 100 points, even if you are foolish and dim-witted and try to kill them with a knife, they will offer their necks without complaint, shouting before death that they still want to be yours in the next life.】
【When favorability reaches 80 points, if it involves romantic love, it means affection; if among friends, it means inseparable friendship. When reaching 100 points, regardless of gender, they will regard you as the most important person in their life, inseparable, willing to betray the world rather than you.】
Cui Shu Ruo understood now. She asked again, "You said Wei Cheng Huai's favorability toward me is high. Specifically, how much?"
【50 points favorability.】
"50 points, indeed higher than most people."
【Yes, yes! His initial favorability toward you was already 40 points!】
【And aristocratic families' heirs have deep thoughts; having such high points shows he quite admires you, darling.】
【If darling tries to win him over, it might be easier than with ordinary people~】
Cui Shu Ruo heard the System reverting to its old ways, chuckled, then firmly said, "No, need!"
【Alright, darling. Although regrettable, the System cannot violate your wishes.】
The person and the System skipped this topic. Cui Shu Ruo also washed up under Yan Rong's service. After applying bottles and jars Cui Shu Ruo hadn't seen before, they helped Cui Shu Ruo onto the soft quilt.
The quilt had been scented, smelling like gardenia flowers, very pleasant.
The other maids also quietly extinguished the candles. Yan Rong lowered one side of the curtain for Cui Shu Ruo and said, "Young noblewoman, tonight I will be keeping watch. If you have any instructions, simply shake the golden bell by the curtain."
"Yes." Cui Shu Ruo nodded.
Seeing the other servants gradually withdraw, Cui Shu Ruo grasped Yan Rong's sleeve. "Wait, I have something to ask you."
Yan Rong placed her hands together before her, bending her knees. "Young noblewoman, please speak."
"In a few days, I may accompany the Shìzǐ to Youzhou. I wish to take you along." Cui Shu Ruo looked at Yan Rong.
Yan Rong opened her mouth to reply, but Cui Shu Ruo stopped her. "Don't answer hastily. To be honest, my origins are unclear, my future uncertain, and my relationship with the Shìzǐ is not what you imagine.
If you follow me to Youzhou, it may not lead to wealth and honor; you could face hardships, perhaps even worse than your situation here. Though Manager Wu is strict, at least it is stable and secure."
Yan Rong was stunned. She hadn't expected Cui Shu Ruo to speak so frankly, analyzing the pros and cons.
As Cui Shu Ruo had said, she pondered seriously.
Then, Yan Rong knelt and bowed, performing a deep gesture of respect toward Cui Shu Ruo. "Young noblewoman has shown kindness to me. Yan Rong willingly follows you. If you do not reject me, Yan Rong wishes to serve as your humble servant, never leaving, accompanying you through life and death."
[Ding, Loyalty Points +5]
[Congratulations, dear! Yue Yan Rong's Loyalty Points toward you are 65 points!]
Cui Shu Ruo ignored the voice in her mind. She rose from the bed and solemnly helped Yan Rong stand.
"I will not betray this loyalty. Though the world may be chaotic, I too will never leave you."