When things go against the norm, there must be something sinister at play.
Yun Jiao paused for a moment before saying, “If you gain the Emperor’s favor, that’s your own capability and has nothing to do with me. Ever since I last attended to the Emperor, I haven’t seen him again, nor have I heard any news about him.”
“What does the Emperor have to do with this? I simply wish to befriend you.”
As a result, Sun Changzai became even more enthusiastic.
In her previous life, Yun Jiao had been bedridden with illness and played single-player games, having very few friends. Thus, she could only rely on her experience from playing Palace Intrigue games to make sense of the situation. In “Deep Palace,” it was common for palace consorts who had never met before to visit unexpectedly. Depending on the player’s rank, three scenarios could unfold.
First, the other party might pledge allegiance to you, wanting to become your subordinate.
Second, the other party might try to recruit you, asking you to become their subordinate.
Third, they might come to pick a fight, seeking nothing more than amusement.
Because after transmigrating into this world, every person Yun Jiao encountered felt unlike NPCs but rather like real individuals with flesh and blood, each with their own past experiences, she hadn’t made this connection—after all, “Deep Palace” was a Palace Intrigue game. Perhaps these game mechanics would only manifest after entering the palace?
Yun Jiao began to ponder, “Uh…”
Sun Changzai pleaded, “I beg you, I genuinely wish to befriend you.”
Yun Jiao’s brain overloaded: “What? You genuinely want to become my follower?”
Sun Changzai choked up. She hadn’t sunk so low as to willingly degrade herself to such a position. However, last night, she had told the Emperor that the two of them were as close as sisters. If Consort Xi didn’t help her cover up the lie, it would be considered a crime of deceiving the Emperor—a charge she couldn’t bear. Driven by the will to survive, she gritted her teeth and said to Yun Jiao, whom she had always looked down upon, “Yes, I genuinely wish to become your follower.”
After saying this, Sun Changzai hypnotized herself into believing that Consort Xi was nothing but a fool.
Unexpectedly, after she finished speaking, Yun Jiao patted her shoulder and said with profound sincerity, “Why don’t you find someone else to follow? There’s no future in following me. My goal is to peacefully live out my days in the rear palace until I reach a hundred years old and pass away with a smile on my face.”
“Besides, I’m a Changzai, and so are you.”
“They say it’s easy to enjoy shade under a large tree, but if two vegetables are planted together, they’ll only be harvested together and turned into chives.”
Seeing that Sun Changzai remained insistent, Yun Jiao let her be.
The moment Yun Jiao agreed, a “ding-dong” notification sound echoed in her mind. Without showing any expression, she opened her character panel and noticed a new [Relationships] branch next to [Attributes]. Under the “Friendly” section, Sun Changzai’s name had appeared.
That wasn’t important.
What was important was that under the “Hostile” section, the Empress’s name was prominently displayed.
Yun Jiao: …She hadn’t done anything! How unfair, Your Majesty!
After returning to Xianfu Palace, Yun Jiao curled up in a corner and began looking forward to lunch.
But for some reason today, all the dishes delivered were ones she disliked.
When she reloaded for the second time, instead of waiting for Xue Ya to return with the meal, she was greeted by the smiling Eunuch Yinglu: “Consort Xi, the Emperor has summoned you to Qiankun Palace to attend to him.”
What was going on? How did trying to get a decent lunch lead to an audience with the Emperor?
Yun Jiao refused to work overtime and reloaded again.
The third time, Eunuch Yinglu didn’t appear. Yun Jiao leaned against the windowsill, eagerly awaiting Xue Ya, when suddenly, strange noises came from outside, followed by a sharp announcement from a eunuch:
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived—”
A quarter of an hour earlier, Xie Zhihang had fallen into a loop.
During the second cycle, he decided to summon Consort Xi to see what trick she had up her sleeve. Being summoned by the Emperor to accompany him was an immense honor for any woman in the harem—surely she wouldn’t want to Rewind time again.
But the vanishing words on the paper made Xie Zhihang eat his words instantly.
Xie Zhihang: “…”
Xie Zhihang: “Prepare the carriage for Xianfu Palace.”
If summoning her to accompany me isn’t enough, then my personal visit should suffice!
If I don’t mention the game panel soon, I might almost forget that Jiaojiao is transmigrated into a game.