“Your Highness, Consort Chu… she has awakened!”
These few words struck Pei Zhen’s ears like a thunderclap, instantly dispelling all the gloom and icy chill from his brow.
A surge of immense joy washed over him, so overwhelming that his vision darkened, his chest heaved with turbulent energy, and a sudden metallic taste rose in his throat.
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, forcing the blood that had surged to his mouth back down. Yet, his face uncontrollably paled for a moment.
“Prepare my horse!”
He rasped out the command, his voice trembling with barely restrained emotion.
Without waiting for the guards to bring a horse, he snatched the reins of a fine steed, mounted it in one swift motion, and dug his heels sharply into its sides.
“Hyah!”
The horse let out a long whinny and shot forward like an arrow from a bow, its hooves pounding urgently on the palace road, kicking up a trail of dust.
All notions of decorum and protocol were flung to the winds.
At this moment, all he wanted was to see her—immediately, right now!
Eastern Palace, Sleeping Palace.
[System upgrade complete. New Intelligence Function added. The Host can spend 500 Points daily to view three pieces of Intelligence.]
As the System’s voice sounded, Chu Shengsheng slowly awoke.
The moment she regained consciousness, aside from hunger, she felt hunger, and still more hunger!
Good heavens, she was starving! How could she be this hungry?!
“Hungry… so hungry…”
She moved her parched lips with difficulty, uttering a faint whisper.
She was so famished it left her utterly weak!
“Lady of Goodness! Lady of Goodness, you’re awake! Quick, go inform His Highness! No, first bring warm water, and the porridge kept warm in the kitchen, hurry!”
The maid by the bedside was stunned at first, then overjoyed, issuing flustered orders. She carefully helped Chu Shengsheng sit up, leaning against soft cushions.
Warm water moistened her throat, bringing a hint of cool relief.
Soon, a bowl of perfectly warm, thoroughly cooked white rice porridge was brought over.
The maid immediately began feeding her small spoonfuls. The warm rice broth slid down her dry throat, easing the hollow ache of hunger and restoring some of her strength.
Seizing a break between sips, with a flutter of excitement, she began calling out to the System.
“System! System! Quick, tell me how many Points Pei Zhen sent me.”
It shouldn’t be too few, right?
If it were too little, all her strenuous acting would have been for nothing.
[The Host currently has 95,599 Points remaining.]
How much?!
Ninety-five thousand and more?!
The sheer size of the number made Chu Shengsheng’s breath catch, followed by overwhelming excitement and exhilaration.
But with the maid present and her current condition unsuitable for outbursts, she maintained a frail and feeble appearance on the surface, while internally she was screaming with joy!
Pei Zhen, you are truly amazing!
Her struggle to suppress laughter was so intense it contorted her expression slightly. The maid feeding her porridge was startled and quickly asked, “Lady of Goodness, is there something wrong with the porridge?”
“Nothing… it’s fine. Please continue.”
She immediately shook her head, leaning back with a pale face, forcing a weak smile.
She had almost forgotten to maintain her persona.
Seeing that the maid was fooled, she quietly sighed in relief, then continued her conversation with the System.
“System, I think I heard something about an Intelligence Function when I first woke up. What is that?”
【This is a newly unlocked function after the System upgrade, allowing you to obtain three pieces of real-time Intelligence daily related to the Host or specified targets, requiring a deduction of 500 Points. Would you like to view today’s Intelligence now?】
【View!】
Just 500 Points—for someone like her, sitting on a fortune of nearly 100,000 Points, it was nothing.
She was just that extravagant!
【Beep—500 Points deducted. Retrieving today’s Intelligence…】
【Intelligence One: Liu Yiyi had her tongue cut out, her limbs crippled, and was found to have committed adultery with the Second Prince, resulting in a miscarriage. The Emperor was furious, the Prime Minister fell from power, and to appease the Host, she was granted the title of Lady of Goodness.】
【Intelligence Two: The toxicity of Beauty’s Intoxication has taken effect. The Empress and her attending maidservants are covered in red, swollen, and festering sores. The Imperial Physicians are at a loss. The Crown Prince forced his way into the Phoenix Palace to warn the Empress, but the Emperor showed no reaction.】
【Intelligence Three: The target Pei Zhen, due to the Host being repeatedly humiliated and injured, has been tormented both physically and emotionally, and has developed genuine feelings.】
Holy crap.
So much had happened while she was starving and unconscious.
Liu Yiyi actually had an affair with the Second Prince and got pregnant?!
But Pei Zhen really came through—dealing with Liu Yiyi so quickly, warning the Empress, and even…
The Crown Prince has fallen for her?
The first two pieces of Intelligence felt incredibly satisfying to Chu Shengsheng, but the last one made her blush with a hint of smugness.
Hehe, her charm really was something—she’d already won over the target this quickly!
After basking in her pride for a moment, she suddenly remembered something. Sipping her porridge slowly, she casually asked:
“System, did this upgrade cost Points, or was it automatic?”
【Answering the Host: The upgrade required Points. 200,000 Points have already been deducted.】
“Pfft—cough, cough, cough!!”
She was so shocked she choked on her porridge, coughing violently as her pale face flushed bright red.
How much?!
Two hundred thousand?!
Did it just deduct 200,000 Points from her?!
If that’s the case, then the Points Pei Zhen gave her weren’t just over 100,000, but nearly 300,000?!
Damn it, the System took advantage of her while she was unconscious to rob her!
Shameless!
“Lady of Goodness! What’s wrong? Quick, catch your breath!”
The maid, frightened, rushed forward to pat her back.
Just then, the door was slammed open with a bang, and a figure in dark robes swept in with a gust of cold wind—it was Pei Zhen, who had galloped back on horseback.
His eyes immediately landed on the person he had been longing for day and night, now coughing violently with a flushed face. His heart leaped into his throat, and without a second thought, he kicked the bewildered maid aside and growled, “Get out!”
In the next instant, he rushed to the bedside, carefully and gently gathering the young woman into his arms. His hand patted her back softly, trembling with uncontrollable anxiety as he said, “Sheng Sheng? Sheng Sheng! Don’t panic, breathe slowly… I’m here, I’m with you.”
Once her coughing subsided slightly, he could no longer restrain himself. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tightly against his chest.
His embrace was so fierce, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones and blood, never to be parted again.
Chu Shengsheng was instantly enveloped in his familiar scent.
Leaning against the man’s solid, feverish chest, she listened to his heart pounding like a drum and recalled the figure she had seen before losing consciousness. A complex warmth surged in her heart.
The maid had long since slipped away unnoticed, leaving only the two of them in the room. Now, locked in a tight embrace, neither spoke a word.
After a long while, she suddenly felt the body embracing her trembling slightly. Surprised, she shifted and tried to look up at him.
But Pei Zhen held her even tighter, his chin resting on the top of her head. His voice was muffled, thick with a heavy nasal tone, as he said, “Don’t move… let me hold you a little longer…”
Chu Shengsheng obediently stayed still, yet she keenly sensed a few drops of warm liquid falling onto the nape of her neck.
He… was crying?
This discovery left her stunned.