The Marquis and Marchioness of Beiding shared a deeply loving marriage and were blessed with two sons and one daughter. Their youngest daughter was named Lanyue. At just three years old, she was as exquisitely beautiful as a sculpted jade doll and exceptionally clever. The couple treasured her like the rarest pearl.
When the princess entered the Wenhua Hall to begin her early education, Lanyue was chosen to be her study companion.
Thus, the prized jewel of the Marquis Beiding household officially began her schooling.
“Yue’er, Yue’er, wake up quickly. It’s time to head to Wenhua Hall.”
Jin Lanyue opened her eyes sleepily, her chubby little face flushed red from sleep. Before she could fully wake up, she was scooped into the arms of her mother, Jiang Xiyue.
Her small hands instinctively wrapped around her mother’s neck, and she buried herself directly into her mother’s fragrant and soft embrace.
Looking at the dazed and adorable little daughter in her arms, Jiang Xiyue’s heart melted. She couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her soft little cheek. “Alright, no more sleeping in from now on. Our little Yue’er is going to school.”
Jin Lanyue was carried over and placed in front of the dressing table. Jiang Xiyue personally wiped her face with a warm cloth, then picked up a comb to braid her hair.
“C-can’t sleep anymore…” Jin Lanyue tried her best to open her eyes wide. Her white, plump arms—resembling tender lotus roots—propped herself up against the dressing table, her two little hands cradling her face to keep herself from falling over.
In the bronze mirror before her, her large eyes were filled with immense drowsiness.
Jiang Xiyue quickly tied her hair into two adorable little buns and adorned them with beautiful pearl flowers, then carried her all the way out the door.
The Marquis of Beiding was already waiting outside by the carriage and horses.
By now, Jin Lanyue had woken up quite a bit. Her heart swelled with curiosity and a touch of excitement.
She was going to school!
As soon as she reached the main gate, the first people she saw were her two older brothers.
“Is Little Sister going to school this early?” The eldest brother looked at her with heartache. “It’s only the hour of Mao right now. Little Sister usually sleeps for another two hours before waking up.”
The second brother ran over immediately, standing on his tiptoes to pull her small hand. “Little Sister, I can’t bear to see you go. I still want to fly kites with you.”
Jin Lanyue held her second brother’s hand and gave it a gentle shake, greeting them happily, “Good morning, Big Brother and Second Brother! Second Brother, wait until Yue’er comes back, then I’ll fly kites with you.”
The second brother pouted, still entirely unwilling to part with his incredibly lovable little sister.
The Marquis of Beiding stepped forward with a smile and took Jin Lanyue from Jiang Xiyue’s arms. “Why all this reluctant parting? Yue’er will be back in just a few hours.”
He carried Jin Lanyue into the carriage. The wheels began to roll, and the carriage slowly moved forward.
Jin Lanyue pressed against the window curtain to look outside. Her mother had stuffed a box of pastries into her hands to tide her over, and her two older brothers reluctantly chased after the carriage for several paces.
The Marquis Beiding estate was not far from the imperial palace, and they arrived at the palace gates in no time.
The father and daughter got out of the carriage and walked on foot until they reached the entrance of Wenhua Hall. From there, the Marquis of Beiding could proceed no further.
He could only crouch down to carefully give Jin Lanyue a few instructions. Jin Lanyue raised her hand to ask a question: “Then Daddy, can Yue’er share this delicious pastry with the princess?”
She stated proudly, “Mommy’s pastries are the most delicious! They are the most delicious pastries in the whole wide world!”
The Marquis of Beiding silently stared at the pastry in her hand, which she had already bitten in half at some unknown point. “…Yes, you can. Just don’t give the princess the piece currently in your hand.”
He then watched her enter Wenhua Hall.
The palace was towering and magnificent. Keeping the palace etiquette strictly in mind, the tiny, four-heads-tall toddler did her best to straighten her little body, taking measured steps with her short legs to walk inside properly.
After passing through two gates and a corridor, she was completely out of breath by the time she finally spotted the classroom.
The little toddler felt a bit sad about not being carried.
This massive palace was simply too unfriendly to her short legs!
Just as she let out a sigh of relief, a strange voice suddenly echoed inside her head—
【Beep.】
【Wicked Female Supporting Character System has been successfully bound.】
What?
Jin Lanyue tapped her head blankly with her little hand.
She seemed to have heard a strange sound… Was there something wrong with her head?
The bizarre voice continued—
【Today is your eighteenth birthday, but no one notices you. Your parents and brothers are gathered around the adopted daughter, congratulating her on her engagement to your former fiancé.】
【Your reputation is utterly ruined, and you are loathed by everyone like a rat crossing the street. Your honor, your glory, and your family have all abandoned you. The only princess who was willing to help you was also beheaded today.】
【Now, completely disheartened and carrying a body full of pain and a heart full of despair, you prepare to take your own life today.】
【But are you truly going to give up just like this? Since you already have nothing left to lose, why not throw everything away and strike back with a vengeance?】
【Come! The Wicked Female Supporting Character System is entirely at your service. Let us—RUIN! ABSOLUTELY! EVERYONE! TOGETHER!】
The voice spoke with burning passion, but…
Jin Lanyue looked down in utter bewilderment at her own chubby little hand clutching the pastry…
But she was only three years old!
She froze right where she stood, her tiny brain working hard to process whether she should go see a doctor first or go to class first.
“Hey, what are you standing there frozen for?” A voice called out from inside the classroom.
Looking up, she saw a little princess adorned in gold and silver, staring at her with her chin held high. “Come in quickly, or the tutor will beat your palms for being late.”
But my head seems to be broken…
Still, a beating on the palms sounded much more terrifying.
Thus, Jin Lanyue walked obediently over to the princess. “Um… have you eaten yet? Here’s some pastry for you.”
She extended the hand holding the pastry that only had one bite left.
Huh? Wait, wrong hand!
With lightning-fast speed, she shoved that piece of pastry into her own mouth, acting as though it had never existed. Instead, she reached out with her other hand, which was holding a tiny food box. She chewed hard and mumbled with effort, “For you… dis…”
The princess, who was only two years old older than her, looked at her with a highly complex expression—composed of fifty percent shock, thirty percent disdain, and twenty percent regret. “You are so silly. Why did I choose you to be my study companion?”
Jin Lanyue blinked her large eyes, opened the food box, took out a fresh piece of pastry, and recommended it earnestly, “But the pastry is really super delicious. Just try a bite.”
The little princess crossed her arms and lifted her head proudly. “I won’t! I would never eat this kind of commoner fo—mmpf…”
Jin Lanyue had poked the pastry right to her lips. Because the princess was looking upward, she didn’t see it coming and caught a bite completely off guard, reflexively chewing it down.
【Beep.】
Suddenly, the strange voice in her head rang out once more—
【Mission Triggered: You have escaped and run all the way to the execution ground despite the pouring rain. The torrential downpour washes over a field of crimson blood. Heartbroken upon seeing the decapitated corpse of your one and only true friend, you swear to seek vengeance. But first, you need to piece the princess’s body back together and embrace her one last time.】
【Mission: Restore the princess’s body to its original state and embrace her.】
【Reward: Mastery of Early Education Knowledge (Literature Edition).】
The strange voice kept saying terrifying things.
Mommy, her head really seemed to be broken…
Jin Lanyue looked up at the princess in utter confusion. The princess’s expression shifted from shock to anger, then back to shock, before finally being completely conquered by the delicious food. “I-it actually tastes quite good… Wait, why do you keep staring at me like that?”