Front Courtyard.
The long corridor was adorned with lanterns, illuminating the courtyard as brightly as day. The singing girls, dressed in light, flimsy garments, were dancing while the guests clinked cups and drank until they were tipsy.
Gu Quan, holding a bronze cup in his right hand, gently swirled the fine wine inside. Seeing Madam Cheng, who should have been attending to matters in the rear courtyard, approach, he frowned.
She stepped forward to report: “My lord, poison was slipped into Madam’s tea.”
Gu Quan straightened up immediately and asked, “Is she alright?”
Madam Cheng replied, “Madam was cautious and tested the poison with a silver utensil. She is unharmed but somewhat shaken.”
Hearing that Lian Yue was safe, he set his cup down on the table and asked, “Have you brought the evidence?”
Madam Cheng handed over the wine pot containing the poisoned drink: “My lord, it is here.”
“Good.”
Magistrate Lu of Wan City had been watching Gu Quan closely. Seeing Madam Cheng, who served that serving concubine, approach without showing any panic, he guessed something had gone wrong in the rear courtyard.
He was in no hurry.
By now, some of the elite soldiers Gu Quan had brought were dead drunk, and even those with the strongest tolerance were swaying unsteadily on their feet, devoid of any combat capability. Even if there was trouble in the rear courtyard, once Gu Quan was captured, that promiscuous serving concubine would also meet her end.
Noticing this, Lu Heng deliberately inquired, “General Gu, you seem disturbed. Has something happened?”
Hearing this, Gu Quan’s peach-blossom eyes swept over, his sharp gaze resting on the other man. Seeing Lu Heng’s displeased expression, he smiled and said, “It’s nothing serious. I’ve just obtained a pot of excellent tea and would like to invite Magistrate Lu to taste it.”
Lu Heng replied, “Today’s banquet offers fine wine and delicacies. What need is there for tea? General Gu, you are still too young. Could it be that your alcohol tolerance is poor, and you’re already unable to hold your drink, using this as an excuse to avoid more wine?”
He laughed as he spoke, and his subordinates joined in, their mockery evident.
Yet Gu Quan showed no anger. He stood up and walked toward Magistrate Lu: “Magistrate Lu is right. I am indeed young and lack your far-sighted scheming.”
He had taken only two steps toward Lu Heng when the latter’s retainers drew their swords and pointed them at him.
Lu Heng said, “General Gu, I heard that half a year ago, after King Chang Liu passed away, the Gu Clan fell into your hands. At that time, you had not a single soldier to your name and had to borrow a thousand troops from the Yuan Clan. With just that small force, you successively captured Anzhong, Xinye, Fancheng, and several other cities, raising an army of tens of thousands. You made a name for yourself overnight—truly a remarkable young man, a rising star.”
Then his tone shifted, and he sneered, “But even if you are peerless in martial arts and inspire fear, General Gu, you lack vigilance against others. Did you ever imagine you would fall into my hands?”
Gu Quan chuckled lightly, feigning confusion: “Earlier, in your letter, you agreed that as long as I held Wan City’s seal, you would open the city gates to welcome me in. You even begged me not to harm the common people. You seemed reasonable then. Why have you changed your mind?”
Lu Heng replied, “Madam Wu sent a message informing us that you are involved with our late lord’s favored concubine. The seal in your possession was likely stolen by that concubine. How could our lord surrender Wan City for the sake of a woman? It is absolutely impossible.”
As he thought of his sworn brother’s death, his eyes reddened instantly.
Gu Quan shook his head: “It’s a pity that Lu Xun truly gifted Wan City to save his beloved concubine. The brothers in the army witnessed it with their own eyes—you could verify this by asking them. Yet you chose to believe rumors spread by a woman. If not for this, why would I have wasted time first going to Liao City to retrieve someone before rushing to Wan City?”
Lu Heng: “Nonsense.”
He waved his hand: “Seize him.”
Gu Quan laughed: “Magistrate Lu, I gave you a chance, but you didn’t treasure it. Don’t blame me now.”
Lu Heng: “What do you mean?”
The soldiers who had been feigning drunken unconsciousness moments earlier all stood up, their eyes clear and alert, without a trace of intoxication—the drunkenness had been an act.
Gu Quan placed the teapot containing deadly poison on the table and drew his sword. The blade reflected a cold gleam.
He sighed regretfully: “As expected, only a city seized by force truly becomes one’s own.”
Seeing this, Lu Heng said: “It seems I underestimated you.”
Without further words, both sides immediately engaged in combat.
Outside, Gu Quan’s subordinate soldiers received the signal and launched their assault. The city instantly descended into chaos.
Lu Heng had thought he was setting a trap, but in reality, others had turned his scheme against him. What he intended as a clever stratagem had instead invited the wolf into the house.
The front and rear courtyards of the government office were not far apart. Lian Yue quickly heard the clashing of weapons—an extremely piercing sound. The thick scent of blood carried through the air, making her dizzy and nauseous.
Fearing that Magistrate Lu would discover she was still alive and send someone to kill her, she prepared to leave her room and find another place to hide, avoiding detection.
Unfortunately, as soon as she stepped out, she saw a man approaching with a blade. Sensing danger, Lian Yue immediately turned and fled.
Her flight prompted the pursuer to give chase—undoubtedly, he was here to kill her.
Lian Yue’s heart pounded with terror, every hair on her body standing on end. Too afraid to confront him alone, she steeled herself and ran toward the front courtyard, desperate to find help.
Her pursuer closed in relentlessly. Using all her strength, she soon reached the banquet hall.
The scene was one of utter devastation—scattered limbs, severed arms, and a river of blood. Just then, a severed head rolled to a stop at the young woman’s feet.
Terrified, she froze and looked up, meeting a pair of indifferent eyes.
The youth still wore the same Xuan Yi from earlier in the day, his handsome face expressionless. Corpses lay all around him, yet not a drop of blood stained his clothing. Only the sword in his hand dripped fresh blood, revealing how many he had slain.
This was a battlefield.
“Watch out!”
Gu Quan’s gaze turned cold as he swiftly hurled his sword. The blade shot straight toward her.
Lian Yue’s face turned deathly pale, momentarily stunned into inaction.
In that blank-minded instant, she heard a scream. Turning, she saw her pursuer impaled through the heart, dead instantly.
Blood splattered across her face—warm.
Gu Quan stepped forward to retrieve his sword. The others had finished the fight; Lu Heng was pinned down with multiple blades at his throat, his face defeated.
He approached Lian Yue and, seeing her trembling uncontrollably, soothingly reassured her: “It’s over now. There’s no need to be afraid.”
Lian Yue looked up, stammering: “Marquis Gu, now that you’ve captured Wan City… am I no longer of any use?”
Gu Quan raised an eyebrow: “I still have matters to attend to. We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”
He instructed Xuan Yao: “This place is filthy. Arrange new quarters for the lady.”
Xuan Yao nodded: “As you command, my lord.”
He gestured respectfully to Lian Yue and said: “My lady, this way.”
Lian Yue had no choice but to leave first, but having just been emotionally agitated, she had no strength left in her body. As her feet touched the ground, her cloth shoes soaked in blood, and the thick smell of blood filled her nostrils, her vision blurred with spots.
She took two slow steps, then couldn’t help but look back. Just then, she saw Gu Quan pick up the pot of highly poisonous tea, pinch Lu Heng’s cheeks, and pour it directly into his mouth. Then he clamped the man’s mouth shut and whispered something in his ear.
What exactly was said, Lian Yue couldn’t hear. She only saw Lu Heng’s eyes widen as he bled from all seven orifices and died.
Clutching her chest, she froze, her body trembling even more violently. She was too terrified, no longer able to stand steadily, and instantly collapsed to the ground, falling unconscious.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when Lian Yue felt a bitter taste in her mouth and instinctively reached out to knock away the medicine spoon at her lips.
She seemed to hear a sigh.
When she woke, it was still night. Only a single lamp was lit in the room, and the surroundings were empty with no one around.
Had she been abandoned?
Lian Yue climbed out of bed, wearing only a thin inner garment, opened the door, and stepped out of the room.
There was no moon outside, and the biting cold wind stung her face painfully.
Helpless, she crouched on the ground, tilting her head upward so the tears welling in her eyes wouldn’t fall.
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.
No matter how difficult things were now, they couldn’t compare to when she first transmigrated here.
Lian Yue stood up, about to return to her room, when she saw a figure standing in the pavilion. His silhouette strongly resembled that dead scoundrel—Lu Xun.
But he was already dead, so how could he appear here?
She looked left and right, feeling the surroundings grow increasingly eerie. Had she died too and arrived in the underworld?
Unable to resist, Lian Yue walked over, stopping behind him, and softly called out, “My lord, is that you?”
The other person didn’t speak.
She stepped forward, grabbed the hem of his robe, and couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his waist from behind, choking back sobs as she said, “My lord, I’ve missed you.”
At least when Lu Xun was around, she had never witnessed such bloodshed, and by his side, she had never suffered any grievances.
Only after someone dies do you realize how good they were—but by then, it seems too late.
Lian Yue’s hands were gently removed, and the man turned around, his face cold as he said, “Madam, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
It was Gu Quan.
She immediately stepped back in fright, staring at him intently for a few moments.
In the shadows, the young man’s expression was grim, as if he was suppressing his anger.
Lian Yue recalled how he killed without batting an eye. Despite his youth, he was a ruthless warlord who held military power in these chaotic times.
A shiver ran through her, and she quickly bowed in apology, her voice trembling, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Please don’t kill me.”
Gu Quan looked at the woman wearing only a thin inner garment.
Lian Yue’s hair was loose, and as the wind blew, a few strands stuck to her face.
Her features were delicate, her skin fair and smooth, but she was too thin—as if a strong gust of wind could knock her over.
Or perhaps…
Her frail frame could easily be restrained, trapped between someone’s arms, held by the neck in an intimate kiss, just like that day with Lu Xun.
He lowered his gaze.
This woman had actually mistaken him for Lu Xun.
Suppressing his irritation, Gu Quan said coldly, “Lu Xun and I are of similar stature, so it’s understandable that you mistook me for him. However, Madam, you must remember—he is dead. Next time, do not mistake me for someone else again.”
Lian Yue bit her lip. “Understood.”
He said, “It’s cold outside. Go back inside.”
Lian Yue responded with an “Mm,” but couldn’t move her feet, her entire body trembling in the cold wind.
Seeing this, Gu Quan frowned and asked, “What’s wrong?”
On the verge of tears, she clutched the hem of her clothes and said, “My legs are frozen stiff from the cold wind. I can’t move.”
Hearing this, Gu Quan said nothing. Since there was no one around, he stepped forward, picked her up, and strode back to the room.
After placing her on the bed, he remembered to cover her with the quilt.
He said, “I know what Madam is afraid of. You still have value to me, so I won’t abandon you.”
Lian Yue tightened the quilt around her, looked up, and despite her fear of him when it came to her own safety, she couldn’t help but ask, “What value do I still hold for Gu Hou?”
Originally, Gu Quan had been willing to save her because Lu Xun had given him the seal of Wan City.
Now that he had taken Wan City himself, she couldn’t think of any value she still held for him.
She was panicking.
Gu Quan asked her, “Do you know why Madam Wu is so determined to kill you?”
Lian Yue thought for a moment and answered cautiously, “I’ve heard that the master and Madam Wu grew up together and naturally married when they came of age. They must have loved each other deeply once. It’s just a pity that men are fickle and heartless. After the master married, he took many serving concubines. Perhaps Madam Wu hasn’t moved on, and her hatred extends to me, which is why she’s so intent on taking my life.” The “master” she referred to was always Lu Xun.
He laughed. “You’re wrong.”
Lian Yue: “What?”
A meaningful smile played on Gu Quan’s lips. “She’s simply jealous of you. Jealousy can kill.”
Lian Yue looked at him, feeling puzzled. He was so young—where did such sentiments come from?
Could it be that he, too, had a woman he loved but couldn’t have, and out of jealousy, killed her lover?
The thought sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn’t help rubbing her arms.
No, no, that couldn’t be it. She shouldn’t let her imagination run wild.
Gu Quan explained, “For your sake, Lu Xun gave up an entire city. Yet, before his death, he left no instructions for Madam Wu. Isn’t that enough to make anyone jealous? Whether for the sake of face or pride, she won’t let you off easily.”
Lian Yue asked nervously, “Will she send someone to kill me again?”
Gu Quan: “Most likely.”
He said calmly, “Regardless of how Wan City was taken, it’s true that with the seal, my men were able to enter the city smoothly. I acknowledge this debt. In the coming days, I’ll assign Xuan Yao to protect you and ensure your safety. You can rest assured.”
Xuan Yao was Gu Quan’s deputy, a trusted confidant. With his assurance, Lian Yue’s anxious heart finally settled.
“Thank you.”
Seeing that she was fine, Gu Quan left the room, closing the door behind him.
Lian Yue lay back on the bed but suddenly sat up again, realizing something odd.
Wait.
In the middle of the night, what was Gu Quan doing standing in the pavilion outside her door instead of sleeping?
The Zhou Kingdom was in a time of life-or-death crisis, but this backdrop had nothing to do with her, the female lead. In the original plot, this setting existed solely for her to—unlock new maps!
How ridiculous! Who would want to follow such a plotline centered on unrestrained desires?
After sleeping with the Four Great Scholars of Zhou, the young general, and the infatuated prince, the moment the enemy state demanded her, the Zhou Kingdom shamelessly handed over the realm’s number one beauty.
Then came a series of twisted plays involving fathers and sons, brothers, and rivals. After bedding them all, she was passed around to various rebel leaders, shifting from one bed to another.
And it still ended in a “happy ending”? A terrifying happy ending where a group of men “coexisted for love” and shared her.
Did anyone ever ask for her opinion? Was it ever her choice?
Yuan Ruoqiu had originally planned to flee outright—even death seemed more promising than such a life.
But unexpectedly, something seemed different now?
In the original story, her “cousin,” the head of the Yuan Clan, was written to covet her beauty. In fact, the first man to break in and assault her was let in by this very cousin, who then “caught them in the act” and proceeded to violate her himself.
But now…
Yuan Ruoqiu opened her eyes and saw the familiar smile reflected in the mirror—her own smile…
“I” am the cousin?
By a strange twist of fate, she had dual-controlled the body of “Cousin Yuan Guhong” and become the head of the Yuan Clan.
Yuan Ruoqiu thoroughly enjoyed being the clan head. Those shady stalkers and midnight wall-climbers were all paid off and sent to the palace!
Castrated! Every last one of them!
The old emperor was incompetent—money could buy any official position, let alone a eunuch’s post.
As for whether their families had any objections…
The Yuan Clan, with four generations of high-ranking officials, wielded immense influence. With a cold snort from Yuan Guhong, these families practically fell over themselves to offer compensation.
In troubled times, it’s truly better to be a man, Yuan Ruoqiu mused, deeply reflecting on the stark contrast in treatment between her “two accounts.””
But peace didn’t last long. Those shady characters she’d sent to the palace actually started playing their own eunuch promotion game, seizing control of the court?!
Time to run—this time, she really had to flee.
Before she could make a move, the Northern Wei Dynasty launched a massive invasion, capturing cities and lands, closing in on the capital.
When Yuan Ruoqiu heard the news about “demanding the realm’s number one beauty,” she wasn’t surprised at all.
The only surprise was that while the old emperor had died, the newly enthroned young emperor agreed, the entire court agreed—but the eunuchs holding power disagreed.
The eunuchs: “Wishful thinking! Hear that? Wishful thinking! We haven’t even started our forced love arc yet?!”
This was a true crisis, with internal strife and external threats.
Yuan Ruoqiu hardened her heart, utterly unwilling to follow the restricted storyline. She packed up the Yuan Clan’s assets and started a rebellion outright.
In an era without heroes, even fools could make a name for themselves—she was no worse. Why not gamble on success?