After the end of summer and the arrival of autumn, the rain never stopped—it always came every few days.
Drip, drip, the fine sound was slightly heavy, slightly dull.
Tang Qingluo woke from a short nap and pushed open the window. A gust of wind blew in, making her nose inexplicably itch.
“Achoo—”
She couldn’t help sneezing and shrugged her shoulders.
“Young Madam, it’s autumn now. The weather has turned cooler. From now on, after you wake up, you should put on an extra layer so you don’t catch a cold.” A cloak was draped over Tang Qingluo’s shoulders, and her personal maid Bai Zhi carefully fastened the ties.
“I know.” Tang Qingluo smiled and prompted, “Go check on the little kitchen—how’s that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish coming along?”
“Yes, Young Madam. I’ll go right away.” Bai Zhi thought that it was good the young madam had suddenly developed an interest in collecting all sorts of delicacies, instead of revolving around the heir.
At least, for them servants, this change was a blessing.
No longer did they have to live in constant fear.
She would never guess that the person inside the young madam’s body had changed.
Tang Qingluo, in her previous life, had been an ordinary working woman. Back then, she never had the chance to taste such top-quality ingredients.
Now, having taken on the identity of the heir’s wife in the Duke’s mansion, she could collect whatever she wanted—making up for the regrets of a life without gourmet food.
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was one of the dishes she had always longed to eat. There was even a poem about it: “When the jar is opened, the aroma of meat drifts to the neighbors; Buddha hears and abandons meditation to jump over the wall.”
Just imagining it made her mouth water.
Tang Qingluo swallowed.
[Host, enemy forces will arrive in five minutes. Please activate the system.]
The voice in her head shattered her happy thoughts.
“What? Enemy forces?” Tang Qingluo was startled.
A transparent icon appeared in her mind.
“Huh? This icon looks just like the game I used to play in my previous life. Could it have come with me?”
Perfect! She could play it to pass the time when bored.
“Activate!”
[System activated! Host, please choose: 1: Activate Hot-Blooded Combat Mode. 2: Activate Leisure Retirement Mode.]
“I choose option two.” Tang Qingluo made her decision decisively.
She was a casual player who, in games, only enjoyed sightseeing, drinking tea, planting crops, or fishing. Hot-blooded combat mode was simply not for her.
[Incorrect choice. Please choose again. 1: Activate Hot-Blooded Combat Mode. 2: Activate Leisure Retirement Mode.]
“What? I have to pick combat mode?”
Never mind—she wasn’t interested in killing every day.
“I refuse! I choose nothing.”
[Incorrect choice. Please choose again. 1: Activate Hot-Blooded Combat Mode. 2: Activate Leisure Retirement Mode.]
Seriously? Forced to choose? Fine, she wouldn’t pick—let’s see what it could do to her.
“Madam! Trouble! Our mansion is surrounded! The Imperial Guards are outside!” Another of Tang Qingluo’s maids, Ling Zhi, rushed in, her aura unstable.
“Tell everyone downstairs to hide valuables on their person, quickly!” Tang Qingluo issued orders and rushed to her small treasury, quickly lifting out the bottom-of-the-chest bridal dowry boxes.
Activate hot-blooded combat mode!
There was no time to think—she had to rely on the system’s backpack function.
Sure enough, as soon as she made a choice, the familiar game interface instantly appeared in her mind.
The backpack icon appeared, and when she said “open,” the familiar five-slot beginner inventory popped up.
“Store this box in the backpack.”
[Host prompt: Each backpack slot holds one item. Storing costs 1–2 taels of silver per slot. Confirm storage?]
Store it!
Compared to 200,000 taels in dowry silver, the storage fee was nothing. Tang Qingluo didn’t hesitate and quickly moved on to the next box.
“Store this box.” Medicines could not be missing.
[Storage successful, 1 tael deducted.]
“This box of jewelry, store it.” Valuable items must be kept safe.
[Storage successful, 1 tael deducted.]
Tang Qingluo wanted to store more, but time ran out as the Imperial Guards had already stormed the room.
The leader held portraits and a roster, pointing at Tang Qingluo. “Take her away!”
Too bad—two slots were still empty.
As Tang Qingluo was being led away, she glanced back at the table and saw a plate of Osmanthus Sugar Steamed Chestnut Cake and a pot of flower tea. If only she had been a bit faster, she could have stored these as well.
[Host has intent to store items detected. Do you want to store the plate of Osmanthus Sugar Steamed Chestnut Cake and the pot of flower tea?]
Whoa—so you could store items just by thinking.
Tang Qingluo thought: Store!
[Storage successful, 2 taels deducted.]
Miscalculation!
Tang Qingluo: …
Being pushed out, she quickly saw familiar faces at the main gate of the mansion.
The people of the Duke’s seventh branch were all there, except those not back from court. Everyone was neatly present.
It was clear the attackers had prepared in advance.
Not only did they have a roster of the Duke’s household, but they also had drawn portraits of each family member. In such a situation, even if someone wanted to escape by switching places, it was impossible.
“You! You! And you! Stand in line. When you come out, hand over all valuables on you. Place them here.” The Imperial Guard commander, Tong Xu, checked the roster and ordered his soldiers into action.