Xiaoxiao looked at Yan Wan, who was lost in thought again. Yan Wan's condition had been getting worse lately.
Yan Wan had been in a sullen state. It seemed that ever since she left the world in the book, she had become even more silent than before. She was immersed in her own world and couldn't extricate herself. She didn't know how to help Yan Wan. Should she send Yan Wan back to the world in the book again?
However, once one intervenes in the world of the book again—no, no one can successfully return to the world of the book. The world of the book is an independent space with its own operating mechanism, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere with it without authorization.
Moreover, she couldn't bear to see Yan Wan's soul dissipate, so she secretly switched Yan Wan under the main system's nose, allowing her to return to modern society and start a new life. Once she intervenes again, the main system will discover it.
Wanwan, oh Wanwan, what should I do?
A few days passed, and Xiaoxiao decided to be honest. She and Yan Wan had been inseparable since childhood, sharing everything and being very close. Besides, it was she who had pulled Yan Wan into the world of the book to complete the mission. If she could fulfill Yan Wan's wish now, it would be a kind of compensation. Consider it her apology for the mistake she made.
Xiaoxiao mustered her courage, looked into Yan Wan's eyes, and said, "Wanwan, actually I, I am, I..."
Looking into Yan Wan's sincere and clear eyes, she hesitated for a moment, unable to speak. If Wan knew that she had approached her for a purpose, if she knew that she was the system and had been by her side all along, would she blame her?
Yan Wan looked at Xiao Xiao, who was stammering, and guessed what Xiao Xiao wanted to say. Yan Wan smiled and said, "I know."
Xiaoxiao looked up at Yan Wan in surprise. She seemed not to have expected Yan Wan to say that. She actually knew. Xiaoxiao was a little flustered. "I'm sorry, Wanwan, I didn't mean to keep it from you."
I'm just afraid you'll discover that I'm not human, that I'm an alien, a system, that even my normal emotions are algorithms, and that you won't forgive me.
Yan Wan smiled and took Xiao Xiao's hand, saying, "Xiao Xiao, have you forgotten? We said when we were little that we would be friends forever, and also family."
Xiaoxiao and Yanwan were family members chosen by each other personally, a promise they made when they were very young.
Xiaoxiao said guiltily, "Wanwan, I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry."
I wish I were a person instead of a system.
"It's okay, Xiaoxiao, I don't blame you," Yan Wan said gently.
Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and suddenly asked, "Yan Wan, do you want to go back? Back to the world in the book?"
Yan Wan was excited when she heard this, "Can I?"
After hearing Yan Wan's words, Xiao Xiao understood her choice. She didn't say whether she wanted to or not, but asked, "Can I?" This proved that she still wanted to go back.
"I have a way, but no one has ever tried it. Would you like to give it a try?" Xiaoxiao said earnestly. A method that no one has ever tried before has very little hope.
But Yan Wan didn't want to give up. Even if there was only the slightest hope, she wanted to try. Yan Wan nodded firmly and said, "I want to try."
She wants to go back; there are people she wants to see there.
If he hates her, then she can hide away secretly. As long as she sees him safe and happy, that's enough. She doesn't have to go out in front of him. As long as she sees him doing well, she can rest assured.
If it were him... No, she said such cruel and resolute things in the letter, how could he forgive himself?
In an instant, Yan Wan, who had been overjoyed, became somewhat dejected. Xiao Xiao, who was standing beside her, noticed the change in her mood and tentatively asked, "Wanwan, what's wrong? Come on, let's try to see if we can go back."
Yan Wan murmured dejectedly, "Xiaoxiao, what should I do if he hates me?"
Xiaoxiao didn't know how to answer the question, so she asked uncertainly, "Do you still want to go back? Even if he hates you?"
Yan Wan seemed to have made up her mind, and said firmly, "Xiaoxiao, even if he hates me, I still want to go back."
"Okay, then come with me." Xiaoxiao said with some emotion. Wanwan had never been attached to anything before, but her attachment and love for Ji Mohan was extreme.
——
In the winter of the twenty-fifth year of the Dali era, more than five months had passed since Ji Mo Han ascended the throne. Today, every household in the capital was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, for it was New Year's Day.
This was the first year of the new emperor's reign. Ji Mo Han ordered a general amnesty and reduced taxes in various places by 30%, allowing many people to have a fairly good year.
Ji Mohan coldly watched the banquet below, a scene of peaceful revelry, but to Ji Mohan, it was utterly boring.
Ji Mo Han was an emperor. He held a banquet in the palace during the New Year for two reasons: first, to get closer to his ministers and express his affection and trust; second, to provide an opportunity for eligible children from various families to meet. Sometimes, the emperor could even see a woman he liked at the banquet and bring her into the palace.
Ji Mohan had no interest in either of these matters. He sat at the banquet for a while, then picked up his wine jug and left.
After he left, the once quiet banquet instantly became noisy. The ministers' families and other imperial relatives all breathed a sigh of relief. His Majesty's aura was too strong, and they dared not act presumptuously in front of him.
After all, His Majesty is not as easily fooled as the former Emperor. When His Majesty first ascended the throne, some audacious officials were still the same as before, accepting bribes and deceiving the emperor. After His Majesty executed several of their entire families and exiled several others to the frontier, all the ministers became obedient and begged for mercy.
Ji Mosheng looked at his elder brother with worry. He thought that after his brother ascended the throne, he would give him a fiefdom and let him leave the capital. Unexpectedly, his brother kept him in the capital and put him in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War.
Sometimes, he didn't know what his elder brother was thinking.
The emperor's sister-in-law left, and the emperor's brother followed her away.
Jing Xi, who was below, also noticed Ji Mohan's movements. She nudged Jiang Bai, signaling him to look. Jiang Bai poured Jing Xi a cup of tea and said gently, "Today is a day for family reunion. The main hall is filled with ministers and their families, all enjoying themselves. His Majesty must feel a little sad seeing this. It's good for him to leave and clear his mind."
Jing Xi nodded in agreement. She thought how heartbroken Wan'er would be if she saw Ji Mohan like this.
Actually, after Wan'er left, Ji Mohan came to see her once. He wanted to ask what Yan Wan said before she left. Jing Xi had no choice but to repeat Yan Wan's words. She saw that the usually calm and restrained emperor's eyes were bloodshot, and even his body was trembling slightly. How much must he love her to lose his usual composure and even stagger as he left?
After leaving the palace, Ji Mohan carried a wine pot and headed towards the Star-Picking Tower, the highest point in the palace, from which one could see most of the capital.
Ji Mohan gazed at the brightly lit palace and the bustling streets of the capital, as if the sounds of laughter and merriment outside could be carried to his ears on the wind. He watched everything with indifference, as if nothing could stir his heart, as if he were isolated from the world.
——
"Wanwan, are you ready?" Xiaoxiao asked nervously. It was her first time using this method, and she wasn't sure if she would succeed.
"Yes, I'm ready. Don't worry about Xiaoxiao." Yan Wan's eyes were a little moist. Would she soon be able to see her parents, Jing Xi, Gu Yu, and Ji Mo Han?
"Okay, I'll start now." Xiaoxiao operated the various dazzling keyboards in her hands, inputting numbers. After she pressed the middle key, Yan Wan's body suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Xiaoxiao was terrified and rushed over to help Yan Wan up, but no matter how she called her, Yan Wan remained unconscious. Xiaoxiao had no choice but to help Yan Wan up and quickly drive to the hospital. Sobbing as she drove, she said, "This method won't work."
——
When Yan Wan opened her eyes again, she found herself at the banquet. She saw Jing Xi eating and whispering to Jiang Bai. Excitedly, Yan Wan went over to greet Jing Xi. However, even though she stood in front of Jing Xi, Jing Xi did not see her. Yan Wan looked at her body and realized that she was transparent. She tried in front of other people, but still no one could see her.
How could this be? How could this happen?
Yan Wan thought for a moment and decided to go see Han Han first to see if he was doing well. As long as he was doing well, she could rest assured.
Just as Yan Wan was about to leave, she heard Ji Mosheng come over and say to Jing Xi and Jiang Bai, "My brother doesn't seem to be in good condition. Should I go and see him?"
He was genuinely worried that something might happen to his elder brother after he got drunk.
Jing Xi sighed and said, "Do you know where he is now?"
Ji Mosheng thought for a moment and said uncertainly, "When my brother is in a bad mood, he goes to the Star-Picking Tower. He might be there."
Jiang Bai said gently, "Let's not disturb His Majesty. Let him have some peace and quiet. A mental illness requires a mental cure. Even if we go, it won't make a difference."
Their conversation was still audible when Yan Wan had already left, hurrying towards the Star-Picking Tower. She was filled with questions: Your Majesty? Is Han Han the emperor now? What about the old emperor? And what became of Uncle An?
Yan Wan kept running along the roads in the palace. Since she was now a spirit, no one would notice if she bumped into someone. Also, she didn't know how long she could stay. If she disappeared soon, she wouldn't be able to see Han Han again. She had to hurry.
When Yan Wan arrived at the Star-Picking Tower, she looked up at it and could vaguely see a figure on the tower. Yan Wan's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Without thinking too much, she ran up the stairs.
Upon reaching the top floor, Yan Wan steadied herself and resolutely climbed the last few steps. Looking up, she saw a tall and broad back. With tears in her eyes, Yan Wan slowly approached Ji Mohan.
She finally saw him again.
Yan Wan said softly, "Hanhan, I'm back."
But Ji Mohan didn't react at all. Yan Wan then realized that she was a spirit, and Ji Mohan couldn't see her or hear her voice.
Yan Wan slowly approached Ji Mohan, stopped beside him, looked up at his somewhat haggard and thin face, and said with a hazy smile, "You've lost so much weight. Have you not been eating properly, hmm?"
Ji Mohan seemed to sense something and glanced to the side, but there was nothing there. He was the only person on the entire Zhaixing Tower.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com