Chapter 1 Meng Shutai: "If I marry a sea-suppressing demon in the future, I can also..."
A string of white beads cascaded down from the glazed tile eaves, dripping and hitting the ground.
The faint summer heat of late spring, amplified by the drizzle, made even the gatekeepers of the Meng residence drowsy, until Le Jin arrived.
"Young man, the Prince of Pingning has a favor to ask and has specially sent me to find Young Master Meng."
"It's Eunuch Jiu'an! Please wait a moment, I'll be right there."
The servant smiled and agreed, then turned and ran back into the Meng residence. Le Jin, holding the dripping silk umbrella, felt so embarrassed by the address of "Eunuch" that she got goosebumps all over her body.
Le Jin, an ordinary working girl under the age of seventeen, was hit by a medium-sized truck while delivering food and was transported into the novel "Moonlight and Frost" that she had just finished reading the night before.
The book revolves around Prince Yuan Jingming, the heir apparent of the Pyeongnyeong Kingdom, and Jiang Yingyun, who escapes from a military family and becomes a winemaker by chance. It tells a tragic story about social class, wealth and poverty, and free love.
Le Jin was so worried about them that she stayed up all night for several nights in a row, even reading a book while washing dishes.
In the vast darkness following the car accident, the system's cold, mechanical voice remained meticulous:
"The basic task has now been issued: [Reverse the tragic ending of the male and female protagonists in this story]"
After completing the task, you can choose a luxurious real-world reward as your prize—wealth, education, job, improved appearance, increased charm…”
Straightforward, simple, and vulgar.
That's fantastic! Le Jin is truly a simple and down-to-earth person.
"Money! I want money!"
She died, and her unexpected transmigration into the world of the book to continue her life was already like a pie falling from the sky.
With an extra sum of money, the younger sister, Sanniu, could go to school without worry, unlike her older sister who got married early to pay for the dowry and died in childbirth, or who dropped out of school before finishing junior high to work.
The system ruthlessly kicked her soul into a tall, thin young body—Jiu'an, the male protagonist's little eunuch.
She became cannon fodder, dying at the hands of bandits while the male protagonist was saving the female protagonist; she was the first character in the book to be killed off...
"This isn't right, is it??? If I can't save them, I'll die too?"
——
Le Jin followed the servants of the Meng family into the inner courtyard.
What an impressive courtyard! Even a single locust tree used for landscaping is as thick as three people can encircle it, with lush foliage like a canopy, and it's in excellent condition. I wonder where this century-old tree came from.
Luoyang is a bustling metropolis, but its desolate and ancient charm is all the more precious.
The locust leaves rustled in the rain, and the white and slightly green locust blossoms looked like a thin layer of snow from afar.
Le Jin walked along, gazing at the locust tree.
There's a similar tree behind her tiled house, which has been growing for countless years but is smaller than this one.
In the summer, she often took her three daughters to climb trees to pick the freshest locust flowers to deliver to her eldest sister. Sometimes they would see little birds building nests among the branches.
"Sister, let's put some leaves in its nest. It's working so hard."
Le Jin turned around and looked into the three girls' big, innocent eyes, then smiled and agreed, "Okay!"
She felt a dull ache in her heart, a touch of bitterness.
The eldest sister died, and she died too. San Niu had to experience this heart-wrenching pain twice.
Le Jin gritted her teeth and silently prayed, "San Niu, your sister will definitely come back."
The servants led Yue Jin to a pavilion surrounded by water on three sides.
The crystal curtains beneath the pavilion shimmered and sparkled in the gentle breeze.
A man loosely tied his long, dark hair with a single emerald hairpin, his back to Yue Jin, fiddling with something.
A peacock-blue cloak was loosely draped over his knees, and his long, dark hair was slightly gathered, falling against his shoulders and back. His hair was so smooth and lustrous that it shimmered with a scaly sheen, making one momentarily think it was a glossy black snake winding its way to the hem of his robe, which was piled up like clouds.
The entire pavilion is magnificent and tranquil.
Le Jin held her breath, her heart pounding.
She knew him—the second male lead, Meng Shutai, the brightest and purest "white moonlight" in the entire book.
Speaking of which, with so many books available, why did she choose to follow this one in particular?
All because the novel's character list prominently features two words—"Le Jin".
What a coincidence, there's a character with the same name as her!
I started watching with high expectations, only to be slapped in the face by the later plot.
The fickle and vicious wife of Meng Shutai, the noble young master of Luojing and the "white moonlight" of everyone in the book, shares the same name as her...
Speechless, all my expectations were for nothing.
The person before me sat upright in the pavilion, like a somber blue jade Guanyin, with the golden beast incense burner emitting swirling, hazy smoke, as if it were a flying apsara protecting him.
If the romance between the male and female protagonists in this book is full of ups and downs, then the romance of the second male lead, Meng Shutai, is a vicious curse, filled with the perverse pleasure of trampling the snow on the mountain into filthy mud. The character "Le Jin" in the book not only cheats on Meng Shutai in front of him, but also beats and scolds him, and his fierce and unruly reputation spreads throughout Luoyang.
Le Jin silently mourned for him for three minutes.
She stepped lightly up the stairs, when a maid suddenly came down to block her way, frowning and whispering, "Do not disturb my lord."
The Meng family held the hereditary rank of Third-Rank Imperial Envoy in Luoyang for four generations, managing domestic affairs under imperial orders and reaching directly to the Emperor. They were both wealthy and powerful. Eight out of ten prefectures and counties that wanted to serve the Emperor had to go through the Meng family's connections.
Meng Shutai's personal maidservants could stop her, this young eunuch from the palace.
For a moment she didn't know what to do, and stood awkwardly on the steps, letting the drizzle fall on her.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the person's clear and gentle voice finally rang out, like icy water seeping into the mountains amidst the tender grass, it was extremely pleasant to hear.
"It's sewn up."
His attendants started chattering when they heard this.
"My lord's love for all living beings is truly benevolent..."
"This bird will surely be able to soar high after being saved by the gentleman!"
"I'm afraid it won't be willing to leave and will stay close to its lover every day."
They chatted and laughed, and Meng Shutai did not reprimand them, but only glanced at them with a smile.
"That's utter nonsense."
Someone brought over clear water with osmanthus blossoms floating in it.
Meng Shutai put down the blood-stained needle and thread in his hand. The tips of his fingers were mottled with blood, and his jade-colored nails looked as if they had been coated with a thin layer of nail polish.
When hands are immersed in water, the bloodstains instantly dissolve, changing from bright red to orange-red to pale orange, and finally disappearing without a trace in the water.
And there was another pair of pure, flawless jade hands.
"Were the new osmanthus blossoms in the water sent from Qingzhou?"
The maid carrying the basin of water replied, "That's right. Master said that Qingzhou plans to use the newly cultivated 'Moon Breath' osmanthus as a tribute to the imperial family, and asked the young master to decide accordingly."
"To be able to grow osmanthus flowers now? That's an incredible skill."
Meng Shutai took a few osmanthus seeds floating on the water, ground them between his fingers, and then gently smelled them.
"It has a delicate and profound fragrance, with a hint of honey, and its color is also excellent. It is truly rare."
However, mere diligence and effort are not enough to gain access to the Emperor's court. Every item used by the Emperor affects the national economy, as it is said that "millions of laborers depend on him for their livelihood," and no mistake can be made in the slightest.
"Six kinds of osmanthus are used in the palace. Apart from the four kinds cultivated by the palace itself, only two kinds are presented as tribute from outside. One is the Nine-Hairpin Osmanthus from Xuzhou, and the other is the Qihuan Osmanthus from Hezhou..."
Meng Shutai frowned slightly, looking quite troubled. "Where is there any left for Qingzhou?"
He looked up and finally caught sight of Le Jin out of the corner of his eye. His brows relaxed instantly, and his expression softened: "Is this Eunuch Jiu'an?"
Le Jin was engrossed in watching his every move when she was suddenly struck by the way he addressed her, and her heart went numb.
Stop! Handsome guy, please, don't call me father-in-law...
A young girl's heart shattered into pieces. "Little Eunuch" Le Jin forced a smile at Meng Shutai.
"May Mr. Meng be well."
Meng Shutai's gaze fell on the people around him, and he said with a hint of reproach, "You've spoiled me too much. How could you let Eunuch Jiu'an get soaked in the rain on the steps? How rude of you."
They all knelt down to apologize, and Meng Shutai quickly called Le Jin over and handed her the small, inlaid brazier with the charcoal fire already lit.
Le Jin was startled by his intimacy, and her brow twitched.
She had been a servant for several days since she transmigrated, and this was the first time someone had shown her such meticulous care.
“Please don’t be offended, Father-in-law. It’s just that it rained today, and this little sparrow fell from the old locust tree in the courtyard and broke its wing. My younger brother Cizhang loves to play with birds and was afraid that he would be sad, so he sewed it up by himself, which is why it has delayed you, Father-in-law.”
No wonder Meng Shutai is considered the ultimate "gentle white moonlight"; even his scolding was just a formality, and he never intended to push the neglect onto others but took it all on himself.
As Meng Shutai explained, she lowered her head slightly, her cascading black hair swaying in the wind, exuding utmost tranquility and elegance.
Le Jin held his small hand warmer in her palm. The warm orange glow shone through the openwork copper lid, reminding her of oranges warmed by the autumn sun in the countryside on an autumn afternoon.
He's so good to his younger brother. Le Jin understands this feeling, just like how she treats San Niu.
"It's alright, it's alright."
At this moment, Le Jin felt as if she were infinitely close to him.
The moment was just right. She glanced at his left and right sides, then lowered her voice, feigning profundity, and said, "The young master has a favor to ask, please, my lord..."
A hint of curiosity flashed in Meng Shutai's eyes, and he immediately dismissed everyone.
“Jingming and I have been friends since childhood. If he has any difficulties, why doesn’t he come and tell me himself?”
Le Jin grinned and said bitterly, "The young master has been put in solitary confinement."
"What?" Meng Shutai's gentle face finally showed emotion.
Strangely enough, when Le Jin carefully examined Meng Shutai's features, every part was exquisitely beautiful, but it was impossible to describe them. It was as if his whole being was hidden in the mist, without color, only a glazed luster, ethereal and elusive.
"Although Jingming is not well-liked by his father, Prince Pingning, he shouldn't have been punished for disobeying him. What did he do?"
"The Crown Prince met the fourth daughter of Jiang Cheng, the Right Commander of the Imperial Guard, by the river the day before yesterday..."
She told him in detail how the male protagonist of the book, Yuan Jingming, helped the female protagonist, Jiang Yingyun, whom he had just met, dig a pit by the river to punish Jiang's cousin for falling into the river.
"Nonsense." Meng Shutai stepped forward, his tone urgent: "He has no connection with the Jiang family, so why would he help a woman he's only met once commit a crime?"
Le Jin quickly waved her hand: "I'm not doing anything bad."
“That cousin of the Jiang family’s wife is a local bully who specializes in bullying the weak. Jiang Si Niangzi suffered a lot from him before she resorted to this drastic measure to punish him.”
"If that's the case, explaining the details to the Prince is acceptable; how can I be punished?"
That hits the nail on the head.
Le Jin laughed and replied, "The young master fell in love with that Fourth Sister Jiang at first sight, but he refused to reveal her identity, saying only that he had a conflict with the Jiang family."
It's absurdly funny that Yuan Jingming, who is Meng Shutai's childhood friend, has to be the one to break up their relationship.
Sure enough, Meng Shutai was visibly stunned.
Like a bewildered fawn that has been hit on the head by a ripe fruit.
After a long while, he murmured softly, "He's still a romantic at heart..."
Meng Shutai composed himself and said, "I understand. I will go back to the Prince's Mansion with you to save Jingming."
Wait a minute, he misunderstood!
"The young master summoned me not to save him, but to save Lady Jiang!"
Le Jin hurriedly explained, "Although the young master helped her, Fourth Sister Jiang still suffered a misfortune. Her father is keeping her locked up, preparing to send her to the Yu Yang Nunnery in the suburbs of the capital for solitary cultivation—which is actually to expel her from the family."
"The young master wants Lord Meng to lend a helping hand. All he needs to do is ask the Jiang family son who fell into the river to agree to let his cousin go."
Le Jin rattled off a whole bunch of things to herself, and Meng Shutai, keeping an eye on her anxious state, suddenly smiled and asked a seemingly random question.
"You care a lot?"
He tilted his head slightly, like a sparrow on a branch, his dark pupils suddenly swirling, gleaming like shattered silver.
What does it mean that "she cares a lot"? Putting aside the mission, the plight of a couple in love should make anyone want to lend a helping hand.
“Eunuch Jiu’an is really worried; he even cares about something as childish as Jingming.”
Childish?
Le Jin was a little annoyed. A young man's integrity in standing up for the weak and his empathy for vulnerable women are precious things in any era. How could he be called "naive"?
Before she could speak, Meng Shutai summoned a maid and presented her with a brocade pouch.
“Jingming is a kind and innocent man, but also impulsive and reckless. Your Excellency has been out of the palace for more than half a month to accompany and teach him, on the orders of the Empress Dowager and Prince Pingning. As his close friend, I should thank Your Excellency on his behalf.”
"This sachet contains fresh osmanthus blossoms sent from Qingzhou to be presented to the palace. Their unique fragrance is intoxicating and lingers for months. Though not precious, they are quite novel and can serve as a gift for our first meeting."
Giving someone a small bag of osmanthus flowers as a gift? Yue Jin clicked her tongue in amazement, how elegant…
But it really worked. Although it wasn't as good as real gold or silver, her subtle displeasure vanished instantly.
She thanked her and accepted the sachet. "As for saving people..."
Meng Shutai smiled faintly and nodded solemnly: "I promise, I will definitely go."
Yay! The female lead is saved.
Le Jin happily stuffed the still-hot hand warmer back into Meng Shutai's arms, "Thank you, Young Master Meng!"
Meng Shutai did not take her recklessness to heart, and remained quiet and gentle while holding the hand warmer, with a faint smile on his face.
Le Jin's task is to clear the way for the love story between the male and female leads; Meng Shutai is not her responsibility.
But the warmth in my palm was comforting, and I was holding the gift that someone had given me.
Saving a loving young couple is one form of salvation, as is saving a pair of estranged lovers from mutual hatred.
She thanked Meng Shutai again: "My lord is truly the most kind and benevolent person in the world! I wish that you would treat everyone you meet as a kind person who repays kindness with kindness, so that you would not feel disheartened."
Finally, she made a joke: "If I marry a sea monster in the future, I'll be able to make a clean break and get out of there in time."
Meng Shutai knew immediately that she was being sarcastic, but she didn't blame her. She just smiled shyly, as bashful as a peach blossom in spring.
However, as soon as Le Jin ran away, the peach-pink color vanished in an instant, and his gaze returned to the gray sparrow.
He slowly twirled his fingers, savoring the moment he unfolded the sparrow's soaked feathers, grasped its slightly trembling, thin skin, picked up the delicate bone with the needle tip, pierced it, and stretched it—all in one smooth motion.
A note from the author:
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The story has started! This humble author is incredibly grateful for everyone's support! [kissing emojis] Guess how many chapters are updated today? More than just one! [winking emoji]
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