"So, if I get this feather, I can ask the system for anything; if I don't, we'll both die?" Nan Wusi repeated Xiao Ba's words.
“Yes, host,” Xiao Ba replied.
"But aren't you a system? You can die too?" Nan Wusi asked, somewhat incredulous.
"Host, I am merely a subsystem created by the main system. If I fail to complete the mission, I may be destroyed at any time, which is what you humans call death." Xiao Ba's mechanical voice sounded somewhat pitiful at this moment.
"So the phoenix really exists?"
“Host, you are only in one of the myriad worlds. There are many things you don’t know, but they truly exist.” Xiao Ba revealed some of the system’s origins this time. “And this system can connect to many worlds, which is why there may be some items with special functions in the system’s shop.”
"Why me?" This was something Nan Wusi had never been able to understand. What was so special about her? She was just an ordinary homebody who had read an ordinary old-fashioned novel.
"The host lacks the necessary permissions to view this." Xiao Ba's voice returned to its emotionless, mechanical tone.
"Host, stop asking." This seemed to be the Xiao Ba that Nan Wusi knew.
"Okay." Nan Wusi had also noticed Xiao Ba's strange behavior earlier. It seemed that the system was hiding a big secret, but she just couldn't find out about it.
"Is there a time limit?" Nan Wusi asked.
"Not yet," Xiao Ba replied. However, this implied that the system requirements could change at any time.
"Understood. I will do my best, Xiao Ba." Nan Wusi didn't know if she was comforting herself or Xiao Ba.
During the conversation between Nan Wusi and Xiao Ba, the phoenix feather was presented to Emperor Xiao Teng.
The emperor carefully held the feather, examining it closely and not missing a single detail.
After the emperor finished examining it, he handed the feather to the empress dowager, who seemed to really like it.
"I really like this gift, but all you found was this feather?" The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, looking at the Northern Huan envoy standing below.
"Your Majesty, the ministers of the Northern Huan found this feather deep in the mountains. It is said that when they arrived in that area, they felt a burning sensation, so they wanted to find out the reason and followed the path to where the feather was found."
"However, when he arrived, he only saw this feather in a scorched field, which looked like a burning flame. He tried to touch the flame and found that it was not as hot as he had imagined. So he brought it back and presented it to our king."
The envoy from the North Ring recounted the scene, but the others present were quite excited as they listened.
"When we went back later, we only saw the scorched earth and did not feel the heat. However, according to the locals, the heat lasted for a whole month before it dissipated."
Everyone present was inexplicably excited, but Nan Wusi glanced at Xiao Yi and found him to be calm and composed, perhaps because he hadn't witnessed the wonders of the Fire Feather.
"Xiao Yi, how can you be so calm?" Nan Wusi asked quietly in his mind.
"Sisi, this sounds like a fairy tale to me, so I'll just listen to it as a story," Xiao Yi replied.
“But these feathers really do look like phoenix tail feathers.” Nan Wusi still believed that Xiao Yi was so calm because he hadn’t seen the fire feathers.
"So what if it's a phoenix feather?" Xiao Yi remained unmoved.
"If there really is a phoenix in this world, do you think there might be a dragon? Everyone says that the emperor is the Son of Heaven, so is he also protected by a dragon?" Nan Wusi felt that his worldview was being turned upside down.
"There's no such thing as a true dragon emperor; it's all about the victor taking all." Xiao Yi sneered. Even if there really was a dragon, he would do everything in his power to drag that person down from the throne.
"Xiao Yi, do you know where these birthday gifts will end up?" Nan Wusi asked.
“Usually, the Empress Dowager will select a few particularly favorite items to keep in her own palace, and the rest will be placed in her private treasury,” Xiao Yi replied. “Sisi, why are you asking this?”
"I must have that feather." Nan Wusi hesitated for a moment, but still honestly stated the reason.
"Okay, I'll help you." Xiao Yi said directly without asking why, which moved Nan Wusi deeply.
"Will it be difficult?" After asking, Nan Wusi felt that he had asked a pointless question. How could it not be difficult?
"It's alright, it's not too difficult." Xiao Yi smiled.
"If I can find an opportunity at the banquet, I will do it myself," Nan Wusi thought to himself.
Although Xiao Yi said it wouldn't be too difficult, Nan Wusi didn't believe it was as easy as he made it sound. This was the imperial palace, and the Empress Dowager's palace at that; it would undoubtedly be heavily guarded and filled with skilled fighters. Stealing the feather from her bedchamber, or even her storeroom, would be an impossible task.
Although Nan Wusi enjoyed Xiao Yi's kindness to her, she couldn't keep causing him trouble.
However, there weren't many opportunities at the banquet, so Nan Wusi could only wait for the right moment and observe from the shadows.
After the Northern Huan envoy answered the Empress Dowager's question, the Empress Dowager simply nodded slightly and then ordered someone to put the feather away.
Nan Wusi glanced furtively at the palace maid holding the box, looking for an opportunity to approach her.
Just as Nan Wusi looked at the palace maid, she felt a gaze fall upon her.
When she turned around, she found that it was Princess Helan Wenyue of Beihuan who was looking her up and down.
In fact, ever since the Fire Feather was taken out, Helan Wenyue had been quietly observing everyone around her. Apart from the blind Xiao Yi, only Nan Wusi showed shock and then became thoughtful, which was very different from the shocked crowd and made it hard not to attract her attention.
Furthermore, she noticed that Nan Wusi's gaze kept drifting towards the palace maid carrying the feather box, which drew her even more attention.
She had seen that feather many times before. Apart from looking like a flame, it didn't have anything special about it. That's why she brought it out as a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager this time.
After noticing Helan Wenyue's scrutinizing gaze, Nan Wusi became much more reserved; she didn't want to be targeted like this.
"Xiao Ba, if I get close to this fire feather, can you directly put it into the system?" Nan Wusi asked, as this was very important for her to be able to obtain the phoenix feather tonight.
“Host, I can take it once you have it in your hands,” Xiao Ba replied to Nan Wusi.
"Okay." With Xiao Ba's assurance, Nan Wusi gained a little more confidence.
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