Chapter 5 is from the original novel, a story about a strong female protagonist scheming for power.
System: "The gist is... well, never mind! It's not important. It's okay if you don't understand. Anyway, Xie Qingyu is just an insignificant supporting character in this book."
Xie Yunying didn't believe it: "He sounds so impressive, how could he be an insignificant supporting character?"
System: "It's irrelevant. He was already dead at the very beginning of the story."
Xie Yunying was shocked: "Dead?!"
"What happened? Why did he die?"
System: "Xie Qingyu has been missing for more than half a month. Since the day he disappeared, the Xie family has told the outside world that he has caught a cold and is resting in bed, and has refused to visit him at all times."
"The Xie family now thinks he died in an accident and will send people to look for him, but two months later someone will find Xie Qingyu's body. He was framed by someone with ulterior motives. Taking advantage of the news of the Crown Prince's national mourning and the chaos in Yanjing, he was sold into slavery and finally whipped to death by slave traders."
Xie Yunying was stunned, her mouth agape: "This guy is so pitiful! The eldest son of the Prime Minister, actually beaten to death like a slave..."
System: "This is nothing. There are plenty of absurd things in the world."
As the man was speaking, there was a knock on the door.
Xie Yunying looked up warily.
A hesitant call seeped in through the window paper: "...Second Miss, are you awake?"
Xie Yunying: "Holy crap! Who is this system again? Should I respond to her?!"
System: "This is your personal maid, Bitao. There are a bunch of people outside waiting for Xie Yunying to get up. They may seem to be servants in this courtyard, but they actually obey the First Madam. The First Madam has sent people to call you several times, but you refuse to get out of bed. Most of the servants are afraid of Xie Yunying's morning grumpiness, so they are hesitant to come in and call you."
Xie Yunying was dumbfounded: "Are all the people outside waiting for me to get up?"
"Should I respond to her...? No! If I pretend to be Xie Yunying, shouldn't I respond to her? What should I do? My head is spinning!"
The system looked at Xie Yunying, who was caught in a dilemma: "..."
Xie Yunying suddenly looked up: "Wait, after I get up, am I supposed to go to the front hall to meet people?" But she hasn't gotten to know all the people in the Xie family yet!
"...Should I wait until you finish introducing her before I respond?"
System: "Okay, host. To make it easier for you to understand, I will use holographic images to introduce the other members of the Xie family."
A blue electronic screen suddenly rose up in front of the antique-style bed, and a miniature set of table and chairs slowly materialized in front of Xie Yunying, with four tiny figures sitting on it having a meal.
The male figure sitting in the main seat is dressed in official robes and looks dignified, while the female figure in the secondary seat is elegant and graceful. The other two figures are a dashing and handsome man and a beautiful and gentle woman. Aren't they the four members of the Xie family sitting in the dining hall right now?
Xie Yunying's eyes widened in curiosity: "My God! Are these all real people?" It's like playing The Sims!
System: "Let me introduce you, host. Sitting in the main seat is Xie Yunying's father, Xie Zhi. Sitting in the secondary seat is Xie Yunying's birth mother, Xie Zhi's legal wife, Madam Wang. The other two are Xie Lianquan, the second young master of the Xie family, and Xie Yueshuang, the eldest daughter of the Xie family."
After a few casual words during the meal, Xie Yueshuang's gentle voice suddenly rang out: "Speaking of which, I haven't seen my second sister yet today."
Xie Zhi stopped moving. Xie Yueshuang naturally noticed as well. Her heart stirred slightly, and she continued, "I didn't see her at breakfast or lunch today. I sent someone to inquire, but her maid said she hadn't woken up yet. I don't know if she's feeling unwell."
Xie Yunying, watching from the other side of the screen, immediately noticed: "Wow, such a strong tea aroma!"
System: "Xie Yueshuang, the eldest daughter of the Xie family, was born to Concubine Li. She and Xie Yunying have never gotten along well. Firstly, because they are the only two girls in the eldest branch of the family, they are often compared by their elders. Secondly, because their personalities are very different, Xie Yunying is cheerful and straightforward, while Xie Yueshuang is sensitive and introverted. They often had conflicts when they were young, and their resentment ran deep."
"Unlike Xie Yunying, who disliked studying and caused trouble every day, Xie Yueshuang was diligent and filial from a young age, well-educated and polite, and very popular with her elders. She had a very good reputation among the noble ladies of Yanjing. Although she was not as famous as the number one talented woman in Yanjing, she would never be left out when talking about noble ladies with both talent and virtue."
Xie Yunying became curious again: "There really is such a thing as a 'first talented woman'? Is she the female lead in this book?"
System: "No, the most talented woman in Yanjing is Princess Wei Yihua of this dynasty. The host does not need to learn about the royal family at this stage; it is not their time to appear yet."
After hearing Xie Yueshuang's words, Xie Zhi pondered for a moment, his cheeks twitching slightly but he didn't speak.
The last trace of a smile on Wang's face vanished. She put down her chopsticks, the sound of them tapping on the porcelain bowl like a needle piercing her ear.
She covered her face and sighed softly, her voice mournful and sorrowful: "Ying'er kept thinking about her older brother last night. Bitao told me that she cried for a long time before she could fall asleep. She got up early this morning, but I saw that her eyes were red and swollen and her face was haggard, so I couldn't bear to see her like this and let her sleep a little longer. Before she went to sleep, she asked me, 'Has there been any news about my older brother?'"
Perhaps moved by the emotion, Wang's eyes welled up with tears, and she picked up a handkerchief to wipe them away: "Hearing her speak breaks my heart! That was her own brother... After all, blood is thicker than water. Since her brother disappeared, she hasn't slept a wink for a single night..."
"My lord, have you ever seen Ying'er cry for anything? She's always been a strong person, but these past few days she's almost cried all her tears..."
Xie Yunying: "......."
system:"......."
Xie Yunying was embarrassed: "System, is this for real?"
System: "Xie Yunying did cry over Xie Qingyu's disappearance, but not...".....That's not that exaggerated, is it?
The system manipulated the data, and the little figure representing Wang lit up. "Wang is most likely referring to herself. Her tears and worries are genuine. Xie Qingyu is her only son and her pride. She is probably the one who cares most about Xie Qingyu among all these people."
"In the later part of the original story, Wang Shi fainted on the spot upon learning of Xie Qingyu's death. After giving birth to Xie Yunying, Wang Shi's health had been poor, and the pain of losing her child completely broke her spirit. She grew weaker day by day and passed away in less than three months."
"After Wang's death, Xie Yunying's fate took a sharp turn for the worse. Xie Zhi remarried not long after, and Xie Yunying's previously arranged marriage suddenly fell through. Just then, the Yuan family came to propose marriage for their eldest son."
"Although the Yuan family is not as prosperous as the Xie family, their ancestors were also founding heroes and a prominent family with hereditary titles. But who in Yanjing doesn't know that when the eldest son of the Yuan family fell into a cold pond at the age of ten, he injured his body and became a cripple who could not walk properly! Not only was he weak from a long illness, but he also had a violent temper and would beat and scold his servants at the slightest provocation. He was gloomy and vicious. No powerful family in Yanjing was willing to marry their daughter to such a person, so the eldest son of the Yuan family was twenty-five years old and still had not found a wife."
"However, the new first wife actually agreed to the marriage, and Xie Zhi did not object upon hearing of it. Xie Yunying's resistance was futile, and she married the eldest son of the Yuan family the following spring. The once arrogant and willful eldest daughter of the Xie family thus became a laughing stock in the noble ladies' circles of Yanjing..."
Xie Yunying raised her hand. System: "Host, what's your question?"
Xie Yunying scratched her face: "It sounds terrible, right... but isn't this development just like the script for the female protagonist in an ancient romance novel?"
system:"......?"
Xie Yunying: "The seemingly disabled prince in everyone's eyes will actually rise to a high position in the future. Those who laughed at the female lead will eventually rush to curry favor with her, wishing they could slap themselves for not recognizing her talent. His temper and ruthlessness are just a facade; to the female lead, he is gentle, tender, and doting. His disability is also a joke; the wheelchair is just a cover for his ambition. Even if he really is disabled, as long as the female lead marries him, a medical miracle will happen! As for impotence and low sexual ability, that's just alarmist talk. Behind closed doors, the female lead will be pampered by the male lead like a storm, seven times a night is nothing! The female lead will be pregnant within a month, stunning everyone!"
system:"......."
Xie Yunying pondered for a moment: "If I had to point out something amiss, it would be that my background isn't tragic enough. If I were a concubine's daughter whose mother died young, that would be more fitting."
System: "Just how many novels like this has his host read?"
The system wiped away non-existent electronic cold sweat: "Host, I still need to remind you that Xie Yunying is just a supporting character, and the eldest son of the Yuan family is a veritable cripple, so there will be no such subsequent development. According to the plot, the host will marry into the Yuan family in six months, so please be mentally prepared."
Xie Yunying's face fell: "...Can I go on strike?"
Seeing Wang Shi wiping away tears, Xie Zhi sighed and put his arm around her shoulder: "Madam, don't be sad. I have secretly sent people to search for Yu'er in the nearby cities. Yu'er will definitely return safely."
Wang was emotionally unstable: "I don't understand why my husband doesn't report it to the authorities?! If the government also intervened to find her, the chances of finding Yu'er would be much greater. Now we can only wait anxiously for news from those informants. Look at how long it's been since we've heard from them?"
Xie Yunying: "Yes, yes, why didn't they report it to the authorities? That's not reasonable!"
System: "......" It's supposed to be a beginner's tutorial, so why does it feel like the host is doing a variety show reaction?
Despite being implied as an accusation by Wang, Xie Zhi showed no signs of anger. Instead, he patiently explained, "Yu'er disappeared on the day of the Crown Prince's funeral. We do not yet know whether he was abducted or left on his own. Reporting to the authorities rashly would only alarm the Emperor."
"Besides, Yu'er is a grown man and an official of the court. He shouldn't be missing. There are countless eyes in the court watching the Xie family. If people find out that Yu'er is missing, I'm afraid they will use this to their advantage and jeopardize his career."
Xie Yunying: "This old man looks quite serious and difficult to talk to, but I didn't expect him to have such a good temper. I thought he would lose his temper if his wife criticized him in front of the children."
System: "Madam Wang is the eldest daughter of the Wang family in Yanjing. Although the Wang family is not as prosperous as the Xie family, it is still one of the most prominent families in Yanjing, with a large and numerous family members holding official positions in the court. The marriage between Xie Zhi and Madam Wang is a political alliance. Xie Zhi holds a first-rank official position, yet he only took one concubine despite his wife's poor health, and his attitude towards his wife has always been impeccable. This is most likely related to the Wang family behind Madam Wang."
Xie Yunying stroked her chin thoughtfully: "I see. I have a general understanding of the situation at the Xie family."
"You mentioned a transmigration book before, but you still haven't told me what kind of book it is?"
System: "The world in the book where the host resides is a plot-driven novel set in an alternate ancient era, with only one protagonist. The book is titled 'Yining,' which, as the name suggests, is actually the personal biography of the female protagonist, Yue Yining. The entire story revolves around Yue Yining."
Xie Yunying caught the key phrase: "One main character? Does that mean this book has no male protagonist and no romantic subplot?"
System: "Yes. Since the Crown Prince's sudden death, the current emperor has been deeply affected, neglecting state affairs and becoming increasingly incompetent. Meanwhile, the two remaining adult princes of Dongxi have begun to vie for the position of Crown Prince. These two princes are the Third Prince Wei Ye and the Fourth Prince Wei Jing."
"Among them, the third prince Wei Ye is honest and kind, and his mother is of humble origin; the fourth prince Wei Jing is ruthless and arrogant, and his maternal family is powerful. Yue Yining is the advisor of the third prince Wei Ye."
"Yue Yining is not only an outstanding strategist, but also a celestial master. She is a disciple of Qiu Wuzhu, the compassionate venerable one of the Yingtianmen, and is a genius that is rare in a hundred years. Ordinary people can only comprehend one of the five arts by practicing hard for a lifetime, but she has already mastered three of them at the young age of twenty."
"In Dongxi, the Celestial Master holds a high position. Most people believe in the state religion. When choosing a house, they consult feng shui masters; when choosing a name, they consult divination; when choosing a wedding date, they choose an auspicious time; and for daily prayers and exorcisms, they entrust the Celestial Master with all these matters. As the most talented and gifted Celestial Master of the younger generation, theoretically speaking, she is neither short of money nor fame, and has no reason to get involved in the struggle for the throne between the two dragons."
"No one knows why Yue Yining joined the Third Prince's camp, but since she entered politics, the Fourth Prince's forces, which are hostile to the Third Prince, have gradually weakened."
"This is actually a good thing. Anyone can see that if the incompetent and cruel fourth prince were to ascend the throne, the dynasty would be doomed," the system said. "Before Yue Yining, the third prince was walking on thin ice, with almost no capable ministers around him. The fourth prince has an absolute advantage, and the position of crown prince is a foregone conclusion."
"It can be said that Yue Yining's arrival changed everything and altered the originally destined history. She single-handedly saved the crumbling empire and extended the dynasty's fate."
"Later, the third prince was named crown prince and then successfully ascended the throne, and Yue Yining eventually became the national advisor."
Xie Yunying nodded repeatedly: "It sounds like a female-centric power struggle novel!"
System: "Actually, no, the ending of this book is a bad ending."
"The situation in this dynasty is special. The emperor greatly favored the former crown prince, who was also a man of both talent and virtue, with outstanding prestige and was a perfect person. If the former crown prince had not died suddenly, the other princes would have had no chance of vying for the position of crown prince. Although Yue Yining used her talent to put the third prince on the throne, with such a brilliant example before him, and the third prince's talent not being outstanding, not all the ministers were truly convinced."
"With the throne still unstable, the new emperor has done something that can only be described as crazy."
"After the late emperor was buried in the Ming Mausoleum, the new emperor ascended the throne within a month. After the sacrificial ceremony, the new emperor received the crown and tassels, and all the officials kowtowed, which marked the end of the ceremony."
"Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the new emperor turned his head, drew the long sword from his personal guard's waist, and swiftly entered the imperial shrine. In front of everyone, he chopped down the late emperor's memorial tablet and shattered it into pieces with the blade of his sword."
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