"Hiss! My head hurts!"
Chen Xiaoru suddenly opened her eyes, she struggled to stand up and looked around.
It was a simple thatched hut. Besides the wooden bed she lay on, there was only a rickety table and a worn-out chair. A few broken bowls lay piled in the corner, and miscellaneous items were scattered on the floor. Through the cracks in the wall, a few rays of sunlight slanted in, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Looking up, she saw the crumbling thatched roof, a few spiders weaving webs in the corners. She blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light. The rough straw beneath her prickled her, and the room stank of a pungent, musty smell.
Chen Xiaoru frowned, her heart filled with doubts. She called out softly:
"System? System?"
"I'm here! I'm here! What's the hurry?"
The system voice sounded in her mind.
Chen Xiaoru curled her lips, held her forehead and asked:
"Where is this? My head hurts so bad!"
The system chuckled and explained:
"It's okay! It's okay! Host, since this is your first world, the dizziness is due to your soul being temporarily dizzy after just coming here. It will be fine after a while."
Chen Xiaoru sighed helplessly and was about to say something when she felt dizzy again. She closed her eyes and the original owner's life appeared in her mind.
Chen Xiaoru just turned eighteen this year and lives in a small mountain village in Dingyuan County not far from the capital.
Her once happy family of three was ravaged by a sudden plague that claimed the lives of her parents. Before their funerals were even complete, the family's property was plundered by so-called relatives like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey. She was ruthlessly driven to a dilapidated thatched cottage at the end of the village. She could only scrape together a living by gathering herbs from the mountains.
Days like this made her feel deeply desperate, and helplessness and pain overwhelmed her like a tide.
She curled up in a cold corner, tears streaming down her face, and cried out in a hoarse voice:
"Dad, Mom, why don't you take me with you? I'm living alone in this world. How am I supposed to survive?"
Chen Xiaoru opened her eyes, she could feel the original owner’s despair and helplessness: I will live well for you.
She took a deep breath and calmed down.
"System, this is a hellish start? Are you kidding me? How can I complete the mission if it's so difficult?"
The system's voice sounded again:
"Don't worry, host. Now that your body has been transformed by the system, it is already fertile and there are no physical problems. Next, I will tell you your mission: you must become the woman of Emperor Xuanyuan Che and give birth to royal offspring for him. Otherwise... both the system and the host will be wiped out."
Chen Xiaoru suddenly sat up straight, her eyes wide open, her mouth slightly open, and for a moment she was speechless. Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and her mind went blank. After a long while, she finally found her voice and stammered:
"W-what? Asking me to give birth to a child for Emperor Xuanyuan Che? You, you are not kidding, right?"
The system continued to explain:
"That's right. Emperor Xuanyuan Che is already thirty years old this year, but he still has no children. The reason is actually because he is... not good in that aspect."
Chen Xiaoru's eyes widened, and her pupils reflected a look of disbelief.
Her lips trembled slightly, but no sound came out.
After a long while, she squeezed out a few words in a mosquito-like voice:
"No? Then how can I give birth to a child for him, in a dream?"
Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.
"I am in the prime of my life, and he is already over 30."
She frowned and said, "Isn't this just an old cow chewing young grass?"
The system's voice was somewhat teasing:
"Xiao Ru, you're focusing on the wrong thing."
"Having children is your top priority. What does the age gap matter?"
"As for the Emperor's impotence, you can rest assured."
"We have a special 'body fragrance pill', you just need to take one."
"He will then be 'interested' in you, and this effect will only apply to you."
There was a hint of mystery and mischief in the system's words.
Chen Xiaoru's face suddenly turned red and she quickly covered her hot face.
"Is this true? Is the body fragrance pill really that powerful?"
"Host, you will know when the time comes."
The system said mysteriously.
Her chest heaved violently, her heartbeat remarkably clear in the quiet thatched hut. Chen Xiaoru took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but found her voice still trembling slightly. She lowered her head, her gaze wandering, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.
Finally, she mustered the courage to look up, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation. She licked her dry lips gently, her voice so soft it almost sounded like she was talking to herself:
"If that person is ugly, should I still give birth to a child for him? Oh no... No! I'm a face lover!"
The system restrained its smile and its tone became serious:
"Host, don't worry. This system has already sorted out the information about Xuanyuan Che for you."
"The current emperor, Xuanyuan Che, is thirty years old and has been on the throne for ten years. He is 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He has a strong physique and a graceful demeanor, a handsome man rarely seen in the world."
"Xuanyuan Che has yet to visit any of his concubines, leaving his harem virtually non-existent. This has sparked widespread discussion within the court, with many ministers petitioning the emperor repeatedly to expand his harem and strengthen the nation's foundation. Some even secretly seek out sons of the imperial family, intending to adopt them as heirs to prevent unrest in the country."
"However, Xuanyuan Che turned a deaf ear to all this and maintained a rigid attitude, even dismissing several senior officials who spoke out against him. People throughout the court and the country were in a state of panic, speculating on the emperor's intentions."
Chen Xiaoru couldn't help but gasp when she heard this, secretly complaining in her heart: "As the king of a country, he actually has such an unspeakable secret. This is really a big joke! No wonder those ministers are as anxious as ants on a hot pot. If there is no successor to the throne, won't it be chaos?"
Chen Xiaoru was so embarrassed when she heard the system's teasing that she wanted to find a hole to hide in. She scolded:
"How can your system be so dishonest?"
The system chuckled, with a hint of ridicule in its voice:
"I'm just kidding. Okay, now get ready."
Chen Xiaoru crossed her arms, frowned slightly, and spoke with helplessness:
"Do I have any other choice?"
“Yes!”
The system deliberately dragged out the sound, as if to whet people's appetite.
Chen Xiaoru's eyes lit up and she asked anxiously:
"What?"
The system's voice suddenly turned cold, and uttered three words:
"Eradicated."
After hearing this, Chen Xiaoru rolled her eyes and said in a tone full of sarcasm:
"Then there's no choice. That's all I have to say."
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