Great Zhou World
Night, like thick, splattered ink, hung heavy over the military camps stretching out from Shangrao City. Bonfires flickered in the distance, illuminating the silent, vigilant figures of patrolling soldiers. Xiao Ziyi's approaching army brought a suffocating tension to the land, but it also presented Ning Yangyang with only one opportunity—a perfect opportunity to uncover Nangong Xi's whereabouts.
However, she never expected that it wasn't the heavy guards that thwarted her plans, but that damned system. When she regained consciousness, she found herself swaying with the jolting motions of the carriage, her head feeling heavy as if it were filled with lead. Fragments of her memory pieced together: the night, the sneaking, and that sudden, strangely sweet dizziness... It was the system she'd been bound to that had knocked her unconscious and put her on the carriage into the city!
Her consciousness still lingered on the previous night, where a timid but clearly identified woman crouched beside an unassuming tent. "Xiao Ziyi... where on earth did you hide her?" Ning Yangyang gritted her teeth, a chill in her heart. She had repeatedly checked the list of accompanying personnel, but had never seen Nangong Xi. Where would that man, with his thoughts as deep as the abyss and his methods as ruthless as a knife, have imprisoned Nangong Xi? A feeling of powerlessness enveloped her like a cold vine, and she could only vent her anger by grabbing a piece of foxtail grass that the horse had poked out of the wasteland, twisting the furry tassels with her fingertips.
At this moment, the familiar, emotionless electronic voice rang out in her mind: "Story progress 80%, new mission node unlocked - advance the Queen's canonization."
Ning Yangyang's fingers suddenly stiffened, nearly severing the innocent grass stem. "Empress's appointment?" she roared silently inwardly, her rage instantly dispelling any remaining dizziness. "System! What the hell is wrong with you! My mission to 'escort Nangong Xi to the Western Territory' is complete? Does that count as 'staying'? Does 'staying' for just one day count as 'staying'?" She angrily flung the uninterested foxtail grass away from her hand. "What the hell are you rushing for?!"
The system's electronic voice rarely took on a soothing ripple, though it still sounded awkward. "Host, we've detected a prolonged stagnation in the crucial plot node 'Love'. This is the optimal solution. It will advance the main storyline, allowing you to complete your world quest and escape this realm as soon as possible. Then, you and I will both be free."
"Liberation?" Ning Yangyang sneered inwardly. As the night deepened and the shifts within the camp took place, she slipped silently through the shadows of the tents like a wandering spirit. Her long, flowing hair was lifted by the night breeze, and her pale face was barely visible in the dim light. The soldiers on night watch caught a glimpse of her, their hearts trembling. They hurriedly looked away, thinking it was a wandering battlefield spirit, not daring to examine her any closer.
"The optimal solution? I've carefully studied the plot PDF for this world!" She argued fiercely in her mind as she moved cautiously. "This world's main plot simply can't withstand forced advancement! Even the final ending is pinpointed to a specific year! Isn't this clearly a waste of time? Unless..." Her thoughts shifted, and with a hint of tentativeness, "Do you have a time accelerator? Can you jump directly to the final year?"
The system's voice suddenly rose, filled with a terrifying electrical hum: "Warning! Dangerous concept detected! Time accelerators are an unrealistic fantasy, every minute and every second must be cherished!" He hurriedly defended, "Host, I have exhausted the database and simulated the scenario 10,864 times! Conclusion: This world's difficulty rating is hell! Xiao Ziyi and Nangong Xi are purely torturing each other. It's a dead end! There is no solution!"
"Dead end?" Ning Yangyang's footsteps suddenly stopped in the shadow of a huge tent. A cold glint flashed in her eyes, which was the unwillingness and ruthlessness to face the predetermined fate. "Then break the deadlock! I've told you the most direct way. I am willing to diligently assassinate the hero for eighteen years..." She stared at the outline of the central military tent that symbolized the center of power. Her voice was as cold as an ice-hardened knife in her mind. "The world line collapsed and restarted. Wasn't it the same in the last world..."
The system's scream nearly pierced her consciousness. "Host! Ning Yangyang! Please! Put away that 'sacred heart'... No, no, no! Put away your 'dragon-slaying' thoughts! In the last world, because of the male protagonist's unnatural death, my bonus will be deducted! If the male protagonist of this world dies at your hands again, you and I will perish together!" The system's electronic voice even carried a hint of pleading tremor. "Lie down, host! Survive safely until the final year. It will be better for everyone!"
"Lie down? Watch Nangong Xi suffer in the fire?" Ning Yangyang rubbed her throbbing temples irritably, the system's wailing giving her a headache. "Shut up! Let me think..." She forced herself to calm down, her mind racing. Break in? Poison? The risks were too high... A name suddenly flashed through her mind: "Queen? There's a chance."
Just as Ning Yangyang was concentrating on thinking about how to find clues from Nangong Xiang, that familiar, irresistible sweet scent came again without warning, even faster and more domineering than the last time!
"System, you..." Before her consciousness was forcibly dragged into the dark abyss, she only had time to utter a weak curse in her heart, "...you have no moral principles..."
The night was as thick as ink. Inside and outside Shangrao City, murderous intent and undercurrents surged silently. A figure "wandering" in the shadows of the tents collapsed silently to the ground. A long time later, a brave night watch soldier trembled and stepped forward to check, only to find that the "ghost girl" had actually fallen asleep, her breathing steady, as if she was simply sleeping from exhaustion. No one knew her identity, and no one dared to ask any further questions. Before dawn the next day, an unremarkable green-covered carriage quietly left the military camp, carrying this dormant "windfall," and drove towards the towering imperial city, symbolizing the pinnacle of power.
As Ning Yangyang struggled to open her heavy eyelids amidst the cloying aroma of incense, she felt a softer, more delicate touch than ever before. She blinked blankly, and what came into view wasn't the crude tent roofs of the military camp, but rather an intricate, gilded, and painted caisson ceiling. Layers of tulle drapes cascaded from the high dome, shimmering softly in the morning light filtering through the window lattices.
She sat up abruptly! She was no longer wearing a nightgown or coarse cloth, but a set of intricately embroidered brocade nightgown that felt cool to the touch. Looking around, she saw carved beams and painted buildings, shimmering jade artifacts, and the air was filled with a luxurious yet oppressive tranquility that didn't belong on a battlefield.
Where is this? An absurd and terrifying answer instantly grabbed her.
"A harem?!" Ning Yangyang's voice was hoarse from shock and a hangover-like dizziness. With a mixture of disbelief and collapse, it echoed softly in the empty and magnificent palace. "System—! Get out here and explain yourself!!!"
The once solemn and majestic Taiji Hall now held a quiet aftermath of the smoke of war and a tense sense of transition between the old and the new. The bloodstains had long since been washed away, the broken artifacts removed, but the air still seemed to linger with the chill of war and the dying wailings of the old dynasty.
Inside the hall, all the civil and military officials stood in awe, many pale and evasive. They were the remnants of the previous dynasty, their future uncertain, their life and death hanging in the balance of power at the hands of the new master. Above the broad imperial steps in front of the hall, the gilded throne with nine dragons, a symbol of imperial power, hung empty.
The palace door burst open.
Xiao Yuhuan, clad in a brand new black robe with twelve emblems and a crown with twelve tassels, slowly entered, flanked by Xiao Ziyi and a group of trusted generals. His steps were steady, his face calm, and his gaze, like lightning, swept over the officials below. His gaze no longer held the gentle warmth of his time as crown prince, but only the majesty and unfathomable depth of an emperor.
Xiao Ziyi lagged behind, his black armor still attached, his scarlet cape drooping like congealed blood. His face was stern, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and he exuded a chilling, murderous aura that kept all at bay. Like a peerless, unsheathed weapon, he cleared all obstacles for the new emperor's ascension. At this moment, he was the new dynasty's most powerful pillar, the most formidable presence.
The ceremonial officer took a deep breath, unfolded the bright yellow silk in his hand, and chanted in the loudest and most solemn voice with all his strength:
"The Weixin Dynasty has just been established, and the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon us! We now have Crown Prince Xiao Yuhuan, who has inherited the Mandate of Heaven and the will of the people. He is wise and brave, and has restored order, with unparalleled achievements! He shall succeed the throne and rule over all the people. We shall change the era name to 'Jingnan' to honor your holy virtue! We, your Majesty, respectfully invite you to ascend the throne!"
"Long live our emperor! Long live! Long, long live our emperor!"
Amidst deafening cheers, Xiao Yuhuan stepped steadily and resolutely onto the imperial steps. His gaze swept across the dense crowd below, past Xiao Ziyi's hunched but rock-like figure, and finally landed on the dragon throne, a symbol of supreme power.
He turned slowly, flicking his robe sleeves, and sat down steadily under the gaze of everyone.
He raised his head slightly, his gaze penetrating the towering palace roof, as if gazing at the vaster sky. The first year of the Jingnan Rebellion had begun.
The clamor of the coronation ceremony gradually faded. The new emperor, Xiao Yuhuan, summoned Xiao Ziyi to his study, where they sat alone, separated by a table. The new emperor's imperial robes were still in place, and Xiao Ziyi's black armor remained icy cold.
On the rosewood table, incense curled from the incense burner, but it couldn't dispel the solemnity of the room. The new emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his young face wearing a subtle trace of fatigue and forced majesty. Xiao Ziyi sat below him, his posture seemingly respectful, but in reality, he exuded the calmness of someone in control of the situation.
"Zi Yi," Xiao Yuhuan spoke, his voice calm, but with a hint of imperceptible scrutiny, "You have made great contributions in this battle. How should I reward you?" He deliberately used the word "I" to emphasize the change of identity.
Xiao Ziyi picked up the newly served Rain-Predawn Longjing tea in front of the emperor, and slowly stroked the jade-soft cup wall with his fingertips. His eyes were calm and he spoke as if he was talking about today's weather: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. What I have done is, first, to avenge the late emperor, and second, to...clean up the government." His voice was steady, but every word was weighty.
Xiao Ziyi set down his teacup, and the bottom of the cup made a slight clink against the rosewood tabletop, enough to send a shiver through the new emperor's heart. He looked up at the new emperor, his gaze piercing and unquestionable. "The country is just beginning to settle, and much remains to be done. Your Majesty has been toiled. However, I have a personal matter to attend to, and I must take this opportunity to plead with Your Majesty." He paused, his tone taking on a touch of brotherly concern. "I beg Your Majesty to grant my younger sister's marriage an early date. Although the late emperor voluntarily abdicated and enjoyed his honor, his frail body... as Your Majesty is aware, is uncertain how long it will last. If we wait another three or five years, my daughter's best years... will be wasted."
Xiao Yuhuan's hands on his knees tightened slightly. Xiao Ziyi's words, ostensibly out of concern for his sister, were actually a warning.
His Adam's apple rolled, and he tried to make his voice sound steady: "My dear minister, what you said is absolutely right. But... the ceremony of conferring the empress is complicated, involving the ancestral temple and the country, and it cannot be accomplished overnight. Everything... must be done slowly to show solemnity." He tried to use "solemnity" to delay, but his heart was cold.
A faint, almost invisible smile curved Xiao Ziyi's lips, as if he had anticipated the new emperor's reaction. He nodded slightly, but his tone was even more forceful, and he directly concluded the matter: "Your Majesty has been thoughtful. However, I, your younger sister, will settle down in your harem for the time being. I am away from home all year round, and it is difficult for me to fulfill my responsibilities as an older brother. This arrangement can be considered as... a small consolation for my deceased father and mother." This was not "settled" at all; it was clearly a forced insertion, using Ning Yangyang as a pawn, a spy, to be inserted into the core of the harem ahead of time!
The words "fulfill your responsibilities as an elder brother" were like cold needles piercing Xiao Yuhuan's heart.
Ning Yangyang cornered Xiao Ziyi by the moonlit gate in the back garden. Like a cat poised for action, her eyebrows raised, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on him, she began with a blunt, sharp question, her voice swift and crisp: "Xiao Ziyi! Where's Nangong Xiren? Where did you hide her?"
Ning Yangyang has asked the same question dozens of times in a month, but it is obvious that this is the answer without any problem.
Xiao Ziyi frowned slightly and was about to speak, but Ning Yangyang didn't give him a chance. It was as if she had finally found an outlet for the resentment she had been holding back for a long time. She threw all her rage at him, tugging at his sleeves with both hands, so hard that she almost tore the fine brocade fabric apart. She kept yelling like a machine gun: "Speak! Are you mute? Did you lock her up? You selfish bastard! Give her back to me!" She didn't really want to hurt him by throwing a tantrum, but simply to disgust him, like a sticky piece of candy that couldn't be shaken off.
Xiao Ziyi's body swayed slightly as she pulled him, and the annoyance in his heart almost overflowed. He had finally seen through Ning Yangyang's stance completely—she was being unreasonable and unreasonable. He was even more convinced of the rumors that she and Xiaoxi were not biological children. Otherwise, why would she be so paranoid and crazy? He suppressed his anger and tried to change the subject.
"Shut up!" Ning Yangyang interrupted him abruptly, as if her ears were soiled by something dirty, and her delicate face was full of disgust. "Don't talk to me about pure love, it's disgusting! Hypocritical!" She spat, as if she wanted to spit the word "love" out of her mouth.
Being so rudely pushed back, Xiao Ziyi's face darkened even further. Ning Yangyang's expression suddenly changed. With a hint of deliberate flattery and urgency, she took a step closer, her eyes flickering, "Then can I stay with her like you? Why not even see her? I can help you cheer her up! I promise!" Her tone softened, a hint of coaxing, as if this were a heaven-sent gift.
"And then take her away?" Xiao Ziyi sneered almost immediately, his eyes as sharp as a knife, ruthlessly piercing through her little thoughts, his tone full of sarcasm and certainty.
Ning Yangyang choked, her momentum instantly dropping. She rolled her eyes and muttered quietly, full of self-mockery and resentment, "You talk as if you can actually walk..."
"Just stay in the palace and be your queen," Xiao Ziyi's voice was cold and hard, with an unquestionable commanding tone, "You don't have to worry about your sister-in-law." As he spoke, he tried hard to pry open Ning Yangyang's fingers that were tightly grasping his sleeve.
Ning Yangyang was struggling with him, but he flung her so hard that her balance suddenly slipped. She screamed in surprise, stumbling backward uncontrollably. Her foot tripped on the slippery moss at the edge of the pond, and she fell headfirst into the icy pond in the Imperial Garden with a thud, like a broken sack! A huge splash of water instantly erupted.
At that moment, a bright yellow figure and his entourage hurried through the moon-shaped gate. It was Emperor Xiao Yuhuan, who had rushed over after hearing the noise. He spotted the struggling figure in the pool and his expression suddenly changed: "Yang Yang!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Help..." Ning Yangyang choked on the water as she bobbed in and out, her voice broken and brittle, filled with fear and weakness. Xiao Yuhuan didn't hesitate, not even taking off his outer robe. He dashed to the edge of the pool, leaned over, and pulled the trembling, dripping wet Ning Yangyang out of the water, holding her tightly in his arms.
Xiao Ziyi on the shore finally experienced the true charm of green tea.
Ning Yangyang was drenched after being carried ashore by Xiao Yuhuan. Her hair clung to her pale face, making her look even more pitiful. As if all her strength had been drained from her, she clung limply to Xiao Yuhuan's broad chest, her delicate hands clutching the dragon-patterned collar of his shirt as if it were her only hope. She raised her wet eyelashes, her almond-shaped eyes instantly filling with tears. Like a frightened deer, she gazed at Xiao Yuhuan timidly and lovingly, her long eyelashes still drenched in glistening water droplets, threatening to fall as she trembled slightly.
"Brother Huan..." Her voice was soft and gentle, choked with the pain of surviving a disaster and deliberately tender, each word scratching at the heart like a feather. "Yangyang was scared to death... Yangyang was so scared... Fortunately... Fortunately you came..." She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her body still trembling slightly, not knowing whether it was from the cold or the fear afterward. That affected tone, that shy yet extremely dependent look, was enough to make any unsuspecting man's heart melt.
Xiao Ziyi watched the rapidly unfolding drama with a cold eye, his stomach churning. He clearly saw Ning Yangyang's lips curl up in a triumphant yet resentful arc from a perspective unseen by Xiao Yuhuan. This woman... she would probably never know that the man holding her and comforting her at this moment never truly intended to marry her. She was merely a temporarily useful pawn, a superficial woman who needed to be appeased.
Xiao Yuhuan held her in his arms, his brows furrowed, his tone carrying an urgency and soothing tone rarely seen in an emperor: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. What's going on?" His sharp eyes swept towards Xiao Ziyi on the shore, with scrutiny and majesty.
Ning Yangyang shrank in his arms, raised her tearful eyes, and looked at Xiao Ziyi hesitantly, her eyes full of grievance, fear, and silent accusation. Then she buried her face again and hugged Xiao Yuhuan tighter, as if she had been greatly frightened and wronged. She refused to say a word, performing the silent frame-up to the extreme.
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