Ling Qianhe's pupils remained fixed on her. The world seemed to darken, and the moment his fingertip touched hers, Lin Muci, about to struggle, suddenly saw black.
A moment later, she heard the little system speak.
"Host, here—let's follow the plot. To avoid making you unhappy, I've temporarily suppressed your consciousness. Hmm, please be patient... it will only be a few hours."
Upon hearing this, Lin Muci immediately felt an ominous premonition.
Follow the plot?
But her vision was entirely dark, and she couldn't resist anything. She could only suppress her anger and continue to press the little system about the Jade Bone Lotus and its subsequent developments.
"What exactly is going on with Ling Qianhe's body?"
"Also, is our ending a happy one?"
She had to get these things clear!
In the darkness, the little system finally revealed its appearance.
It was a cute little girl, appearing no older than seventeen or eighteen, with fair, tender skin, wearing an apricot-pink jacket that looked fluffy and soft. She had a round face, large eyes, and looked at Lin Muci with an innocent, pitiable expression, scratching her head.
"He's... he's just been afflicted by the Emotion Severing poison."
"According to the plot, it's supposed to unfold this way."
"Whether you and he have a happy ending... I don't know how to calculate that. You seem to have gotten the script for an angsty romance... but..."
The little system emphasized.
"Although physical and emotional torment are essential, we will absolutely not let the host be the only one suffering. For however much you suffer, he will repay it tenfold. I think that's very fair!"
She gazed at Lin Muci with her large, watery eyes, and Lin Muci let out a soft scoff.
"Don't try to act cute in front of me! I'm not the main system, I won't be swayed by your appearance."
The little system continued to blink its watery eyes.
"Host—I'm not lying."
"And Helian Lanyan will also be arriving soon..."
"You'll have plenty of opportunities to prevent his Emotion Severing from acting up. Just stay away from him, won't that solve it?"
Lin Muci instinctively felt this idea was not good. It was definitely not a good idea.
If she truly believed the little system's nonsensical advice and distanced herself from Ling Qianhe, who would protect her if Helian Lanyan came looking for trouble? Plus, there was that Azure Sparrow stirring up trouble. Just thinking about it made the suggestion seem utterly unreliable.
The little system then said.
"Host, you must stay on the verge of... a graveyard, maintaining this fragile balance."
"Remember, the plot has changed. You absolutely cannot let Ling Qianhe fall in love with you!"
"And you cannot let him become a demon!"
"That's all for now. You're free to improvise. I'm retreating..."
As soon as the little system finished speaking, Lin Muci felt her breath catch. Then, light reappeared before her eyes, and her chin was gently stroked.
It seemed...
The person opposite her had kissed her again.
Feeling utterly exhausted, she could hardly believe it, as if struck by lightning.
Could it be that she had really been... slept with by him?
She felt incredibly guilty.
How could she explain this... Even though it was just an acting space, she still felt the guilt of a thief. Ling Qianhe's fingertips slowly traced her hair, which was damp with sweat. His fingers showed a hint of tenderness.
His fingers twirled around, and then he said.
"Tomorrow, I'll have palace maids attend to you."
He paused slightly, then changed his mind.
"No, you'll move in with me."
He didn't mention making Si Muxi his empress, not because he disdained her status or beauty—he cared nothing for such formalities. It was simply that he felt it would be best for her to stay by his side forever.
As his maidservant, never to be separated from him.
Lin Muci reached out, intending to push him away, but her hand brushed against his sweaty chest. Her cheeks flushed again, and her voice lowered.
"Um—"
"Let's have some space for a while."
The young emperor opposite her paused. After a moment, he asked in a seemingly calm tone.
"What's wrong—was it something I did... that wasn't good enough just now?"
"Not trying hard enough, that's why you've had such thoughts?"
"Perhaps we should try again?"
Seeing the blush rise and his body begin to lean forward again, Lin Muci felt her scalp tingle. She said quickly.
"No, no, no... absolutely no need to try again!"
She was so nervous she almost bit her tongue, and mumbled.
"That blood-red lotus on your chest..."
A hint of cold disdain flickered across the handsome face of the young man opposite her. He then threw off the covers, revealing his smooth chest—and the blood-red lotus was completely gone, vanished without a trace. Lin Muci stared blankly, yet a sense of panic still arose in her heart.
Because she knew that the blood-red lotus had not truly disappeared.
It had merely hidden itself.
If he truly fell in love, the next time it acted up...
It would only be more fierce, more uncontrollable.
Every time he approached her, it was like drinking poison to quench thirst, pushing himself further towards the severance of his spiritual veins. What could be more cruel than to gain hope, only to have it shattered?
She sighed inwardly, deeply troubled.
"It's gone."
The young man still tried to approach her, but a eunuch's voice cautiously broke through from outside.
"Your Majesty, it is time for the morning court..."
"Today, there are many important matters awaiting Your Majesty's attention..."
Since he had ascended the throne, he could not abandon his responsibilities. He had been a prince in his youth, and though not highly regarded, he understood the ways of governing a nation. He glanced at the girl before him again. Her cheeks were flushed, revealing only her ethereal, misty eyes, which were watery—enough to make one's heart flutter.
He smiled, leaned down, and gently pecked her lips again.
"I'm leaving."
"Tonight, I'll have them escort you to my chambers."
...
After Ling Qianhe left, Lin Muci remained somewhat dazed. She stood up. The room was still warm. Outside, snow had fallen on the plum branches, and palace maids entered in a steady stream, as if to help her pack.
They looked at her with immense envy, yet dared not say a word.
This girl, though her appearance was plain and she was from a palace maid background like them, had now soared to such heights simply by backing the right person...
Although it was difficult for a palace maid to become empress, gaining the favor of that young monarch was a heaven-sent opportunity.
Moreover, that young monarch was truly handsome and elegant, exceptionally good-looking. Although she had heard that he had massacred many in the imperial court, with cruel and bloody methods, and was incredibly tyrannical, rulers were often like this.
Now that he was emperor, at the pinnacle of human power, who would still dwell on his sins of bloodlust?
These palace maids looked at Lin Muci, their envy almost making their eyes bleed.
Lin Muci, of course, could see their envy. However, she didn't pay much mind to it. She was thinking about other things—her heart gave a sharp pang.
She mentally asked the little system.
"You said Helian Lanyan would come. When?"
This time, the little system was much more generous, no longer beating around the bush. It directly loaded a segment of the plot for her to examine carefully.
"Although Helian Lanyan sent Qing Que back to her clan, he thought it over and worried that Qing Que might be mistreated by her kin. So, he secretly trespassed into the Qing Que clan, wanting to see if his beloved was well."
"But he didn't expect to not see Qing Que at all."
"Instead, he discovered that Qing Que had actually used a sacred artifact that could break the barrier of the demon realm to come to the human world."
"This was something that originally only he, the current Demon Emperor, could accomplish."
"Therefore, Helian Lanyan became suspicious and followed Qing Que."
"He desperately wanted to figure out what was going on and what had happened."
Lin Muci looked at this loaded plot segment, her thoughts suddenly becoming complicated.
"He came for Qing Que? Not for me?"
The little system hummed in response.
"Yes, although it's infuriating, it's true. He's a big idiot. He thought Qing Que had gone blind for him, and worried about her coming to the human world alone and being bullied, unable to use demonic arts. That's why he rushed to follow her."
Lin Muci: "..."
She was utterly speechless.
"So, what would his thoughts be if he discovered that Qing Que had secretly gone to Ling Qianhe's palace and, furthermore, transformed into Ling Qianhe's savior?"
The little system replied.
"At first, he would probably think that his pure white lotus was indeed innocent and kind, having even saved a demon—but upon closer reflection, he would find something amiss. After all, when would Qing Que have had the time to save Ling Qianhe?"
"Moreover, he would discover that Ling Qianhe had consumed the Jade Bone Lotus, but that was clearly something you left for him..."
"He would definitely think that Ling Qianhe stole your Jade Bone Lotus."
"Then he would go to find trouble with Ling Qianhe—but he would discover that Ling Qianhe was afflicted with the Emotion Severing poison, unique to the Qing Que clan. He would be very surprised... He wouldn't realize the poison was in the Jade Bone Lotus."
"He would assume that Qing Que poisoned him for self-preservation, fearing he would bully her."
"He would turn against Ling Qianhe, after all, the other party intended to harm his pure white lotus, and stole the Jade Bone Lotus he intended to leave for you as atonement..."
"The plot would then enter a... very dramatic phase."
Lin Muci: "..."
"They'll fight?"
The little system said.
"It will certainly be exciting."
Lin Muci thought with a blank expression. It was truly... falling into disarray.
...
The weather had turned to deep winter. The thick white snow covered the entire palace, making it look like it was clad in silver, as if the previous scenes of bloody carnage and flowing rivers of blood were no more.
Ling Qianhe had flayed his enemies, his methods so cruel that even the ministers became much more compliant. He had Lin Muci move into his palace, and no one dared to utter a word of objection.
He would often embrace her. He knew that due to his cultivation methods, his body temperature was lower than that of ordinary people, so he had many braziers lit for Lin Muci.
As he reviewed memorials, he would occasionally reach out to touch her, checking if her palms were cold.
She huddled silently on the couch, contemplating the best opportunity to escape.
Originally, if the system hadn't told her that Helian Lanyan was coming to find Ling Qianhe, she might have already fled—but now she couldn't.
She didn't want Helian Lanyan to misunderstand him, nor did she want Helian Lanyan to harm him.
So, she had to stay by his side, waiting for Helian Lanyan to arrive.
But...
This man.
Wasn't his touching and hugging a bit excessive?
Lin Muci was very troubled.
Ling Qianhe, this young scoundrel, would stare at her ferociously every day, his gaze too blatant, as if he wanted to devour her whole. She could only feign ignorance.
It just so happened that her menstrual period had arrived, so she was curled up on the couch.
The fierce young demon king, however, personally brought her white porridge and fed it to her spoonful by spoonful.
She felt a little embarrassed, but this demon king glanced at her and said with a straight face.
"I've asked the imperial physicians. They say that when women have their period..."
"Their lower abdomen will ache, and it's much better if someone warms it with their hand."
"Would you like... me to warm it for you?"
Lin Muci was confused.
"Don't you have a low body temperature?"
The young man nodded, and a faint hint of gentleness flickered in the depths of his pupils.
"Then you want it."
"Wait here."
He placed his palms in hot water—then wiped them dry with a white cloth before bringing them close to her lower abdomen. She wanted to dodge, but Ling Qianhe held her hand. His palm slowly massaged her abdomen, circling around.
She actually felt a little uncomfortable.
This body of hers was indeed frail. And she wasn't in good health to begin with, especially since her spiritual veins had been dug out, and the magical artifacts connected to her soul were largely destroyed. Even in the lower realm, she remained a weak and fragile body, and her abdomen was indeed feeling a dull ache.
He reached out to warm her stomach.
The young man was earnest and considerate—from Lin Muci's perspective, all she could see were his slender eyelashes.
Her voice was muffled.
"I thought you wouldn't care about these small things..."
He replied.
"I smelled the scent of blood. At first, I thought you were injured and intended to take you to see an imperial physician. Then you told me that your period had arrived. I saw that your complexion was even paler than usual... only then did I realize you were in discomfort."
"So, this period... it comes once a month."
"Since women become so frail when they have their period, how did you endure it back in the Hongze Great Wilderness?"
His voice was soft and gentle.
Lin Muci mumbled, biting her tongue.
"It wasn't that painful..."
Ling Qianhe's fingertips slowly stroked her. He raised his eyes and met hers, his gaze seeming to penetrate to the very depths of her heart.
"At that time, my bone-fracturing and meridian-severing condition flared up, and I was in a daze—but I seemed to feel someone doing something, and my pain was greatly reduced."
Lin Muci fell silent.
She hesitated for a moment, then continued in a low voice.
"Perhaps it was your illusion."
She had saved him using her innate abilities back then.
But the price was that from then on, he would have to bear half of her pain.
If Ling Qianhe died—she would also die. She didn't want him to die, but if his Emotion Severing acted up, all her efforts would be in vain.
Therefore, she might still have to break her promise and leave him temporarily in the future.