Chapter 3: Is the Tyrant's Emotions Unstable?

As they spoke, Li Shuren and Xu'er, mistress and servant, were both taken away.

"As for the others." Emperor Qixuan looked coldly at Xia Ci, who was kneeling on the ground, and said to Consort Shu, "Since she is your person, my beloved consort, you may deal with her as you see fit."

"Your Ladyship, this servant knows she was wrong. I beg you, for the sake of the many years I have served you, please spare my life," Xia Ci pleaded.

Consort Shu remained unmoved, looking down at her. "You have been by my side for over ten years. I have never treated you poorly, yet you conspired with outsiders to frame me, and even dared to lay a hand on Yao'er."

This was the one thing she could never forgive.

Xia Ci threw herself at her feet, clutching the hem of her skirt and weeping, "No, Your Ladyship, this servant never harmed the little princess."

Consort Shu yanked her skirt away and demanded sternly, "Then do you dare say you were unaware of it?"

Chu Yao'er watched from the side with bright, sparkling eyes.

[That’s right, that’s right! Mother is mighty! This aura is just incredible.]

She remembered clearly: it was Xia Ci who had brought the original owner to the lakeside, which was what gave the villains their chance.

[Xia Ci, is it? Let me see... Huh? Her fiancé... isn't he just a piece of human trash who does nothing but eat, drink, whore, and gamble?

He claims he’ll marry her once she’s released from the palace, but he’s just after her money. In reality, the man already has two children. Tsk tsk, he’s also a domestic abuser—just like my cheapskate father, he has an unstable temper. His first wife was beaten away, and he’s just waiting to swindle Xia Ci out of her body and money so she can clean up his mess.]

Emperor Qixuan rubbed his temples, a headache forming. Was his temper unstable?

He tightened his hand, which was itching to act. He really wanted to spank this naughty little girl. It was simply... impudent! How could such a person be mentioned in the same breath as him?

[If you ask me, we should just grant her wish: let her out of the palace to marry that scumbag and let her reap what she’s sown!]

Consort Shu thought this was actually a viable plan. Now that Yao'er was favored by an immortal, what if punishing Xia Ci offended the immortal? It would be better to send her out of the palace and let her future depend on her own fate.

However, one who betrays their master cannot be let off easily!

"I can let you leave the palace, but you are never to say you came from my Qionghua Palace or the General's Mansion. You are not to take a single shred of the rewards I have given you. Do you understand?"

Xia Ci nodded. "This servant understands."

Chu Yao'er paid no attention to what happened next; her focus was entirely on the system panel.

"Ding-a-ling..." The giant wheel spun rapidly.

System: Congratulations to the host for winning: 100g White Rabbit Creamy Candy x1, Thanks for Playing x5, Emergency First Aid Kit (Family Edition) x1, Little Angel Sanitary Pads x2, Flashlight x1.

[Five ten-pulls and I got empty results? System, you have no heart. Are you rigging this?]

System: Host, I have no physical form. The lottery results are related to the host's own luck.

The implication being: if your hands are cursed, who can you blame?

Chu Yao'er:...

Fine. Even in a new world, she was still not a "lucky European."

[The points I just got haven't even warmed up and most are already gone, and on useless things at that. At least I got the first aid kit; it should have common medicines, right? After all, this is ancient times where a fever or cold can cost you your life.]

A first aid kit?

Did someone give Yao'er something?

Consort Shu picked her up, looking around vigilantly.

Emperor Qixuan, meanwhile, was thinking: What medicine? Could it be an elixir given by an immortal?

Yes, that must be it. In his view, how could Yao'er know so much? It must have been taught by the immortal. That he and Consort Shu could hear Yao'er's inner voice must also be divine will.

If the System-as-Immortal knew his thoughts, it would definitely tell him: You're overthinking it.

Yao'er reached into her small pouch, pretended to rummage for a while, and pulled out a creamy candy. The size was about the same as the original, though it was wrapped in oil paper.

She unwrapped one and held it to her mother's lips. "Mother, eat candy."

After feeding her mother, Yao'er unwrapped one for herself and ate it happily.

[Only sweet creamy candy can soothe my wounded soul right now.]

Suddenly, a large, well-defined hand appeared before her. Yao'er looked up to see her cheapskate father smiling at her. "What about Father's?"

Yao'er turned her little head away and clutched her pouch tightly.

[What a big villain, even stealing candy from a child.]

Seeing her like that, the System couldn't bear to watch. The items she won were stored in the system's own space; why was she clutching her pouch?

Had the host's mentality regressed to that of a toddler after becoming a child?

"Maowen."

The head eunuch, Su Maowen, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "This servant is here."

"For lunch today, have the Imperial Kitchen serve shad, and cherry curd." As he spoke, he glanced at Yao'er.

Head Eunuch Su understood and followed his lead. "This servant has noted it. The Emperor is right; this is the perfect month for shad. It doesn't need to be complicated—just steam it with ham and fresh mushrooms. It’s incredibly fresh."

Yao'er's little ears twitched. She smacked her lips, turned her head, and reached out to be held. "Father, hug."

Then, she pulled out a piece of candy and handed it over with a flattering expression.

System: Host, you’re being bought off by a fish and some cherries? You’re a bit... cheap, aren't you?

[How can you think of me like that? I’m giving good food to Father; that’s called being filial, okay?]

After snapping at the System, she caught a glimpse of the Empress looking awkward in the corner. Yao'er struggled to get down, ran over, and handed her a candy too.

"For me?" The Empress was stunned. Just a moment ago, in her panic, she had been ready to seize them mother and daughter without rhyme or reason. This little one didn't resent her, and was even giving her candy?

Yao'er nodded her little head. "Yes."

Turning back, she saw Head Eunuch Su. Yao'er puffed out her cheeks in hesitation; the 100 grams of candy only totaled sixteen or seventeen pieces, and she might not win more next time.

"Here." She decided to give him one.

[I remember in the plot, Head Eunuch Su was loyal. After the cheapskate father was murdered, he pretended to defect to the new Emperor, but was actually waiting for a chance to take revenge. He failed, though, and died under a hail of arrows.]

Su Maowen was at a loss. "This?"

Although he had never eaten it, he could smell the milky fragrance. This candy clearly wasn't an ordinary item. How could a servant eat the same thing as his masters?

"Yao'er." Consort Shu wanted to stop her. It wasn't that she looked down on Eunuch Su, but Yao'er had just given candy to the Emperor and Empress; she worried the Empress might overthink it.

Emperor Qixuan understood her concern. He hid the darkness in his eyes and waved his hand. "Since the Princess has rewarded you, just accept it. She’s just a nursing babe; what does she know of those complicated matters?"

Emperor Qixuan looked at Yao'er, lost in thought. He would be murdered? And by the new Emperor? Thinking of the Crown Prince...

The thought had barely surfaced before he dismissed it. The Crown Prince couldn't commit patricide. But if it wasn't the Crown Prince who ascended...

Could it be... that the Crown Prince didn't survive this time? Or... was the Crown Prince also murdered?

Suddenly, a palace maid burst in.

"Your Majesty! Your Ladyship the Empress! It’s bad! His Highness the Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't seem to be making it!"