Chapter 24-25 |
On the ride back home, Madam Ning did not speak to Ning Qinghuan, creating a heavy atmosphere inside the carriage.
After returning home, Madam Ning kept a stern expression on her face as she made her way to her courtyard with General Ning, Ning Yunlang, and Ning Qinghuan. Then, she had all of the servants on duty withdraw from the courtyard.
Once all of the servants had left, Madam Ning instantly exploded into a flying rage.
"What exactly is going on here?!" Madam Ning demanded. Then, she had Ning Qinghuan kneel on the floor before turning to her husband and asking, "Did you know about it long ago?"
"How could that be possible? I only responded that way because of the urgency at the time. Alright, alright, what are you getting so angry about?" General Ning said in an attempt to appease his wife. Then, he turned to his kneeling daughter and said, "Hurry up and tell Daddy what's going on, Qinghuan. What were you thinking just now? I know you've been independent since you were a child, so I know you wouldn't take such an ignorant action without reason."
General Ning was a father who doted on his daughter very much. Moreover, he had a sufficient understanding of his daughter, so he knew that his daughter wouldn't act foolishly without reason. Thus, his words carried hints for Ning Qinghuan.
"Mom, Dad, I've been an unfilial daughter. However, I truly love Wan'er, so I hope you can support our relationship."
Ning Qinghuan kowtowed repeatedly, the banging sounds she made when her head struck the wooden floor causing Ning Yunlang's heart to ache.
Meanwhile, General Ning hurriedly stopped his daughter's actions and helped her up, saying, "I never said I disagreed, so what are you kowtowing for? You've even used such force. Have you even fully recovered from your injuries yet?"
When General Ning saw his wife's expression loosening a little, he quickly approached her and stroked her back in the hopes of helping her calm down. While doing so, he looked at his daughter and asked, "So the person you like is Wan'er. Have you two long since thought this through?"
"I have already thought it through. I was the one who fell in love with Wan'er first, so I don't wish to marry anyone. I only wish to be together with Wan'er. The reason I joined the war is also for today's sake," Ning Qinghuan answered. "Mom, Dad, I know you two love me and hope that I can marry into a good family. However, I don't want that kind of life. I know what I want. Our family has Big Brother to continue the lineage, in any case."
Upon being dragged into the conversation, Ning Yunlang quickly smiled and said, "That's right, Mom. Lil Sis will only end up suffering if she marries and gives birth. Now that the situation has already ended up in such a state, you might as well go along with Lil Sis's wishes."
"You three are just grouping up to anger me!" Madam Ning snorted angrily. Then, while massaging her aching temples, she glared at General Ning and demanded, "Why aren't you saying to her?!"
"Oh, what's there to say? I already thought it through on the way back," General Ning said, sighing. "You know as well as I do how stubborn our daughter can be. She even went to the battlefield for Wan'er's sake. What's the point in stopping her now?
"Also, she already made that kind of declaration in front of so many people. There is no use in crying over spilled milk, so just let it be. It's fine so long as she's happy. Not to mention, I'd rather let Qinghuan be with a kind and gentle girl like Wan'er than hand her over to a man I know nothing about. What if that man keeps bringing other women home? Can Qinghuan tolerate such a slight? I didn't raise my daughter just to let someone anger her every day. Wan'er, on the other hand, will definitely listen to Qinghuan's every word. Just treat it as if your daughter had become a son that can't have children."
General Ning was very open-minded about Ning Qinghuan's sexual orientation. However, that was only because she was his daughter. If Ning Yunlang told General Ning that he liked men, General Ning would definitely break his legs.
"You're the best, Dad!" Ning Qinghuan coquettishly hugged her father's arm and beamed a cheeky smile at her elder brother. She knew that her father pampered her the most.
"You really are… Hah… Haven't you considered how other people would look at us in the future?" Madam Ning said, exasperated by her husband's words.
"With their eyes, of course. Be more open-minded, Wife. Also, once we shut our doors, who cares how other people look at us, right?" General Ning nonchalantly said. He had lived through more than half of his life already and knocked on death's door multiple times. Thus, he was no longer as stubborn as he used to be.
After appeasing his wife, General Ning turned to Ning Qinghuan and said, "Even if a path seems crooked in the eyes of others, it is fine so long as you can walk on it smoothly. However, Wan'er currently belongs to the fourth prince on paper. What do you plan on doing about this?"
"I have my ways. You don't need to worry about me, Daddy."
With General Ning's persuasion, Ning Yunlang's assistance, and Ning Qinghuan's coquettish acting and promises, Madam Ning eventually assented to her daughter's wishes, albeit reluctantly. Then, she waved her hand and shooed her son and daughter away. Right now, she needed some time to herself.
…
Ning Qinghuan never thought her father would take such a cooperative stance in this situation, so she couldn't help but rejoice.
"Feeling better?" Ning Yunlang asked as he walked out of the courtyard together with Ning Qinghuan.
"Of course! I'm overjoyed!"
"You might be happy, but I'll probably be in trouble in the subsequent days."
"It's fine. I'll ask Wan'er and have her see which girl in the capital suits you the most, Big Brother."
"Oh? You're asking Wan'er for help?"
"Don't underestimate Wan'er. She's much smarter than you think. She more or less knows everything that happens in the imperial court. If she were born a man, she would definitely become an important official."
"So she's that amazing… Hold up… Is she working for the fourth prince right now?"
"That's right."
"Tsk, tsk. How amazing."
"I know, right?"
Ning Qinghuan proudly lifted her chin. Her wife would naturally be amazing.
"What are you going to that side for?"
"To jump over the wall."
"You're leaving the manor?"
"Of course. I'm going to meet with Wan'er, so I won't be coming home tonight."
After saying so, Ning Qinghuan waved goodbye before agilely climbing over the wall and making her way to her destination.
…
Ning Qinghuan didn't know which courtyard Jun Zishu was staying at in the fourth prince's manor, so after sneaking into the manor, she made her way to the house in the largest courtyard. Then, she snuck into the bed-chamber through the eaves of the house.
As to why she did not visit the manor through the front door, that was to avoid suspicion.
The officials in the court loved to indulge in fantasy when they had nothing better to do, so it was best to avoid giving them any materials to fantasize about. Otherwise, these people might start making rumors about her and the fourth prince.
The fourth prince was given a fright when Ning Qinghuan suddenly landed inside his room. Consort Wang was similarly given a scare.
"How skillful of you, Little General," the fourth prince said with a stiff smile. Even without asking, he already knew what Ning Qinghuan was here for.
Consort Wang had also been at the victory banquet just now, so she naturally heard Ning Qinghuan's proclamation. However, she never thought Ning Qinghuan would appear before her so soon.
"Where is Wan'er?"
"I'll take you there," the fourth prince calmly said as he opened the door. The next moment, he paused and pointed at the hole in his roof, saying, "But before that… Do you mind repairing my roof for me, Little General?"
After Ning Qinghuan fixed the roof, the fourth prince led her to Jun Zishu's courtyard as promised.
When Ning Qinghuan was sneaking into the fourth prince's manor, Little Fairy had already notified Jun Zishu of Ning Qinghuan's arrival. Thus, Jun Zishu had already gotten dressed and was currently waiting for Ning Qinghuan in her room.
"We're here."
"Thanks."
Ning Qinghuan thanked the fourth prince and entered the courtyard.
There was still a light lit inside the house, and Ning Qinghuan had the urge to meet Jun Zishu immediately. Yet, when she arrived by the door, she hesitated to open the doors.
What should she say first after meeting her Little Wan'er?
Just when Ning Qinghuan was about to open the doors, she saw the doors opening from the inside.
When the doors parted, a girl with a slender frame appeared in Ning Qinghuan's vision. The girl wore a bright smile on her petite face, and compared to three years ago, the girl looked much more beautiful now.
The flowery words Ning Qinghuan had thought up before vanished the moment she laid eyes on Jun Zishu, and the only thing she could think of saying at the moment was: "I'm back, Little Wan'er."
"Mhm."
Jun Zishu nodded. Then, she pulled Ning Qinghuan into her bed-chamber and closed the doors behind her.
Relying on the candlelight, Jun Zishu carefully scrutinized Ning Qinghuan's visage.
Because the war had taken place in a desert, Ning Qinghuan's skin tone looked much darker than it was three years ago. The fragile aura she previously exuded was also nowhere to be seen. Instead, taking its place was a fierce and ruthless aura. Even her eyes gave off a scary look.
Yet, when Ning Qinghuan smiled at Jun Zishu, her eyes were filled with warmth.
"Why aren't you asleep yet this late at night?"
"Of course, it is because I am waiting for you. Why didn't you tell me you had returned? I only found out about it because the fourth prince told me."
"I planned to give you a surprise, but I didn't think you had known about it already." Ning Qinghuan scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed. Then, wrapping an arm around Jun Zishu's waist, Ning Qinghuan asked, "It's been three years. Have you missed me?"
"I miss you a lot. I've been thinking of you every night."
"So did I."
No matter how numbingly romantic their words felt, neither Jun Zishu nor Ning Qinghuan found anything wrong with them.
"Marry me, Little Wan'er."
As soon as Ning Qinghuan finished speaking, she naughtily leaned forward with her lips.
Jun Zishu followed suit and lifted her head slightly to welcome Ning Qinghuan's lips. Then, she cooperatively opened her lips and allowed Ning Qinghuan to steal her breath.
The dim candlelight added an ambiguous tone to the atmosphere. Even after a long time had passed, the two still couldn't seem to get enough of each other.
With her emotions aroused, Jun Zishu started wrestling with Ning Qinghuan using the tip of her tongue.
As soon as one kiss ended, another began.
When the kisses finally stopped, Jun Zishu panted as she answered, "Okay, I'll marry you."
"You won't be my cousin from now on but my wife instead."
Ning Qinghuan tapped a finger on the tip of Jun Zishu's nose and sat her down.
"Mhm."
"Call me 'husband,' then."
Ning Qinghuan pushed Jun Zishu down onto the bed, using the opportunity to take liberties with Jun Zishu.
"No."
Jun Zishu turned her head away, refusing to let Ning Qinghuan have her way.
"Come on, come on."
"You're not my husband yet, so I refuse. You only know how to take liberties with me."
"I'll do it even more, then."
After the two messed around for a while, they began talking about proper matters.
"What's the situation with Uncle and Auntie?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I've already taken care of them."
"Hm? Have Uncle and Auntie given you their approval?"
"Let me tell you, tonight, I…"
Ning Qinghuan happily told Jun Zishu about her heroic deed in the victory banquet and confidently patted her chest. She also talked about the conversation she had with her parents.
"Anyway, everything is settled. I'll leave my dad to persuade my mom. They pamper me a lot. Although my mom still can't quite accept us now, that might not be the case anymore tomorrow."
"Aren't you a little too bold, Big Sister? What if the emperor gets mad at you? What if Uncle decided to scold you on the spot?"
"It's fine. The emperor hasn't decided which house I should marry yet. Since my decision matches his wishes, it'd be a win-win for both of us. He naturally won't get angry with me. So, just wait for me to marry you."
"But what about my identity? I can no longer use my current identity, so how about I change to another one instead?" Jun Zishu asked. Then, she told Ning Qinghuan about the solution she had previously shared with the fourth prince and Consort Wang. In her opinion, this would be the most effective solution to their problem, so she decided to share it with Ning Qinghuan.
"That works. This seems to be the best solution. Leave it to me."
Ning Qinghuan nodded. In reality, the solution she came up with was something similar to Jun Zishu's solution.
Ning Qinghuan's little stunt in today's victory banquet had already created a lot of trouble for the Ning family. If she boldly married Jun Zishu, who was not only her blood-related cousin but also the fourth prince's concubine, there was no doubt that her father would vehemently oppose her actions.
Ning Qinghuan didn't wish to secretly marry Jun Zishu, either. Instead, she wanted to proudly and officially welcome Jun Zishu as her wife. Thus, coming up with a new identity for Jun Zishu was the best solution. As for the status of the new identity, it did not matter. It was fine so long as Jun Zishu was the identity's owner.
"Mhm, mhm. I trust in your arrangements, Big Sister. However, make sure to find an identity that has a weak body. Many people in the capital already know of my appearance, so it's best if I don't meet with people often."
"Okay."
Ning Qinghuan extinguished the candle and undressed. Then, she laid down on the bed beside Jun Zishu.
"Honestly, it feels like I'm dreaming," Ning Qinghuan exclaimed.
"Even if it's a dream, I will always be with you," Jun Zishu said as she held Ning Qinghuan's hand and squeezed it.
"I have a lot to do starting tomorrow. I absolutely will not spare that fifth prince," Ning Qinghuan said in a chilling tone.
"He's a bad person. I hate him, Big Sister," Jun Zishu followed up, causing Ning Qinghuan to detest the fifth prince even more.
"I'll make sure to send him my regards," Ning Qinghuan said. She would settle both old and new debts with the fifth prince.
"But now isn't the time yet, Big Sister."
"Hm?"
"I can't marry you yet."
"Why?"
Ning Qinghuan grew a little anxious. Ever since she returned from the battlefield, she wanted nothing more than to take Jun Zishu back to her nest and make her little cousin hers completely.
"I want to take care of things over here at the fourth prince's side first. Let's get married after the dust has settled, okay?"
"How long must I wait for that to happen?"
Ning Qinghuan was really anxious now. If they had to wait until the fourth prince had risen to the throne to get married, who knew how long they had to wait. After all, the emperor still looked to be in good shape. And although the crown prince had lost the emperor's favor now, there was no saying if he might make a comeback in the future.
"Five months. At most, everything will be a foregone conclusion in five months," Jun Zishu spoke with confidence.
"Do you know something, Little Wan'er?"
"That person will soon fall. He is merely acting tough on the surface right now."
"What?"
Ning Qinghuan was surprised.
"You, Big Brother, and Uncle should start preparing soon, Big Sister," Jun Zishu said.
Ning Qinghuan pondered over Jun Zishu's words for a moment before falling asleep with Jun Zishu in her arms.
Before the sun had even risen the next day, Ning Qinghuan had already gotten out of bed and dressed up. Then, after kissing Jun Zishu on the forehead, she quietly left the fourth prince's manor.
After Ning Yunlang returned to the capital, Madam Ning's busy life resumed. She had to meet with so many young ladies in the capital that she couldn't even keep count.
At the same time, Ning Yunlang had also started his torturous days of meeting with potential wives. The meetings and formalities he had to go through gave him a huge headache.
Meanwhile, to Madam Ning's bafflement, among the invitations she received for matchmaking banquets, there were even some with Ning Qinghuan's name on them. Naturally, Madam Ning had rejected these invitations stating that her daughter liked girls and that Ning Qinghuan wouldn't take a liking to any young men even if she attended such matchmaking events.
However, in response, the people that sent these invitations had eagerly stated that Ning Qinghuan could attend their events to look at girls instead.
The shamelessness of these people exasperated Madam Ning, and she adamantly refused to bring her daughter along to these events.
Meanwhile, thanks to her mother's efforts, Ning Qinghuan got to pass her days carefreely. Apart from doing some light work during the day, she spent the rest of her time sneaking into the fourth prince's manor and spending time with Jun Zishu. However, although the two intimately kissed and caressed each other, they never went all the way.
The main event naturally had to be saved for their wedding night.
The fourth prince had also gotten used to Ning Qinghuan's daily visits. To avoid having Ning Qinghuan sneaking into his manor like a thief every day, he deliberately left the rear entrance to his manor unlocked and unguarded.
The crown prince was even less capable than Jun Zishu initially anticipated. After falling for Jun Zishu's successive schemes, the crown prince thoroughly angered the emperor and had his succession rights stripped. The emperor had even confined the crown prince to his courtyard.
Since the new crown prince could only be the fourth prince or the fifth prince, after the old crown prince was out of the competition, the struggle between the fourth and fifth princes grew even more intense. Although the fourth prince still maintained a brotherly relationship on the surface, the fifth prince was already clutching at straws.
The fifth prince knew full well that the emperor didn't like him. Between him and the fourth prince, the emperor would definitely choose the latter for the throne.
However, the fifth prince couldn't just give up on his many years of planning. Thus, he decided to accelerate his plans.
Now that General Ning had already officially joined the fourth prince's faction, there would be no room for the fifth prince to interfere with the General's manor.
Like Jun Zishu stated, the emperor's body was already in terrible condition even before the war ended. Thus, when winter began, the emperor collapsed.
As soon as news of the emperor falling ill spread, the fourth and fifth princes immediately moved their fight from the dark to the light. Now, nobody was safe from the succession competition.
Despite the situation in the capital worsening, Jun Zishu remained steady as she watched things develop in the direction she anticipated.
It didn't take more than two months for the emperor to fall ill and pass away.
Although there were people who had sincerely wept for the emperor, they were in the minority.
Naturally, the emperor's last will was for the fourth prince to succeed the throne.
However, on the night the emperor passed away, the fifth prince stormed the palace with his troops.
Jun Zishu watched the live broadcast of the rebellion in the safety of her courtyard. When Little Fairy started broadcasting the fight, Ning Qinghuan had already readied her sword to deal with the rebels.
In this fight, the fifth prince suffered an overwhelming defeat.
Thus, with the emperor's decree in hand, the fourth prince became the new emperor.
This outcome overjoyed Ning Qinghuan since this meant that she could marry Jun Zishu right away.
While everyone focused on the new emperor's coronation, a concubine in the emperor's harem named Jun Zishu quietly passed away from illness.
When the other members of the fourth prince's harem, ignorant of the situation, learned about Jun Zishu's abrupt passing, they could only lament Jun Zishu's bad luck for the girl. After all, the girl had passed just when the fourth prince was about to become the new emperor.
However, Consort Wang, who knew of the situation, knew that Jun Zishu had already taken on a new identity at this time and would soon live an entirely new life.
…
Ning Qinghuan's wedding was held one day after Ning Yunlang's wedding.
Thus, the guests the Ning manor invited had to busy themselves as they needed to prepare two separate sets of gifts.
Jun Zishu's new identity was the new emperor's adopted sister, and she was given the title of Princess Qingyun.
The madames in the capital were interested in meeting with this new princess. Unfortunately, news had spread that Princess Qingyun had a weak constitution, making it difficult for her to entertain guests.
Even on Ning Qinghuan's wedding day, the guests only got to see a girl in a wedding dress with a red veil covering her face. They didn't get to see the appearance of this mysterious Princess Qingyun.
…
Jun Zishu sat inside the bridal chamber, and waiting on her was Shaoyao, who had already married and became someone's wife.
Jun Zishu had Shaoyao bring some of the prepared pastries to her, and she slowly enjoyed them as she sat on the bed. She hadn't eaten the entire day because of all the wedding formalities she had to deal with, so she was starving right now. If she didn't eat something now, her body would probably crumble before she could carry out the pleasant activities later on.
When Ning Qinghuan was done entertaining the guests outside, Jun Zishu had already finished eating.
Seeing Ning Qinghuan's arrival, Shaoyao gave her young lady a polite bow before retreating from the room.
When Shaoyao found out that the two young misses she served were getting married, she had taken the news surprisingly well. That was to be expected since Ning Qinghuan and Jun Zishu had always shared an abnormally close relationship. Thus, it was only normal for them to end up together.
"You have to call me 'husband' today, Little Wan'er," Ning Qinghuan said, her voice carrying hints of drunkenness. Although she knew that she shouldn't get drunk today, she was so happy that she couldn't help herself from having a few cups.
Her little rabbit would finally belong to her today.
Ning Qinghuan removed the veil serving as a nuisance and smiled before kissing Jun Zishu. She greedily devoured most of the rouge covering Jun Zishu's lips, and she even got some onto her face.
"Oh, what are you in such a hurry for? Help me take off this thing on my head first," Jun Zishu complained as she pushed Ning Qinghuan away. However, her eyes that had turned watery from the kiss only served to arouse Ning Qinghuan even more.
"Because I am in a hurry. I've been waiting for this day for so, so long already," Ning Qinghuan said. Then, she swiftly removed the accessories on Jun Zishu's head, urgently stripping Jun Zishu's clothing, and subsequently undressed herself as well.
"Do you know how to do it, Big Sister?" Jun Zishu asked with an embarrassed look on her face. The candles had yet to be extinguished, yet she no longer had anything covering her body. To make matters worse, Ning Qinghuan was staring at her nude body with a lustful gaze.
Although they would often see each other's bodies when they bathed together in the past, the current situation was different.
"Hm? What did you call me, Little Wan'er?"
Biting her lip, Jun Zishu softly called out, "Husband…"
Ning Qinghuan smiled in satisfaction. Then, she began coloring Jun Zishu's pale skin with red marks.
"Of course I know how to do it," Ning Qinghuan stated with confidence. She had deliberately researched this topic, and she was confident she could pleasure Jun Zishu.
"Come…then."
Jun Zishu anxiously closed her eyes and relaxed her body, her actions causing Ning Qinghuan to grow even thirstier.
"Open your eyes and look at me, Little Wan'er," Ning Qinghuan said in a low voice. Then, she planted a soft kiss between Jun Zishu's trembling eyebrows, coaxing Jun Zishu to open her eyes.
Jun Zishu's skin tone was very pale. Despite living a sheltered life just like any other noble lady in the capital, Jun Zishu's skin was much paler than any other noble ladies Ning Qinghuan knew. Yet, instead of giving off a sickly look, Jun Zishu's skin exuded a bewitching glow.
When Ning Qinghuan recalled the jokes she heard during her time in the army, her heartbeat accelerated.
Marks appeared on Jun Zishu's soft and white skin with every kiss Ning Qinghuan planted. In no time at all, Ning Qinghuan's seals of love covered Jun Zishu's entire body. Combined with the hazy look in Jun Zishu's eyes, Ning Qinghuan couldn't help but be even more mesmerized by her beloved.
Ning Qinghuan had to agree with the words of her comrades-in-arms. The sight she created thanks to their insight was truly beautiful beyond words.
To Ning Qinghuan, the bodily pleasures she experienced this night were only of secondary importance in her mind. The emotional satisfaction she experienced was of much greater importance instead.
…
Ning Qinghuan had originally planned to leave the capital together with Jun Zishu after her wedding. However, neither General Ning nor the new emperor was willing to let them go.
Thus, Ning Qinghuan had no choice but to take on a military position in the imperial court and live her days in peace with Jun Zishu.
The emperor wasn't only reluctant to let Ning Qinghuan go. He was also reluctant to let Jun Zishu, who had been giving him advice all this time, out of his grasp as well.
Because of this, Jun Zishu would often visit the empress as Princess Qingyun, using it as an excuse to help the emperor solve his problems.
As time passed, many things and people gradually changed.
Just like Jun Zishu anticipated, after Consort Wang became the empress, she had grown out of being the girl who used to daydream in Jun Zishu's courtyard. Now, her acting had become more mature, and her actions had become more ruthless and decisive.
Meanwhile, Ning Yunlang's wife had given birth to a son. While some people were growing up day by day, some were also inevitably growing into old age.
On one warm summer day, General Ning passed away.
Madam Ning fainted on the spot. And despite Ning Qinghuan and Jun Zishu returning to the General's manor to take care of her, sadness overwhelmed her, and she passed away from illness a year later.
Ning Qinghuan's mood was exceptionally heavy during that period. Unable to focus on her work, she resigned from her post and traveled the world with Jun Zishu.
Whenever the two arrived at a new place, they would stop and rest for some time. Although they never adopted a child, they had helped plenty of people. Thus, whenever they returned to those places, there would always be people greeting and welcoming them.
In the past, Ning Qinghuan had ignorantly believed the capital to be the entire world. However, after she set foot on foreign soil for the sake of love, she found out how cruel this world could be.
Later on, when Ning Qinghuan started traveling around the world with Jun Zishu, she realized how wide the world was.
Ning Qinghuan had always felt that she was the luckiest person in the world. She had parents and an older brother that loved her and pampered her when she was a child, and she had Jun Zishu to accompany her once she was grown up.
"I feel that my life has gone unbelievably smoothly, Little Wan'er."
Ning Qinghuan and Jun Zishu sat on a wall as they watched vanish bit by bit into the distant horizon.
"Isn't that good?"
Jun Zishu smiled as she swayed her legs back and forth.
"That's right. It's really good."
When walking became a difficulty for them, they returned to the capital, the place where they first met each other.
Jun Zishu's life ended 15 minutes after Ning Qinghuan passed.
During these 15 minutes, Jun Zishu did nothing at all. She only waited for the servants she arranged to take care of her and Ning Qinghuan's bodies.
Once the servants arrived, Jun Zishu peacefully shut her eyes.
[Oh yeah! Mission complete! I bet our evaluation this time will be S-rank!]
Little Fairy fluttered her wings in the transit space and planted a kiss on Jun Zishu's cheeks.
[Quickly exit the nutrition pod, Host. Once the Main System mails you your evaluation, make sure to ask the employee outside about the memory separation function. We'll meet again when you start your next mission.]
Jun Zishu sat up from her nutrition pod and massaged her forehead.
"Are you experiencing any discomforts?" the female staff responsible for overseeing the pods in the area asked after approaching Jun Zishu.
"I'm fine."
Jun Zishu shook her head and climbed out of her pod.
"If you're tired, get a good rest once you arrive in your assigned room," the staff member said in a caring tone. She had already gotten used to seeing fate changers experiencing headaches after concluding a mission.
"Thank you. May I know where I can get my emotions separated?"
"I'll take you there."
Jun Zishu nodded. Taking a look at the blue five-pointed star the staff member wore on her shirt, Jun Zishu found the number "79" written on it, and she couldn't help but wonder if that was the staff member's employee number or name.
"You must be an intern, right? I've never seen you before."
Seventy-nine struck up a conversation as she led the way.
"Mhm. That was my first mission."
"Best of luck in becoming an official employee."
"Thank you."
Jun Zishu followed Seventy-nine through a corridor. The corridor was made entirely out of glass, and walking through it made her feel like she was walking in the air. Looking around, she found a layer of clouds beneath her and buildings of unbelievable heights surrounding her.
"What kind of place is this?" Jun Zishu asked. She had been rushed to her first mission before she even got to take a proper look around. So, she was still clueless regarding the world where the Department of Transmigration resided in.
"Which dimension did you come from?"
"Earth."
"Which period?"
"The 21st century."
"In that case, the living style here is roughly similar to what you know. Everyone here works for the Department. Once your internship ends, you can earn Energy Points for every mission you complete, and you can use these points to buy things you want. Consider EPs as the currency here."
"Is that so? I think I get it."
Jun Zishu nodded in understanding. In other words, she was currently an intern with nothing to her name, and only after becoming an official employee would she start earning a salary. Then, once she got her salary, she could use it to buy clothes, houses, and other things.
"We've reached the Emotion Separation Division. You just need to go inside."
After walking for some time, Seventy-nine stopped in front of a room, and hanging above the room's entrance was a sign with the words "Emotion Separation Division."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm Seventy-nine. I can pick you up the next time you wish to do a mission."
"Okay."
Afterward, Jun Zishu entered the Emotion Separation Division's room and sat on a chair. Then, she followed the instructions displayed in the room, grabbed one of the magnetic disks prepared beside her seat, and put it on her head.
The process was swift, lasting only half a minute.
When Jun Zishu left the room, she could sense her attachment to that world dulling. Yet, when she tried to recall Ning Qinghuan's smiling face, her heart twisted in pain.
However, the pain did not linger for long, vanishing before she knew it.
When Jun Zishu arrived at the employee dormitory the Department had assigned her to, she sat on the bed and looked around.
The room was simple, having only a table, a chair, and a bed for one.
The room was not cramped, but it wasn't spacious either.
Jun Zishu pushed on the button on the wall by the bed and found the wall separating. To her surprise, the wall was also a window, and it granted her a view of the outside world.
When Jun Zishu tried reaching for the scenery outside, she found a layer of glass hindering her.
Then, Jun Zishu twisted the button as indicated by the labels and found the sky outside transforming from day to night. It was a truly unique experience.
After Jun Zishu sat on the bed for a while, a holographic screen with lines of text suddenly popped up in front of her.
"Evaluation for the mission this time is S-rank… Attached is the introductory map?" Jun Zishu mumbled as she read the message on the screen.
A minute later, the message disappeared, and taking its place was an introductory map.
The map showed the layout of the area she stayed in. Primarily, it showed where she could find food to eat. However, without any EPs to spend, she could only go for the nutrition fluid that sold for the friendly price of zero. The nutrition fluid was the product of an interstellar plane, and it could only be used to sate hunger. Unfortunately, much was left to be desired when it came to taste.
After getting a general understanding of her residential area, she tapped on the screen and made it disappear. Then, she made her way to the canteen to grab herself a bottle of nutrition fluid, drank it, and returned to her dorm to rest.
…
Inside the Central Control Center, a slight energy fluctuation caught the attention of the operators on duty. These operators immediately grew ecstatic and sent news of this situation to the various division chiefs. Several minutes later, every division chief in the Department arrived at the control center in a hurry.
"Are you sure you found Lord's traces?"
"There's no mistaking it. Nobody is more familiar with Lord's energy than us."
"Did you track which world the energy fluctuations came from?"
"We're still looking."
Numerous lines of codes ran through the large display in the center of the room as the central operators worked to track the energy fluctuations' source.
"This is wonderful news!"
Everyone in the room cheered. They were happy to get the opportunity to track down their master's energy.
The world they currently resided in was called the Ninth Space, and its creator was Lord. Lord's energy sustained the entire world, and Lord was also responsible for creating the various divisions found in the Department of Transmigration. The deceased of other worlds could come to this world and gain a new life should they pass the various tests set up. Then, these people would continuously complete missions to absorb energy from other worlds to strengthen Lord and sustain the Ninth Space.
The division chiefs of the various divisions and the central operators were the first group of people who arrived at the Ninth Space and acquired eternal life in exchange for eternal servitude. However, none of them had ever seen Lord's true appearance, so they didn't know what kind of existence Lord was or what Lord looked like. They could only perceive Lord's commands and Lord's power.
Later on, as more and more people arrived at the Ninth Space, the several division chiefs methodically organized the world and gradually perfected it until it became what it was today.
However, recently, the division chiefs and the central operators suddenly noticed that Lord had disappeared. Although Lord's power kept the Ninth Space running, they couldn't find Lord no matter where they searched.
This was terrible news for them. After all, ever since Lord disappeared, they had started sensing signs of the Ninth Space destabilizing and that the world could crumble at any time. Thus, they immediately started searching for Lord's traces.
Then, after searching for several decades, they finally found a weak trace of Lord's power.
"I found it! The fluctuations came from a small world belonging to the Fate Changing Division!" an operator excitedly stated as he swiftly manipulated the screen before him.
Liang Yi, the Fate Changing Department's department chief, immediately became the center of everyone's attention. Liang Yi herself was also surprised by this news.
"The person assigned to this world is a girl named Jun Zishu, and her employee ID is 4973," the operator stated after bringing up Jun Zishu's information.
"She is an intern who had just joined the Department, and she has achieved excellent results in her recruitment tests," Liang Yi followed up. "After passing the recruitment tests, she immediately began her first mission. She just completed that mission today, and she received an S-rank evaluation for it."
"Could she be related to Lord in some way?"
Everyone guessed.
"I'll contact System No. 28. She's responsible for the girl."
Liang Yi pressed down on her wrist, summoning a screen that showed Little Fairy in it.
"How can I help you, Division Chief?"
Little Fairy held up her skirt and curtsied, her miniature body giving her an exceptionally cute appearance.
"Forward your host's mission process to me."
"Alright, please wait a moment."
Little Fairy forwarded a string of codes to Liang Yi, who then forwarded these codes to the operator responsible for locating Lord's traces. However, when the operator uploaded the codes to his virtual computer, his computer failed to read the codes.
"How is this possible?"
Another operator tried uploading the data and met with the same result.
"Are you sure you sent in the correct information, No. 28?"
"Yes, I'm sure, Division Chief."
The other operators in the room refused to believe this result and started doing tests of their own. However, every one of them was met with failure.
"How is this possible?"
"Maybe it's because of Lord's involvement. If Lord doesn't wish to meet us, Lord can prevent us from reading the mission process," someone stated.
"Brief us on the mission process, No. 28."
"Okay."
Subsequently, Little Fairy started introducing the mission's background story and talking about the general process in which Jun Zishu completed her mission.
"The mission target fell in love with your host and confessed to her?"
Liang Yi had her attention attracted to this point.
"Yes."
"While I can't say for certain if we have a chance to bring Lord back, but I say that we should still experiment with the possibility," Liang Yi said to her colleagues.
In response, the other division chiefs exchanged looks with each other for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"If we detect traces of Lord's energy fluctuations in Jun Zishu's next mission as well, we can be sure that she is related to Lord. At that time, I will grant her access to my division and officially employ her in advance. The rest of you should be able to grant her access to your divisions as well, right?"
As soon as Liang Yi finished speaking, the other division chiefs promptly nodded.
"Of course. My Counterattack Division will gladly welcome her."
The division chiefs for the Mary Sue & Tom Sue Banishment Division, Supporting Female Division, Couple Dismantling Division, etc., raised their hands in approval as well.
"Fully cooperate with Jun Zishu's work, No. 28. Remember to contact me if she makes a request that exceeds your authority. Also, make sure to keep this a secret."
"Yes, Division Chief!"
Liang Yi had thought of meeting with Jun Zishu face-to-face. However, as the current situation remained unclear, she decided that it was best to hold back her thoughts.
Originally, Liang Yi thought Jun Zishu would need to rest for a few days before she would be ready to take on her next mission. However, she later found that Jun Zishu had already entered a nutrition pod after resting in her room for less than half a day.
"I hope you can do it," Liang Yi prayed.
…
Jun Zishu wasn't aware of just how much expectations had been put onto her shoulders as she laid into the nutrition pod and entered the transit space.
"We meet again, Host! You got an S-rank evaluation for your last mission! You're so awesome!" Little Fairy exclaimed after reuniting with Jun Zishu.
"Let's start."
Jun Zishu patted Little Fairy's tiny head and smiled.
"Okay! I'm transferring you now!"
...
When Jun Zishu opened her eyes again, she found that the world around her had turned a little blurry.
"What's going on, Little Fairy?"
[Um... This body is short-sighted. There is a pair of glasses beside your left hand.]
After fumbling for a moment, Jun Zishu found the aforementioned glasses and put them on. Then, when she opened her eyes again, her vision had regained its clarity.
[Take a look at the mission details, Host.]
Okay.
Jun Zishu closed her eyes and started reading the new memories that had appeared in her mind.
The mission target this time was called Qin Youran, the young lady of a wealthy family.
In the original timeline, Qin Youran dated the male lead for six years, and the two got engaged after Qin Youran graduated from university. However, unbeknownst to her, the male lead had long since intended to cheat. While dating Qin Youran, he maintained an ambiguous relationship with the female lead, his true sweetheart.
On the day of their marriage, the female lead got into an accident. Upon learning of the news, the male lead abandoned the wedding to see his sweetheart. This, in turn, made Qin Youran into a laughing stock among the upper class of society.
When Qin Youran looked into the matter and found out the truth, she tried to drive the female lead away from the scumbag. However, thinking that Qin Youran was trying to harm his sweetheart, the scumbag caused Qin Youran's family to go bankrupt and Qin Youran to lose everything.
Qin Youran died in a tragic car accident when she tried to look for the male lead. At the time, she was only 24 years old.
Jun Zishu frowned when she read the mission's introduction, finding it to be tragic.
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