Chapter 10

Rong Tan had been exposed to the biting cold for far too long, and by nightfall, he was struck down by a sudden, high fever.

Wu Ciyun put on a show of tending to him for half an incense stick’s time, but as she never engaged in unprofitable ventures, she ceased her efforts the moment the estate physician remarked that Rong Tan was unlikely to wake anytime soon. She delegated the rest of his care to others, and before leaving, she made sure to instruct them to remind Rong Tan of her visit, lest the half-hour she had wasted go unnoticed.

The System was so irritated it almost laughed, caught between amusement and speechlessness. In Wu Ciyun’s worldview, humanity was divided into only two categories: the useful and the useless. If someone was useful, she was willing to invest effort; if they were useless, she discarded them like worn-out shoes, or even hunted them down to the last. Once, Xiao Boming had been useful, and she had been happy to offer him sweetness. When he became useless, he was relegated to a mere tool used to probe others. Now, that role had fallen to Rong Tan. If the System hadn’t revealed Rong Tan’s true identity, Wu Ciyun wouldn't have felt a shred of pity; she would have decapitated him without hesitation, then complained about him dirtying her courtyard.

The System grew increasingly convinced that its initial decision had been the correct one. Although it was permitted to drop subtle narrative clues, Wu Ciyun was razor-sharp and ruthless; she would never let a single lead slip by. If it had been entirely truthful, she would have slaughtered everyone in her way, from protagonists to supporting characters, effectively ending the plot and forcing the book to be renamed "The Chronicles of Great Yun."

Wu Ciyun was unaware of the System’s secret calculations. She returned to her bedroom and sat by the window, lost in thought, yet feeling not a trace of sleepiness.

"System, I wish you had appeared a few years earlier."

The candle flame burned silently before her. Wu Ciyun gazed at it for a long while before sighing, "If you had come sooner, I would have certainly followed your every word."

The System did not believe her, scoffing, "Don't try to fool me with your empty talk. You have never listened to me."

It had successfully bonded with Wu Ciyun on the day the Wu family was wiped out. Four years had passed since, nearly fifteen hundred days and nights of companionship, yet Wu Ciyun still kept her guard up. The System felt a touch of frustration, believing that while it had kept secrets, it had never shirked its duties.

"That’s different. If this were the past, I likely would have believed you," Wu Ciyun said, as if suddenly interested in idle chatter. She poured herself a cup of tea, her voice slow and steady. "When I was seven, there was a famine in the village. My parents traded me away to other refugees to be eaten. After I escaped, I became a maid for a wealthy household. Three years later, the master’s family was purged, and I, along with the other servants, was dragged to the market to be sold like livestock."

"For a woman, the situation is even more dire. I had no choice but to disguise myself as a boy. It just so happened that a merchant from the Liang Kingdom passed by; seeing that I was literate, he bought me to serve as a page for their young master."

"Later, I accompanied the young master on a long journey to the academy. When he met with an accident on the way, I knew that returning meant certain death. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and assume his identity to attend the academy, living on thin ice, never finding a moment of peace."

Recalling the past, Wu Ciyun offered a self-deprecating smile. "People say it is easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to provide charcoal in the snow. I lived a very hard life back then. Why didn't you come to find me then?"

The System was silent for a moment before saying softly, "...Because the time was not yet right."

It had read the original plot; it knew how difficult her past had been. But that was not the moment for it to appear, for it was only afterward that Wu Ciyun began her ascent. At fifteen, she had snuck back to the Sheng Kingdom from the Liang academy, making a living by ghostwriting articles. The Prime Minister, Wu Nanshan, happened to see her work, was struck by her brilliance, and adopted her as his foster son. Two years later, she swept the imperial examinations, and with the full support of the Wu family in the court, she rose through the ranks four times in three years. She was the talk of the town, a rising star whom everyone scrambled to curry favor with.

It was only when the entire Wu clan was framed and imprisoned, and Wu Ciyun fell from the heights to the very bottom, that the System finally appeared by her side.

"So, you only appear when I am at my most destitute."

Wu Ciyun was not at all annoyed by this revelation. She said slowly, "Then I suppose the moment you leave will be the time of my death."

"Today you said I would go to the Liang dynasty. I am actually a bit curious about how I will die in the future. Will it be death by a thousand cuts, or being cut in half at the waist, or perhaps being torn apart by chariots..."

"No!" The System interrupted her in a panic, blurting out, "Your path is still long! You will frame generals to seize military power, use your beauty to seduce the Imperial Consort, manipulate palace maids to poison the Emperor, and toy with politics to execute loyal ministers—all these things are still waiting for you to do."

Wu Ciyun fell into a sudden silence. After a long while, she chuckled softly, her voice measured: "So that’s how it is. I still have so much left to do."

The System, realizing it had spoken out of turn, went silent.

Wu Ciyun, who had just moments ago appeared dejected and lost, wiped away her mask of hypocrisy the moment she received the answer she wanted.

The System was indignant. "How can you be like this? I was only comforting you because I thought you were pathetic!"

"Pathetic?" Wu Ciyun dismissed the idea with a sneer. "You are wrong. I am not pathetic in the slightest."

"I chose to be a maid. I killed that young master with my own hands. At the academy, I flattered those nobles endlessly; the money I have now is enough to buy two large mansions in the capital."

During the famine, the fields were littered with the dead. Being a maid meant beatings, but at least she wouldn't starve. In the Liang Kingdom, her young master had been debauched and wicked, and when he tried to force himself on her, she had slit his throat without a second thought. She had considered running away with the money, but realized that the academy would eventually send inquiries, leading to a city-wide manhunt. Since that was the case, it was better to assume his identity and hide in the academy for a while. It was far away, so secrets wouldn't be discovered immediately, and the academy was full of wealthy heirs—if she could squeeze more money out of them, wouldn't that be wonderful?

"If you had money, why did you go to the Sheng Kingdom to ghostwrite for others..." The System stopped abruptly, disbelieving. "Wait, was this also something you designed on purpose?!"

"Otherwise? You didn't think I could just sit at home and wait for the Prime Minister to come knocking on my door, did you?"

Wu Ciyun blew out the candle and lay back into the soft, silk quilt. "System, do you know why I don't listen to you?"

She closed her eyes slowly. "Because you aren't qualified to teach me how to do things yet."

The System: "..." It would never believe a single word from Wu Ciyun again!

***

Perhaps because her goal had been achieved the previous night, Wu Ciyun woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and in a significantly better mood.

After breakfast, she went specifically to check on Rong Tan. When he learned that Wu Ciyun had taken such care of him the day before, he was overwhelmed with joy and unsettled emotion. The moment he saw her walk in, his eyes reddened before he could even speak.

"A-Yun, please don't come near."

Rong Tan lowered the bed curtains, unwilling to let her see him. He feared infecting her with his illness, and, having seen his own haggard reflection in the mirror while washing up, he worried that she would find him even less appealing in such a state.

Wu Ciyun ignored him. She sat on the edge of the bed with a bowl of medicine, gently blowing on the bitter broth in the spoon, and said softly, "Drink your medicine first."

Rong Tan stared at her, unable to believe his own eyes. He drank the medicine she fed him in a daze; despite its bitterness, he tasted sweetness on the tip of his tongue. His heart was pulled back and forth like a tethered rope—he wanted to confess the truth to her, but feared that if she knew everything, she would sever all ties with him.

"A-Yun, I..."

"Enough. If you don't want to say it, then don't."

Seeing his hesitation, Wu Ciyun did not press him. She tucked the quilt around him and said gently, "You are always working so hard; you should take this opportunity to get some rest."

Since the System had given her a lead, she would soon uncover the truth. For now, it was better to simply stay in Rong Tan’s good graces.

Rong Tan bit his lip. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke again: "The matter with Xiao Boming was my fault. Whatever punishment you choose, I will accept it willingly..."

"Let’s not mention Xiao Boming anymore." Wu Ciyun frowned slightly, her voice calm. "Compared to you, he is nothing."

"Rest well. I have official business to attend to; I will come see you later."

As she stood up, Rong Tan instinctively reached out to grab her sleeve. Wu Ciyun paused, leaned down, and planted a light kiss on his cheek. "If you need anything, just tell the servants. Don't tire yourself."

Hearing this, Rong Tan finally set his heart at ease. He watched her depart, his heart full of joy. Though he didn't know why her attitude had changed so drastically, it was, at the very least, a turn for the better. Beyond his doubts, he was filled with an overflowing sense of delight.

The servant attending him was a confidant Rong Tan had planted in the estate. He sighed repeatedly at the sight. "Your Highness, why must you do this..."

Ever since he had accidentally saved the severely injured Wu Ciyun two years ago, Rong Tan had acted as if he were bewitched, willingly serving as a mere servant by her side for two years. And that person didn't even appreciate it—she had ignored the arrogant Heir of Pingnan even when he was at his most brazen. Now, because of some petty retribution, she was actually taking things seriously.

The servant was furious, cursing the "adulterer" under his breath. Their Prince was a man of quiet, gentle character who never concerned himself with worldly affairs; if not for his kindness, he would never have been toyed with so easily by Wu Ciyun.

"If Your Highness truly likes him, you should just reveal your identity, notify General Chu, and drag him back to the Liang capital. We can claim he died in a fire. The Chu family is desperate to win you over; they would never refuse."

The servant whispered, "Wu Ciyun is currently quite powerful, but it is futile for you to humble yourself before him. Once he is in the Liang capital and loses his backing, he will have no choice but to obey your every command..."

Rong Tan’s expression darkened. The servant immediately shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.

"Do not speak such things again." Rong Tan lowered his lashes, concealing the emotions in his eyes. He said softly, "We are in love. There is no need for such sordid means."