When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 151

Volume Seven: The Years I Was a General

Birthday Banquet

The sixth day of the sixth month¹, the sky was clear for ten thousand li².

Everyone in the world knew that today was the birthday of the Empress of Ming’an Country; the entire nation celebrated, jointly rejoicing in this fine day.

The birthday banquet was held in Jiazeyuan Garden³, separated from the Imperial Garden by only a single pond, so Wen Nuan could still feel the liveliness and joy of the grand feast over there.

Qinghe Pond was filled everywhere with enormous lotus leaves that almost seemed to connect to the sky. The lotus flowers were graceful and charming under the setting sun, attracting the admiration and affection of many young ladies from official families, and also prompting the young masters of various houses to take the opportunity to recite poetry and compose couplets, discussing poems, lyrics, and songs.

Wen Nuan’s figure was hidden completely by the lotus leaves. She could only sit on a rock to the side, listening to the orchestral music and the pearl songs and kingfisher dances⁴ from over there.

Goblets and tallies crisscrossed⁵, pushing cups and exchanging goblets⁶.

Wen Nuan propped up her chin, cracking melon seeds out of sheer boredom. When the melon seeds were gone, she stretched out her hand to the side, and Yuan Qi considerately delivered another handful to her.

“Little General Gu, would you like to eat something else?”

Ever since Her Majesty’s birthday banquet began, Yuan Qi had seen Gu Wen Nuan sitting here cracking melon seeds, to the point that even his teeth ached from watching.

Wen Nuan was also tired of cracking melon seeds. “What is there?”

Yuan Qi immediately summoned people over. “Lotus flower pastry⁷, ice skin cake⁸, braised shark fin in yellow sauce⁹, crystal pork knuckle¹⁰, shredded duck with bird’s nest¹¹, osmanthus cake¹², lily bulb and water chestnut cake¹³, divine grass tea soup¹⁴, pouch-wrapped tenderloin¹⁵….”

“Enough, that’s too much. Are you reciting dish names¹⁶ here?” Wen Nuan looked at the palace maids and eunuchs standing in a row, each person holding a different kind of exquisite and fragrant dish.

She pointed to a white plate in the middle. “Is that osmanthus cake?”

Yuan Qi raised his hand, and the eunuch holding the osmanthus cake walked forward. “Yes, this is osmanthus cake. It is fragrant, sweet, soft, and glutinous, with an excellent texture. Would Little General Gu like to try some?”

“Alright,” Wen Nuan took a piece and savored it. “It is indeed delicious, but it seems a bit sweeter than the ones sold in the markets.”

Yuan Qi smiled and said: “Yes, it is. Her Majesty knows that Little General Gu loves to eat sweets, so she specially ordered every dish to be made a little sweeter than usual.”

Wen Nuan paused.

The System asked in puzzlement: 【When did you start loving to eat sweets?】

It knew that Wen Nuan loved to eat good food, but Wen Nuan had no particular preference for specific tastes.

Wen Nuan took a bite of the osmanthus cake and said with a smile: “She loves to eat sweets.”

【What does that have to do with anything?】

The System knew that “she” loved to eat sweets, but what necessary connection did that have with Wen Nuan loving to eat them?

“She loves to eat sweets,” Wen Nuan raised an eyebrow, smugly, “and I love to eat her.”

System: 【…..】

It was just asking for it.

Yuan Qi saw that Wen Nuan was eating happily. “Is Little General Gu enjoying the food?”

“I am,” Wen Nuan casually pointed to a few dishes. “These are a reward for you all. On Her Majesty’s birthday banquet, it’s been hard on you all to stand guard over me. It’s not easy for anyone.”

Yuan Qi was taken aback, his expression somewhat moved. He said with feeling: “This old slave thanks Little General Gu for the reward.”

Wen Nuan waved her hand, holding the osmanthus cake and eating while listening to the music from Jiazeyuan Garden, which had a unique flavor of its own.

The sky grew deeper and deeper, and the night air was slightly cool.

Xiao Chuyu sat upon the high platform, watching the singing and dancing below with dry and dull boredom. The dancing girls’ dances were graceful, their figures lithe and graceful, attracting the attention of everyone present.

She was too lazy to watch, her gaze constantly glancing towards Qinghe Pond. The enormous lotus leaves connected to the sky, blocking her line of sight completely. She couldn’t see anything, but she knew that fellow, Gu Wen Nuan, was definitely sitting by the pond, listening to the songs and appreciating the music with a look of novelty and leisure, utterly content.

In a moment, a young eunuch hurried over, handing a slip of paper to the female official beside Xiao Chuyu. The female official nodded and passed the paper to Xiao Chuyu.

Xiao Chuyu opened the paper, and a faint smile emerged in her eyes.

[Ate two plates of osmanthus cake, liked it very much. Rewarded Yuan Qi with a few dishes to jointly celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday banquet.]

Xiao Chuyu looked at the osmanthus cake on the table, picked up a piece and took a bite. It was sweet and glutinous without being cloying, truly delicious.

“If she likes it, tell the Imperial Kitchen to make more and send it over.”

The female official complied: “Nuo.”

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After two plates of osmanthus cake, she was really feeling a bit stuffed.

A young eunuch came rushing over in a hurry and said something to Yuan Qi. She saw Yuan Qi’s face instantly darken; he must have encountered a difficult matter that was hard to handle.

“Yuan-gonggong, you should go get busy. I don’t need you to watch me at all times. Besides, with both the Imperial Guard and the shadow guards all around, I can’t run away.” Wen Nuan smiled. “Rest assured.”

Yuan Qi deliberated for a moment, then said with difficulty: “It is indeed a difficult matter. Then this old slave can only go and handle it first. I must trouble Little General Gu to wait here for this old slave. This old slave will be right back.”

Wen Nuan nodded and said: “Go on, don’t worry, I won’t run.”

Yuan Qi left, turning his head back every three steps. Even when his figure disappeared behind the rockery, he couldn’t help but peek his head out to see if Wen Nuan was still there.

Wen Nuan understood. After all, her martial arts were formidable, and she had the System to help. Even if all the Imperial Guard and shadow guards of the imperial city were dispatched, they probably couldn’t stop Wen Nuan.

Once Yuan Qi left, only a few young eunuchs remained standing by to serve, pouring her tea and handing her water.

Qinghe Pond was like a dividing line, separating the lively from the deserted.

On Xiao Chuyu’s side, there was singing and dancing in a time of peace, bustling with excitement, while on her side, she was all alone, cold and desolate.

“Gu Wen Nuan?”

The voice of the person calling her was very familiar, clear and pleasant to the ear. Listening closely, it seemed to carry a trace of a sob and a tremble of disbelief.

Wen Nuan turned to look and saw it was an old acquaintance, Commandery Princess Fengyan, who had almost married her back then.

“Fengyan,” Wen Nuan smiled, “long time no see.”

Wen Nuan had arrived in this world relatively early. By her calculation, she and Fengyan had grown up together, and the two had a doll marriage set since they were small. This marriage contract had even been personally granted by the Empress Dowager¹⁷, who planned to have them marry immediately after Fengyan’s coming-of-age ceremony¹⁸.

As it turned out, war broke out in Mobei, and she went with her father on an expedition to guard the border and resist the enemy. This departure lasted for several years, and she and Fengyan were separated in different parts of the world. Three years ago, she returned to the capital to report on her duties, exposed Xiao Chuyu’s true identity, and turned the already murky waters of the capital upside down before leaving this mission world.

Later, Xiao Chuyu took control of the great unification, becoming the Empress of Ming’an Country. She changed her previously gentle, virtuous, and kind temperament. In order to eliminate dissidents and avenge herself, she used converging attacks and advanced step by step, treating her enemies with ruthless cruelty and showing no mercy. Her ruthless methods made the court officials tremble with fear.

Fengyan’s father, Prince Pingli¹⁹, in order to be wise and protect his own self²⁰ and not be implicated by Fengyan’s marriage contract with her, submitted a memorial to plead with Xiao Chuyu to dissolve the marriage contract between her and Xiao Fengyan, thereby proving his own loyalty and innocence.

Prince Pingli had originally thought this marriage contract would be difficult to dissolve, but Xiao Chuyu, with a stroke of her brush, easily dissolved it. When Prince Pingli received the imperial edict, he was still in a daze, thinking that Xiao Chuyu wanted to make a move against him. It turned out he had overthought it. After all, although Xiao Chuyu was ruthless and unfeeling, she would not harm the innocent. Ultimately, Prince Pingli had not participated in the Eastern Palace Incident back then.

Times had changed. It seemed like Wen Nuan hadn’t seen Xiao Fengyan for five or six years either. Seeing her now, she had grown into a beautiful young lady.

Her appearance was beautiful and refined, her figure slender and graceful. Her large pair of almond eyes were filled with tears, on the verge of weeping.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Nuan watched as her teardrops fell continuously, like pearls from a broken string.

She took a handkerchief from her sleeve and passed it over, teasing: “We haven’t seen each other for so long, why are you crying the moment we meet?”

“Wen Nuan-gege…” Fengyan did not take the handkerchief, but threw herself directly into Wen Nuan’s arms, sobbing.

Although she knew Gu Wen Nuan was a woman, she was already used to calling her Wen Nuan-gege.

Wen Nuan was taken aback by Fengyan’s sudden embrace. She was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses and patted her on the back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “Little girl, you’re already so old, yet you’re still acting spoiled?”

Fengyan was five years younger than her. Since childhood, Wen Nuan had always treated her as a younger sister, and she had never taken the marriage contract between them seriously. After returning to this world and learning that their marriage contract had been dissolved, Wen Nuan also expressed relief, as at least it wouldn’t delay Xiao Fengyan’s future marriage.

Fengyan cried nonstop, her tears seeming endless, soaking the shoulder of Wen Nuan’s clothes.

She stammered: “Wen Nuan-gege, Fengyan… missed you so much… Fengyan really missed you so much….”

Ever since being reprimanded by Xiao Chuyu for her audacity, her father had kept her confined in the Prince’s Manor, not letting her out. If it weren’t for Xiao Chuyu’s birthday banquet today, Fengyan would probably still be in confinement.

Wen Nuan sighed: “Stop crying. Am I not right here? If you keep crying, your eyes will swell up. It won’t look good if they swell into two big walnuts.”

Fengyan hugged Wen Nuan’s waist, sniffling and sobbing: “Fengyan is not afraid. No matter how ugly Fengyan becomes, Wen Nuan-gege will never dislike Fengyan.”

“Alright, stop crying. If someone sees this, they’ll think I’m bullying you.” Wen Nuan helped Fengyan up and wiped her tears with the handkerchief.

Fengyan looked at Wen Nuan. Her appearance was as bright and charming as in her memory, her smile like a spring breeze transforming into rain. That pair of clear eyes was like the starry sky, and when they looked at you, the deep affection within them seemed capable of drowning a person.

She raised her hand, gently stroking Wen Nuan’s cheek. “Wen Nuan-gege, Fengyan really missed you so much.”

Wen Nuan tilted her head slightly, avoiding Fengyan’s touch. “In the future, if you miss me, you can just come to the palace to see me.”

Fengyan paused, looking at Wen Nuan staying all alone in the Imperial Garden, and said in astonishment: “Wen Nuan-gege, how did you get out of the Zhaoyu? Did Her Majesty let you out?”

Her eyes lit up, and she said with pleasant surprise: “Did Her Majesty find out that you did not collude with the enemy and betray the country, so she let you go?”

Wen Nuan didn’t know how to explain and gave an awkward smile: “It hasn’t been fully investigated yet. It’s just that my internal injuries acted up. Her Majesty is kind-hearted and treats people with magnanimity, so she let me out of the Zhaoyu to let me recuperate.”

“You’re saying that in order to let you recuperate from your internal injuries, Her Majesty moved you from the Zhaoyu to be confined in another place, is that right?” Fengyan said with concern, “Wen Nuan-gege, are your internal injuries okay? Are they serious? What medicine do you need? Fengyan will go find it for you.”

“My internal injuries are already fine, don’t worry,” Wen Nuan reassured her.

Fengyan let out a breath of relief, her eyes darting around: “Wen Nuan-gege, where has Her Majesty confined you?”

“Zhongming Hall.”

“Zhongming Hall?” Fengyan exclaimed, “Isn’t that Her Majesty’s bedchamber?”

Could it be that in order to keep Wen Nuan-gege under surveillance at every moment, Xiao Chuyu actually confined Wen Nuan-gege in Zhongming Hall?

She murmured in a low voice: “But, that’s good too.”

Wen Nuan didn’t hear clearly what Fengyan said, only saw her lips move. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Fengyan smiled, charming and moving. “Fengyan is just happy that Wen Nuan-gege could get out of the Zhaoyu. Even if you’re confined in Zhongming Hall, it’s much better than that terrifying and gloomy Zhaoyu. And Fengyan can come into the palace to visit you.”

Wen Nuan felt the same way. “En, if you want to see me, just come to the palace.”

Fengyan nodded and said: “Mhm, mhm, in a few days Fengyan will go to Zhongming Hall to find Wen Nuan-gege. At that time, Wen Nuan-gege can take Fengyan to have fun, okay?”

“Of course you can.”

It just so happened that she was bored staying alone. Xiao Chuyu had to attend court, and after court, she had to handle political affairs. She could only play with her at night, but sometimes she saw that Xiao Chuyu was very tired and felt too embarrassed to always be playing.

As soon as her voice fell, a series of exclamations was heard from Jiazeyuan Garden. In the sky, many colorful fireworks²¹ suddenly bloomed. Everyone raised their heads one after another to admire this beautiful and colorful scene.

“Wow…” Fengyan looked at the sky in shock, saying in surprise, “What is this? It’s so beautiful.”

Wen Nuan looked at the fireworks blooming as scheduled and said with a gentle smile: “This is called fireworks.”

“Fireworks?” Fengyan tilted her head to look at Wen Nuan, asking curiously, “How does Wen Nuan-gege know?”

“Because I made this, to celebrate Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday.” Wen Nuan looked towards the position where Xiao Chuyu was.

I hope she likes it.

A trace of envy flashed in Fengyan’s eyes. She pulled on Wen Nuan’s hand. “Wen Nuan-gege, Fengyan’s birthday is also coming soon. Fengyan also wants Wen Nuan-gege to give Fengyan fireworks, okay?”

It was just fireworks. Wen Nuan didn’t think it was a big deal, so she nodded and agreed.

“Okay.”

At that time, she wouldn’t be able to leave the palace, so she could only trouble Ye Mingxiu to help out again.

Fengyan smiled with satisfaction. Looking at Wen Nuan’s exquisite side profile, the brilliant and colorful fireworks seemed to be blooming in her clear eyes, full of sentiment and charm.

She tugged on Wen Nuan’s sleeve. When she saw Wen Nuan look over, she beckoned for her to come closer.

Wen Nuan thought Fengyan wanted to say something to her. Just as she leaned over, her cheek suddenly felt warm. Fengyan had actually kissed her.

“….” Wen Nuan looked at Fengyan in surprise, “You… you…”

Fengyan was extremely shy, a blush rising on her cheeks. “Wen Nuan-gege, Fengyan wants to tell you that the cancellation of the marriage contract back then was not Fengyan’s intention. From beginning to end, the only person Fengyan has wanted to marry is you.”

“Fengyan once said she wanted to marry the most handsome, most valiant, and most learned man under heaven,” Fengyan looked at Wen Nuan shyly, “and that person is Wen Nuan-gege.”

Fengyan would always remember the scene of her first time meeting Gu Wen Nuan. The youth was galloping on horseback under the scorching sun, in fresh clothes with a spirited horse.

That figure in a white common robe drew closer and closer to her, finally stopping in front of her. The youth smiled at her, a smile as brilliant as the morning sun, making it unforgettable for a long, long time.

Wen Nuan watched Fengyan’s shy departing figure and let out a long sigh: “You tell me, she clearly knows I’m a woman, so why is she still thinking about marrying me?”

The System said flatly: 【I thought you would have gotten used to this kind of situation. After all, you even bent the female lead. Bending a cannon fodder²² character is nothing difficult.】

“….” Wen Nuan was mortified. “Thank you for the high praise.”

【You deserve it.】 The System let out a chuckle.

A chuckle that sent a chill down Wen Nuan’s back.

Xiao Chuyu watched the splendid fireworks in the sky and listened to the shadow guard’s report. Her originally clear and joyful eyes gradually dimmed and turned gloomy. Her gaze grew deeper and deeper, as if even the incomparably brilliant fireworks could not illuminate those pitch-black eyes.

The indifference at the corner of her brow, the smile did not reach her eyes: “Good, very good.”

The shadow guard was inexplicably terrified by Xiao Chuyu’s smile.

Wen Nuan walked back to Zhongming Hall and saw Xiao Chuyu, who had already returned. Her heart first gave a “thump”.

She didn’t know why, but although the Xiao Chuyu before her was smiling, she made her feel extremely dangerous, like a bloodthirsty and cruel beast staring at its prey.

“Your Majesty?” Wen Nuan felt that she was overthinking it. She walked into the inner hall. “This guilty subject saw that the banquet was not over yet, why did you return first…”

Before she could finish her words, Wen Nuan was kissed by Xiao Chuyu and pressed onto the bed.

The tip of her tongue was scalding strong liquor, burning away both of their consciousness.

Wen Nuan instantly turned from guest to host, meeting Xiao Chuyu’s passion, entwining to the death, together ascending Mount Wu²³.

The System was shielded as usual, but in the very next second, it watched in horror as Xiao Chuyu’s blackening value rose!

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The author has something to say:

System screams in terror: Going to die! Going to die!

Wen Nuan, tumbling clouds and rain²⁴: Busy! Do not CALL!

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