Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 121
by Little PandaBestowing Upon You the Realm (3)
“Giving it to you.”
Hearing that “I” word.
Xu Jiao’s gaze turned to the newcomer, inadvertently sweeping them up and down with her peripheral vision. She then looked at her own wrists, which were too slender for an adult, knowing that this body had not yet come of age.
She pretended to be startled, nodded, and responded with a simple, “Oh.”
After a moment’s thought, imitating the way the palace people around her addressed others, she added, “Lord Yu has good taste.” To think she could see a future beauty in her bean sprout like small frame.
The system detected a subtle oddity: “Wait, doesn’t she mean to do that thing to you right now? Why do you seem not worried at all?”
Xu Jiao replied without hesitation: “She’s not that kind of person.”
System: “?” Somehow, it felt like it had been shown up (impressively outperformed).
Before even confirming whether this character was the same as those in previous worlds, why could Xu Jiao trust so unreservedly?
Before the system could voice its question, Xu Jiao already knew what it was about to say and casually responded, “It’s fine even if she is.”
The system was bewildered by her: “Huh?”
Xu Jiao replied nonchalantly, “If she dares to do anything inappropriate to a minor, I’ll pluck off her dog head.”
System: “⦔
Oh, right.
It almost forgot that Xu Jiao was someone with some skills; it always seemed to forget this point.
But this world had a touch of wuxia flavor, where internal energy cultivation mattered. Could Xu Jiao really defeat this Yu Ye?
Before the system’s doubts could be answered, Yu Ye was amused by Xu Jiao’s relaxed demeanor. Some of the palace people nearby inadvertently glimpsed the curve of her lips, and, trembling with fear, lowered their heads even further.
They dared not forget that this woman, who looked particularly beautiful when she smiled, had just taken a servant’s life without batting an eye.
“You’re quite interesting,” Yu Ye said after finishing her laugh, speaking slowly. She carried an aura of someone who had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of fire. Even though her words were full of ease, no one dared to ignore any of her sentences: “If that’s the case, this official will respectfully await Your Highness in the palace.”
After speaking, she turned to leave. After taking a few steps, she seemed to remember something and turned her head to Xu Jiao:
“Such a trivial matter as bathing should be left to the servants.”
“With me here, they wouldn’t dare disrespect you. Feel free to give orders as you please.”
Hearing her say this, Xu Jiao realized that she would likely have to get used to a “clothes come, extend hands; food comes, open mouth” lifestyle. She took a deep breath and said nothing more.
However, as she entered the bathtub, to divert her attention, she asked the system to transmit the original host’s memories to her, and incidentally, to remind her of this world’s plot.
After an immersive memory experienceβ
Xu Jiao finally remembered that this book was a side story of one of her historical fantasy fiction novels, told from the perspective of a popular supporting character. The original book was called γThe Emperor’s Strategyγ.
This spin-off was titled γThe Rebirth Side Story: Tale of Emperor Yuγ.
The titles were simple. γThe Emperor’s Strategyγ was set in a background similar to the Warring States Period, where five statesβQi, Chu, Yan, Han, and Liangβcoexisted in the Central Plains. Among them, Liang had the strongest military power, but because it was located in the harsh northwestern region, it was constantly in conflict with other tribes, busy defending against the plundering of the grassland tribes. As a result, Liang often found itself invaded by the other states.
Before Liang’s national treasury was full and its agriculture could support massive military expenditures, the country navigated through diplomatic means using envoys. The male protagonist was established as the crown prince of Liang at a young age and was sent to other countries as a hostage prince while still very young.
The subsequent story naturally follows his growth, as he wins over princesses and beauties from other countries, then sit embracing rivers and mountains (to rule over a vast territory). It’s also a tale of happiness where he and the female lead, the Empress, experience countless ups and downs but ultimately remain together for life.
Since Yu Ye is not the protagonist, her story is naturally not so fortunateβ
In the original story, the Yu family was a hereditary military family, the most prosperous clan in Da Yan, loyal to the Xu imperial family. Unfortunately, the Xu emperors became more tyrannical with each generation. When Emperor Yan Jie was still alive, in order to reclaim the Yu family’s military power, he suddenly claimed that a male from the Yu family had offended one of his imperial concubines. He then ordered the entire Yu clan to be executed.
This wasn’t enough for him. He had every bone in Yu Ye’s father’s body removed to serve as door curtains for his inner palace. He declared that the Yu clan had always been known for their lofty character and integrity, living to guard the nation’s gates for Da Yan, and even in death, they would be unable to rest in their tombs. So, he would have Yu Ye’s father guard his palace gates and bless the emperors of Da Yan with prosperity for generations to come.
This act enraged the other ministers of Yan, but they were suppressed by the Xu family with even more thunder and lightning methods (swift and severe measures).
When the remonstrating officials were at their most vehement in their admonitions, the Emperor of Da Yan subjected the leader to the death by a thousand cuts torture. That very night, he held a banquet for his officials. At each table, a bowl of soup was served, containing pink meatballs.
An official came forward to express gratitude for the Emperor’s gift, as was customary. The Emperor of Yan gave him a profound look and said, “If Minister Guo knew that even after his demise, he could still provide sustenance for his comrades, surely he would rest in peace in the nine springs (underworld).”
Only then did everyone realize that the Emperor had made this soup using the flesh of the remonstrating official who had been executed earlier.
That night, upon returning home, countless officials were clutching their throats (forcing themselves to vomit) in the dark.
The atrocities committed by the Xu family’s emperors didn’t stop there. Starting from Emperor Jie, these emperors and crown princes seemed to compete in cruelty, inventing numerous severe punishments, even taking pleasure in personally executing people in front of the court.
Perhaps it was the will of Heaven.
Back then, Yu Ye, who had disguised herself as a man and secretly left her father and brothers to join the army at the border, became the retribution for the Xu family. She grew stronger day by day in the military, covertly uniting various factions in Yan. Because the Xu family had committed too many atrocities, their male members always fell into madness and perished around their early thirties. Her infiltration of the palace was as easy as breaking bamboo.
She blood washed the entire imperial palace of Yan’s capital.
On that day, throughout the nation, not a single commoner shed a tear for the old dynasty.
However, Yu Ye, having achieved her revenge, lost her purpose. She casually installed a noble prince as emperor and retreated behind the scenes. Unfortunately, the young emperor proved incompetent and was easily killed by restless officials, plunging the country into chaos. When Liang’s army reached the border, Yu Ye personally donned armor to fight the enemyβ
She died standing on the battlefield.
As she died, the smoke and fury of battle swept away Yan’s war banners. She had been struck by three hundred and eighteen arrows.
This battle was personally led by the male protagonist, who had already ascended to the throne of Liang. When he heard the report of Yu Ye’s death in battle, he stepped forward, only to discover that even after death, her gaze remains piercing and intense. No soldier dared to set foot on Yan’s soil under her gaze.
Standing before Yu Ye’s fallen form, he made a promise to her: upon entering Da Yan, he would not harm a single civilian and would bring a prosperous and peaceful era to the people of Yan.
Only then did he close Yu Ye’s eyes.
From that moment, the map of history turned to a new page, and Yan was absorbed into Liang.
When the story was serialized to this point, many readers shed tears over Yu Ye’s tragic life. They left numerous blood and tear comments (heartfelt and emotional messages) urging Xu Jiao to write a story where Yu Ye could start over, believing she deserved a better ending.
If her youth hadn’t been so fraught with hardship, she could have been a star leaving a profound mark on history, just like the male protagonist.
If she were to start over and become emperor in Liang, she could surely do even more for the common people.
As Xu Jiao wrote the final parts, she was suddenly struck by inspiration. She created a separate side story for Yu Ye, though it wasn’t very longβjust two chapters. It depicted what Yu Ye saw after her death and her realization that her world had fallen into darkness, followed by her rebirth.
The latter part was left as a blank space (ambiguity).
This allowed readers to imagine different scenarios for the Five States.
Xu Jiao reopened her eyes.
She never imagined that the blank spaces she had lazily left in her writing would now need to be filled. She suspected that perhaps some reader’s resentment ran so deep, desperately wanting to see a different story, that they had thrown her into this world to personally act it out.
The water in the wooden tub still held some warmth. Amidst the swirling and curling mist, palace servants carefully dried Xu Jiao’s hair and body. Then, a snow-white, cloud-soft undergarment was meticulously put on her. The extremely skin-friendly fabric made one want to caress it again, but Xu Jiao, being a worldly and experienced person, didn’t show much reaction.
However, what she saw next was her outer garmentβ
Red.
In this country, only the crown prince wore red, while the emperor wore bright yellow.
Just a glance at this attire, and Xu Jiao vaguely guessed something.
But she didn’t say anything. Speaking more with these palace servants would be meaningless. She still needed to investigate further to understand what Yu Ye intended to do.
Xu Jiao had only one initial guess in her mind.
It was that Yu Ye, who had returned through rebirth, already knew that the original emperor was a hopeless Ah Dou (an incapable person who can’t be helped). She wanted to find someone more controllable to take the throne, but this person couldn’t be too foolish, soβ¦ had she set her sights on Xu Jiao herself?
With these thoughts in mind, Xu Jiao quietly allowed the palace servants to lead her to where Yu Ye was. Upon seeing the imperial study, Xu Jiao showed no surprise, as if unaware that this place was accessible only to the emperor.
She entered the hall and immediately faced several officials wearing court robes seated in chairs.
Xu Jiao recognized none of them.
Her gaze instinctively sought Yu Ye behind the desk, and at that moment, Yu Ye looked back at her. A smile naturally graced her features, but she made no move to introduce Xu Jiao to the officials. Instead, she instructed an elderly eunuch beside her to escort the officials out.
Afterwards, she looked Xu Jiao up and down and said, “This color suits you well.”
She had originally thought this young girl couldn’t carry such a vibrant color, but unexpectedly, her small frame managed to wear the bright red with a sense of steadiness. If she were to don the crown prince’s ceremonial headdress, she would truly exude some royal dignity.
As expected of a member of the Xu family.
Regardless of temperament, their appearance was indeed flawless in this Da Yan.
That’s why the previous emperors, with their bewitching, celestial-like appearance, always committed acts more terrifying than those of Asura.
After her praise, Yu Ye beckoned to Xu Jiao, gesturing for her to come over.
“Do you know why I called you here?”
Xu Jiao nodded. As she approached Yu Ye, she was unexpectedly pulled to sit in Yu Ye’s lap. This overly intimate gesture caught her off guard, causing her response to come a beat late, still in that mild and slow tone:
“I know.”
“You want an obedient yet not too foolish puppet.”
Yu Ye rested her chin on top of Xu Jiao’s head. Upon hearing these words, her breath faltered for a moment.
Sensing the atmosphere wasn’t quite right, Xu Jiao maintained her position and asked: “Did I say something wrong? Or perhaps you’ve actually fallen for my beauty and want to experience the thrill of dominating royalty, so you’ve ingeniously given me a chance to surviveβ”
The rest of her words remained unspoken.
Because Yu Ye had pinched her mouth shut.
Xu Jiao’s cheeks puffed out slightly. In the next moment, her chin was gripped and turned to the side. From the corner of her eye, she saw a particularly cold light flickering in Yu Ye’s deep black eyes.
Simultaneously, Yu Ye’s thin lips pressed against her ear, and a voice tinged with amusement fell into it:
“You’re very clever.”
“Howeverβ¦ if you continue to spout such nonsensical thingsβ”
“I’ll poison you mute, then pin you down on this desk, do those things you just mentioned, fill you up and crush you until you can’t even cry out. How does that sound?”
π¬π¬thatβs a minor bro