Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 120

Extra

This is the Original Story’s Plot

It was winter once again.

After several consecutive days of heavy snow, Su Yi stood beside a small shop with her two maids, waiting for the owner to make her Hulatang¹.

As she watched the owner’s movements, a sudden clamor erupted nearby.

She turned slightly and saw several City Guards brandishing their weapons, driving away a group of people in ragged clothes.

“How pitiful, to be driven from their homes and land.” The owner was an elderly auntie. Watching the scene, she sighed while carefully picking up a bowl. “But in this dead of winter, no one has it easy. Two of our own cities have had their people forced to flee, you know. Several of my own relatives came seeking refuge just yesterday. We have to make a living too, ah. Aiya, it’s all that Huachen Kingdom’s fault. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t suddenly have so many refugees.”

The war between the Huachen Kingdom and the Yanxue Kingdom had recently grown more and more intense. Ji Qingchi, unable to rest easy, had personally come to the border to supervise the army. Fearing Su Yi would have no one to care for her, she had specially brought her along.

The border was bitterly cold. The group of refugees had likely fled from the borders of the Huachen Kingdom. Their clothes were tattered, and they were crammed together. In the short time Su Yi stood there, she personally witnessed them crush a child to death in the crowd.

Su Yi clutched her hand warmer, looked at the buns Gancao had bought for her, and slowly walked toward the city gate.

Her two maids couldn’t stop her and could only follow along.

When she got there, the guards were in a frantic rush. Seeing her, one immediately said, “Miss, it’s chaotic over there, you shouldn’t go any closer.”

Many people were kneeling at the city gate, all of them the old, the weak, women, and children. Su Yi took a bite of her bun. “Are these all people from the Huachen Kingdom?”

“They are. Her Majesty has given the order not to let anyone from the Huachen Kingdom in. Besides, these people from Huachen must have rocks in their heads. They’re homeless, but instead of going to their own kingdom’s cities, they run over to our side. What kind of sense does that make?”

To survive, of course.

The emperor of the Huachen Kingdom had ordered that any of these refugees encountered were to be killed on sight—kill one if you see one, kill a pair if you see two. In contrast, the Yanxue Kingdom merely drove them away. Some of the more soft-hearted generals would even let some of the women work for them to earn a bit of food and money.

With a chance to live, of course those people would sharpen their heads to a point trying to run here².

“Are there many refugees?”

“A great many. This is already the fifth wave in the last few days.”

Su Yi nodded. After taking a bite of the bun, she frowned. “Why is there sand in this?”

With that, she disgustedly threw the bun she had only taken two bites of, along with its paper wrapping, away from her.

It landed right in front of a little girl huddled in a corner.

The girl was about five or six years old. Her sallow face was stunned for a second, but she immediately reacted, grabbing the paper-wrapped bun with a hand that was little more than skin and bones, and ran.

Dodging the snatching hands of those nearby, she was like a little loach, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Seeing her do this, the guards exchanged glances and, with a tacit understanding, pretended they hadn’t seen a thing.

More people saw Su Yi’s action and began to kneel to her from across the line of guards, begging her for a handout.

Su Yi stood quietly for a moment. When the people saw she made no move, they assumed her earlier action was just the spoiled tantrum of a young lady from a wealthy family. They stood up with sighs, and some even cursed her for her extravagance.

Su Yi said nothing and left, her hands tucked into her sleeves.

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Inside the General’s Manor.

Ji Qingchi’s face was frozen over as she sat ramrod straight on one side of the table. Opposite her was Xue Cong, his expression perfectly composed.

“Your Majesty, you have the Mandate of the Nine-Heavens Phoenix; it is your destiny to unify the world. As long as you agree to marry me with the rites of an Emperor Consort and treat me as a guest of honor, I can persuade the emperor of the Huachen Kingdom to stop the war. Subsequently, I can even help you unify the world.”

Ji Qingchi sneered. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the emperor of your Huachen Kingdom what you’ve said? You are his High Priest. Won’t he do something to you?”

Xue Cong smiled faintly. “I am now the only priest in the Huachen Kingdom. My dear emperor still relies on me to secure his position. How would he dare?”

“With all this fighting, no one is having an easy time,” Xue Cong said with a laugh. “The Huachen Kingdom has been trading frequently with the Dongli Kingdom recently and can borrow grain and troops. The Yanxue Kingdom, on the other hand, cannot, can it? Your Majesty, based on Yanxue’s current national strength, how much longer can you drag this out with us?”

Ji Qingchi’s face was devoid of expression. “Get out.”

Xue Cong stood up, still smiling. “Everyone says Your Majesty is wise and divinely martial, but I’ve heard that a year ago, Your Majesty took in a woman and even brought her along to supervise the army. Could it be that such a brilliant Majesty has become lost in a world of tender affections³?”

“Get out.”

Xue Cong laughed and continued, “A Majesty with the guts to kill her own imperial sister who vied with her for the throne doesn’t seem like someone who would be lost in a world of tender affections. The world, or a woman… I trust Your Majesty knows how to choose.”

Before his voice had even faded, a dagger flew toward him. Xue Cong sidestepped it with ease, smiling as he watched Ji Qingchi’s face grow colder and colder. His figure slowly vanished.

It was like this again. Appearing and disappearing with ease. Ji Qingchi’s eyes grew increasingly cold. She would absolutely not accept being threatened by anyone. This Xue Cong knew sorcery, but she didn’t believe he was the only one in the world who did. There had to be a way to counter him.

“Wuying.”

The enchanting woman leaped down from the roof with a grin. “Your Majesty, what can I do for you?”

“Help Zhen find out if there is anyone else who knows the same sorcery as that man just now.”

“Your Majesty is probably unaware, but Zhining knows these arts as well.”

“Truly?”

“If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, you can summon her and ask.”

“Good. Help Zhen bring her here.”

---

When Su Yi returned to the General’s Manor, she happened to run into Xue Cong, who was just coming out of the entrance.

“Miss Su.” Seeing her, Xue Cong curled his lips into a smile, deliberately drawing out his words. “Miss Su, you don’t look too well.”

As if she couldn’t hear him, Su Yi walked past him without a sideways glance.

But he suddenly pressed a hand down on her shoulder, chuckling in a low voice. “Miss Su, how much longer can you hold on?”

The guards on both sides of the gate immediately drew their blades and stepped forward. Xue Cong released her, saying innocently, “I merely wanted to have a word with Miss Su.”

Without giving him a single proper look, Su Yi entered the manor. A guard reported that Ji Qingchi was discussing state affairs with Lady Xue, so Su Yi returned to her own room.

The moment she was in her room, she couldn’t stop herself from spitting out a mouthful of blood.

She had walked quickly, leaving her maids far behind, so no one saw this scene.

Su Yi expertly tucked away the blood-stained handkerchief. After her two maids finished helping her wash up and left, she lay quietly on the bed by herself.

She didn’t know what kind of poison Xue Cong had given her. She had secretly sought out Feng Ruoqing and Xue Zhining, but both said they didn’t know what poison she had been afflicted with. If even they didn’t know, there was no need to even mention the imperial physicians.

“Heh, I wonder if I’ll return to the modern world after I die.”

But she had already died from overwork in the modern world. She probably couldn’t go back.

She drifted off into a groggy sleep. Early the next morning, Ji Qingchi came over, her face full of joy.

She had found a way to deal with Xue Cong. Her spirits were high, and the gloom brought on by the prolonged war had dissipated. She had made a special point of coming over early to wait for Su Yi.

So, the moment Su Yi opened her eyes, she saw Ji Qingchi’s smiling face.

“The snow has stopped outside. Shall Zhen take you for a stroll?”

The General’s Manor was some distance from the military camp. She had been with the army for two and a half months, and the fighting had been constant. Every day, aside from discussing strategy with the generals, Ji Qingchi was inspecting the camp. It was always midnight by the time she returned to the manor. In order not to disturb Su Yi, she would usually come to check on her while she was asleep, instructing the maids and guards to take good care of her.

For all these days, Su Yi had always gone out by herself. This was the first time Ji Qingchi was taking her.

Su Yi looked at the increasingly dark shadows under her eyes. “Your Majesty should get some proper rest.”

“No need.” Ji Qingchi shook her head with a smile. “Zhen has time today. Zhen will take you out.”

Su Yi suppressed the urge to cough and, with the taste of rust filling her mouth, nodded.

Ji Qingchi carried her up to the city gate tower, wrapped her tightly in a large fox-fur cloak, and held her from behind. Pointing to the outline of the city in the distance, she said, her voice full of determination, “The idea you gave Zhen some time ago was excellent. The military uniforms and weapons you had people make are also very practical. And Zhen has found a way to counter that High Priest of the Huachen Kingdom. This time, Zhen will certainly win.”

“Once Zhen wins, I’ll take you back. The Marquis of Pingyang is getting old and has already submitted a memorial to Zhen, suggesting you inherit the title early. Zhen has agreed. When we return, I will confer the title upon you.”

“Zhen has already found a successor. It’s Seventh Imperial Sister’s little girl, born not long ago. She can be entered into the Imperial Clan Register⁴ as soon as we get back.”

She said a great deal, but Su Yi didn’t answer. The sky slowly turned grey, and it began to snow.

Seeing the snow, Ji Qingchi belatedly realized she had been talking too much. The person in her arms was ice-cold; she must be freezing.

She held her tighter and lowered her head with a smile. “Zhen was too happy and couldn’t help but talk too much. Let’s go back…”

Her words stopped abruptly when she saw Su Yi’s closed eyes.

She had spent so many years on the battlefield. The thing she had seen the most was people who had no life left in them.

She slowly reached out a hand, holding it under Su Yi’s nose.

It was cold.

Not a single breath.

“Ah—”

A mournful shriek tore through the sky, only to be buried by the heavy snow.

---

The white mourning clothes⁵ in the General’s Manor were whiter than the snow.

Ji Qingchi’s eyes were shot with blood. Like a malevolent ghost, she stared intently at the two maids. “Your Miss was in poor health. Why didn’t you tell Zhen?”

Gancao said through her tears, “We had the guards send messages to Your Majesty, but the guards said Your Majesty was busy with the war and the messages could never get through. Later, the Young Miss said we shouldn’t bother Your Majesty anymore…”

“Who are the guards you spoke of?”

Gancao named several names. Ji Qingchi summoned them one by one. After being questioned, they fell to the ground, crying. “Your Majesty, spare us! We were only following Lady Ye’s orders.”

The Lady Ye they spoke of was Ye Shui. Back then, she had saved Ji Qingchi, who was grateful to her. After returning to the capital, she had someone teach her martial arts and made her one of her personal guards.

Ye Shui was very loyal, using her own body to block assassination attempts for her several times. On one occasion, she had nearly lost her own life.

In recognition of her loyalty, Ji Qingchi had made her the captain of the guards and had even specially assigned her to Su Yi’s side to protect her, ordering all the guards under her to listen to Ye Shui’s commands.

Ji Qingchi had Ye Shui brought over and asked her, very calmly, why.

Ye Shui knelt ramrod straight on the ground, looking directly at her. “Since Your Majesty likes women, why can’t it be me? That woman came from a brothel! Your Majesty can even fancy someone like that, so why can’t it be me, who saved Your Majesty’s life?!”

Ji Qingchi ordered her to be dragged away. As she was being dragged off, she was still asking why.

Xue Zhining and Feng Ruoqing were also held accountable for concealing Su Yi’s illness. Neither of them argued. Feng Ruoqing only sighed. “The poison in Miss Su was incurable. That’s why she didn’t let us tell Your Majesty. She said that Your Majesty was already vexed with handling the war and couldn’t be distracted by superfluous matters.”

“Poison? What poison was she afflicted with?”

Xue Zhining said, “We don’t know what poison it is, but we can be certain that this poison was most likely administered by Xue Cong.”

Yan Shen cried, “The Young Miss also told us that her life in the Huachen Kingdom was not good. She hoped Your Majesty could avenge her, that you must conquer the Huachen Kingdom and let those refugees rebuild their homes.”

“Well, isn’t that just perfect,” Ji Qingchi said, revealing a bloodthirsty smile. “Zhen has many scores to settle with him.”

---

Three years later.

In the capital city of the Huachen Kingdom, bodies lay strewn everywhere.

Blood stained the earth red. The slaughtered bodies were piled into a small mountain, attracting a large flock of ravens.

Among the corpses on the ground, a woman in silver armor was particularly eye-catching. Her body was dyed crimson with blood. Her foot was on a body, and her blade was still plunged into its heart.

Xue Cong coughed up blood, his eyes wide. “You…”

“You were right. Zhen has the Mandate of the Nine-Heavens Phoenix.” Ji Qingchi pushed the sword a few inches deeper. Pointing at the field of corpses, she smiled a smile that made one’s hair stand on end. “Zhen was born to unify the world. Therefore, these people could only die. And that, of course, includes you.”

With that, she pulled out the sword.

Xue Cong’s breath left him instantly.

After dismembering the body into several pieces, Ji Qingchi tossed the sword aside, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and pointed at the chunks of bloody flesh with a smile. “Take this and feed it to the dogs.”

The soldiers fought to control their scalps from numbing. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Amidst the piles of corpses, Ji Qingchi’s smile was exceptionally terrifying.

For three years, she had exhausted her mind and body, conquering one city after another.

Every time she took a city, she would inevitably slaughter all the soldiers within. Standing amidst the piles of bodies, she would chat and laugh, a fact that made people’s faces turn pale at the mere mention of it.

Her men were cleaning up the battlefield. Ji Qingchi, covered in blood, gazed at the field of corpses and suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment.

She had unified the world. And then what?

She returned to the Yanxue Kingdom in a daze and went to the underground palace.

This was what she had built for Su Yi. She had searched the world to find a way to keep a body perfectly preserved.

Ji Qingchi sat by the catafalque, staring blankly at the lifeless person in the coffin. After watching for a long time, she lifted the body out. “It’s too cold inside. Zhen has true qi. Zhen will warm you up.”

The body, warmed for a long time, remained just as cold. Ji Qingchi thought for a moment, then simply lay down in the glass coffin, holding the body.

“If Zhen holds you, you won’t be cold anymore.”

The glass coffin was filled with plenty of ice. Ji Qingchi felt her own temperature draining away.

As if her mind had been frozen, in a trance, she seemed to hear a sigh.

“All protagonists are dead… Eighth cycle… failed. Ninth cycle… initiating.”

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LP: This plot… is so good?!

One of my favorite chapters now!

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