Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 32.1

Ruling over the Court Arc

Abandoned Empress 07

Xin Lan didn’t expect Qu Zhi’an to pass her a note asking about her well-being, and she was somewhat surprised.

Since that day, they hadn’t contacted each other again.

For Xin Lan, she saw Qu Zhi’an as someone useful, someone who could greatly assist her and weaken the Emperor’s power. However, she couldn’t claim her as her own for the time being.

Qu Zhi’an had just stepped into the political arena as a rising star, and her foundation was still unstable. Whether she stayed or left depended entirely on the Emperor’s will. Those old-fashioned officials, especially the Xin family, definitely didn’t want her to establish herself here.

Speaking of the Xin family, Xin Lan naturally had no emotional attachment to that family, but she didn’t despise them either.

It was true that the Xin family had abandoned the original host as if she were a discarded child, but from a strategic standpoint, it was an inevitable choice.

As Xin Lan had previously said, it was reasonable but not sentimental.

Moreover, Lady Xin had entered the palace and sent money, and she also sent someone over, instructing Xin Long to listen to her. It wasn’t as if they turned a blind eye or a deaf ear.

In summary, the Xin family didn’t owe anything to the original host because in the beginning, Wu Yanqing was chosen as a husband by the original host herself, not arranged by the Xin family. With the support of the Xin family, the original host could enjoy her glory. But it was also because of this that she had to swallow her grievances disguised as love.

The complex relationship between them couldn’t be explained in just a few words, and Xin Lan didn’t consider the Xin family as her own backing.

The Xin family’s goal has never changed: to place an Empress in the harem, give birth to or raise a Prince, and then support that Prince to ascend the throne, allowing the Xin family to continue enjoying glory.

Regardless of who the Empress is, as long as they are someone who the Xin family can trust and work together with.

But based on the current situation, Xin Long doesn’t have that capability yet, and the Emperor is actively trying to impregnate higher-ranked concubines like the Imperial Consort or Xi Fei. If a child is born from them, he can find a way to prevent the child from going to Xin Long.

The Xin family may appear flourishing now, but they are actually in great danger. The Emperor has been on the throne for four years, and for the past two years, his actions have become more significant, resulting in the purge of many members of the Xin family.

A single move can affect the entire situation. This chess game doesn’t look favorable, but there must be a way to break through.

Xin Lan’s thinking is similar to that of the Xin family. She intends to restrain the Emperor and force him to abdicate. There are plenty of children within the royal family who can inherit the throne, so there is no need to worry about a lack of successors.

Their paths are the same. Xin Lan has a reason for the Xin family to support her, but relying solely on the Xin family is not enough. The Emperor is deeply wary of the Xin family. It must be someone he trusts, catching him off guard.

There is no better candidate than Qu Zhi’an, but Qu Zhi’an has no reason to join forces with Xin Lan against the Emperor. Convincing her is also a problem.

The Emperor indeed has ill intentions towards Qu Zhi’an, but because of Xin Lan’s intervention, his actions have been unsuccessful. Rebellion is a serious crime, and it’s not something that can be easily accomplished.

Even if the Xin family has the desire, they lack the courage to carry it out.

Xin Lan held an embroidered handkerchief, calculating in her mind.

Qu Zhi’an, the Xin family, the Emperor, and military power—each link in this chain was essential. If she wanted to achieve something significant, none of these factors could be missing.

Taking a deep breath, Xin Lan reminded herself not to act too hastily.

Speaking of politics, it’s more troublesome than fighting. Tactical maneuvers are much more interesting than plotting, but she has grown accustomed to it, becoming more and more familiar with the intricacies.

A soft sigh dissipated in the wind as Xin Lan touched the piece of paper, tucking it away in her embrace.

At that moment, Zero Nine alerted her in her mind.

Zero Nine: They’re targeting Ah Rou!

Xin Lan’s brows furrowed, she inquired about the whereabouts and the identity of the threat, and had Zero Nine calculate the chances of a successful rescue.

If it was someone sent by the Emperor himself, it might be difficult to find an opportunity to save Ah Rou.

From the very beginning, Xin Lan had considered this possibility, but she still watched as Ah Rou left.

The potential risks of this matter far outweigh what can be revealed.

Xin Lan speculated that the Xin family might encounter some trouble ahead, especially if Wu Yanqing acted as she anticipated.

Fortunately, things hadn’t reached the worst-case scenario. The Eunuch only instructed his subordinates to carry out the task.

With the Emperor’s approval, disposing of a palace maid discreetly within the palace was simple, but the body couldn’t be left behind.

“Si Tong, Chun Yue.”

Xin Lan called the two maidservants over and gave them an order.

After listening, both nodded and left the Jade Moon Palace.

The summer sunlight bathed the green bricks and red tiles, warming the surroundings.

Ah Rou followed the Eunuch, feeling confused. Eunuch Mei had suddenly approached her, saying that there were some things she needed to see, possibly belonging to her mistress. So she followed the person who led her.

She initially thought she was going to see her mistress and felt relieved. After all, she had hurriedly escaped last night and had been confined to a side hall after reporting the information to the Emperor. She hadn’t been able to return and see her mistress yet. At least she wanted to witness her mistress being laid to rest.

However, as she walked, she realized that this wasn’t the way back but a different and unfamiliar path.

“Eunuch, where are we going?” she asked.

“Just follow along. Do you think I’ll lead you astray?” the Eunuch replied impatiently.

Ah Rou immediately fell silent, recalling that this Eunuch was appointed by Eunuch Mei to guide her.

The Eunuch’s eyes grew sinister. It wasn’t suitable to carry the corpse out in broad daylight. Discarding it in a well would suffice.

After all, there were several secluded palaces in the imperial residence where no one resided. How many restless spirits were trapped in the depths of their wells, no one knew.

Ah Rou was brought to a place she had never been before, where weeds grew in the corners. The Eunuch standing there urged her to enter.

Hesitant, Ah Rou took two steps and wanted to turn back and inquire, but she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck and collapsed to the ground.

The Eunuch coldly snorted upon seeing her reaction and began fetching ropes and stones.

He tied the stones to her feet and bound her hands and legs. One end of the stone had already fallen into the well. The young Eunuch pushed her into the well, and a sound of something heavy splashing into the water echoed from below. He turned and walked away.

After he left, Chun Yue and Si Tong hurriedly ran over.

Si Tong also went to find a rope. Since the rope wasn’t long enough, she had to tie one end to Chun Yue and the other end to her own waist. Chun Yue would go down to untie the ropes from Ah Rou’s body while Si Tong would pull from above.

“Will you be able to hold it? How about I go down and you stay up here?” Chunyue worriedly suggested.

“It’s alright, Sister Chun Yue. I used to do farm work back home. Don’t judge me by my appearance; I’m quite strong,” Si Tong assured her.

Chun Yue nodded, no longer hesitating, and descended into the well to rescue Ah Rou.

A putrid stench filled the air inside the well, almost overwhelming Chun Yue.

Judging by the Eunuch’s demeanor, it seemed that he had done this before. Perhaps many lives had been lost in this well.

Fortunately, the well wasn’t very deep. Chun Yue caught sight of Ah Rou’s half-submerged head on the water’s surface.

Ah Rou was initially unconscious, but the splash of water upon entering the well startled her awake. Though her mouth was gagged, she looked at the light streaming into the well, feeling a sense of despair. However, when she noticed someone preparing to rescue her, excitement surged within her.

Chun Yue helped untie the ropes from Ah Rou’s hands, and Ah Rou removed the cloth from her mouth before proceeding to free herself from the ropes around her feet.

Chun Yue went up first and then lowered the rope for them. Together, they pulled Ah Rou up.

“I’m glad you came,” Ah Rou said.

“We’ll talk about that later. Let’s hurry back for now. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw us,” Chun Yue urged.

Ah Rou nodded, and the three of them quickly returned to Jade Moon Palace.

Fortunately, the palace was a secluded Cold Palace tucked away in a corner. Otherwise, it would have been much more challenging to navigate the roads.

“Mistress, we’ve brought her back.”

“Good job bringing her back. Have her sit down and calm down.”

Xin Lan nodded. Throughout the journey, she had the system track Ah Rou’s location and speculate about their destination. Zero Nine calculated dozens of possible locations.

Xin Lan believed that if someone intended to kill, they would likely dispose of the body. An inconspicuous well seemed like the best choice. She had Zero Nine eliminate various route options, finally settling on one location and instructing Chun Yue and Si Tong to proceed there and wait.

Sure enough, it was the right place.

Chun Yue had also gotten wet from going down the well, so she told Xin Lan that she would go wash and change clothes in the back.

“Hey, Chun Yue, don’t you think our mistress is a genius? How did she know Ah Rou was there?”

“You silly girl, didn’t someone give our mistress a note?”

Chun Yue scooped water from the bucket and smiled at Si Tong as she spoke.

Si Tong nodded and stopped asking further questions.

What did this imply? It meant that there were people supporting our mistress on the Emperor’s side. How impressive!

Xin Lan was unaware of the thoughts running through the two maids’ minds. But even if they didn’t think that way, she wouldn’t explain it to them.

One advantage of being alone was that there wouldn’t be anyone prying and asking endless questions. When there were people she could rely on, she didn’t need to do everything herself, avoiding spreading herself too thin.

Xin Lan quite liked this hierarchical relationship of command, where whatever she said, those below would obey without questioning too much.

Ah Rou in front of her still appeared shaken, soaked from head to toe. She hadn’t even sat down, trembling slightly.

“Are you afraid?”

Ah Rou nodded.

“If I hadn’t received the news in time to save you today, you would be dead.”

“Thank you, Empress, for saving my life.”

Ah Rou knelt down and bowed her head.

“I only ask you one question: If you had known this morning that going out could mean you might not return, would you still have gone?”

“Yes.”

Ah Rou replied with certainty.

She had already avenged her mistress. Concubine Man had been confined, with no hope of turning the tables. Although Ah Rou couldn’t bear to see her die, she knew the Emperor would not spare her.

However, even if the Emperor knew that the deposed Empress was innocent, there was no way to go back. After all, the position of Empress already had an occupant.

Ah Rou was unaware of the power struggles within the court and the complexities surrounding them. She simply sighed with resignation.

“You can’t go back now, you are already a ‘dead person’.”

Although official records and such wouldn’t be destroyed, in the eyes of the Emperor, this person was already dead. It was certain that she couldn’t stay in the harem any longer and had to be sent away.

“I understand.”

“Do you have any relatives outside the palace?”

“No.”

“That’s good, to avoid trouble.”

Xin Lan had already made plans and stared at Ah Rou, deep in thought.

Ah Rou felt a sense of unease under her gaze and quickly pledged her loyalty.

“Empress, I was sold into the palace as a servant girl from a young age, and I have always followed my mistress wholeheartedly. Now that my mistress is gone, I have no idea where to go. Empress, you saved my life, you are my benefactor in this life. Whatever you say, I will do.”

Ah Rou knocked her head twice, expressing her loyalty. Besides serving others, she didn’t know how to do anything else. Now that the Emperor regarded her as dead, she couldn’t stay in the palace any longer. Ah Rou had no idea where to go from here.

All she knew was that the person in front of her must have a solution.

Unexplainably, she felt that this exceptionally intelligent person who had saved her twice was considered useless as a deposed Empress, but she found her reliable.

Xin Lan was also contemplating. She had a plan in mind, but she didn’t know if this servant girl was suitable for it or capable of fulfilling the task.

In that brief moment, Xin Lan considered returning to her villainous role.

Apart from a few particularly miserable individuals, every villain had hordes of subordinates. There was no need to worry about finding capable individuals in this situation.

It wasn’t for any specific reason, but simply because she couldn’t trust others.

Xin Lan’s level of trust in people was not high, regardless of who they were.

It wasn’t about a lack of security, but rather a matter of habit.

She only had absolute security in her partner, just like the mecha she used to pilot, just like Zero Nine.

“There are two paths for you to choose, but once you choose, there’s no turning back,” Xin Lan looked at her as if she wanted to peer into her heart through her eyes. “The first path is to leave the palace, leave the capital city, and go wherever you want. Don’t come back. Live your life as you wish. The second path is to work for me, but it requires courage. You mustn’t fear challenges, and you mustn’t hide anything. I demand absolute loyalty.”

“Which path will you choose?”

One path represented stability, while the other represented the unknown.

Xin Lan gave her the choice, and while Ah Rou hesitated, Xin Lan also considered.

Zero Nine had already provided information about this person. She wasn’t too young, in good health, and had a clean background. Xin Lan didn’t need her to do anything significant; she simply needed some things procured for her.

Ah Rou bit her lip, caught in a dilemma.

How should she choose…

After leaving, couldn’t she find a position as a maid in another place instead of staying in the capital city?

Although Ah Rou hadn’t experienced many storms in life, she had gone through some events. Being in the palace for a long time, she understood the dynamics of flattery, scheming, and power struggles, which made her both fearful and helpless.

Ah Rou and her mistress had similar personalities; they both desired a peaceful and stable life.

Ah Rou thought that after leaving, her age was still manageable, and she could serve others. Finding employment wouldn’t be difficult. However, leaving her mistress’s body behind in this treacherous palace made her feel inexplicably melancholic.

But when her thoughts spun in circles, all those concerns faded away when she met those pair of black eyes.

Those eyes were tranquil, as if concealing a vast starry sky—beautiful yet lonely. They made her feel immensely small and willingly surrender.

“Ah Rou is willing to follow mistress. Whatever requests you have, Ah Rou will strive to fulfill them. In this lifetime and beyond, I will never waver in loyalty.”

Ah Rou didn’t know how this decision would change her, but she had a feeling that she would regret it if she didn’t make this choice.

“Good. Tonight, I will take you out of the palace and settle you somewhere first. Then, I will let you know what you need to do.”

Ah Rou nodded, but this time, instead of bowing her head, she performed a deep kneeling ceremony.

Xin Lan sat in a chair, her fingers touching the porcelain teacup. She lifted the lid and took a leisurely sip.

Xin Lan asked Ah Rou to leave and instructed her to find Chun Yue to change into a new set of clothes.

She set down the empty cup and looked around the vacant room.

Ancient times were truly boring, she thought.

Attending classes from the previous world was more interesting. At least she could listen to some knowledge. As long as she could absorb it, it was quite enjoyable.

Here, all she could do was stare into space.

She had finished watching the ridiculous drama that Zero Nine recommended and was now looking for other entertaining TV shows.

Xin Lan was merely trying to pass the time, but even that amusement had run dry.

She felt a sense of boredom, a rare hint of loneliness.

Xin Lan thought that next time she could have Zero Nine buy some books and store them in the system space. That way, she could read them when she was bored.

If there were VR games available, that would be even better. Xin Lan enjoyed competitive games.

The more she pondered, the more bored she became. Xin Lan stood up from her chair.

When Xin Lan saved Ah Ruo, she did so with the mindset of “do good deeds and don’t ask for rewards.” After all, she didn’t think it would have any impact on her arrangements. But later, she realized that Ah Ruo was a useful person.

Zero Nine: Host, are you bored?

Xin Lan: A bit. Why? Is there something interesting?

Zero Nine: Nothing specific, but I can chat with the host.

Xin Lan: Like what?

Zero Nine: Gossip, for example, two hosts falling in love, and then one of them cheating while on a mission.

Xin Lan: Tsk, that’s unfortunate.

Zero Nine: What’s even worse is that the person being cheated on doesn’t even know. After all, the hosts rarely do missions in the same world. Who would know about infidelity in the mission world?

Xin Lan: How do you know then?

Xin Lan became slightly interested. It made sense, cheating in a mission world wouldn’t affect her real physical body. She could simply let the memories fade away, without worrying about calling out someone else’s name while rolling in bed with her loved one.

Zero Nine: It’s what the host system said, posted on the system forum. Anyway, I don’t know who the real person is. I’m still reading that thread. It seems like there have been multiple instances of infidelity. I truly feel sorry for the partner of that host.

Xin Lan: Cheated and panicked.

Zero Nine: Why do some people claim to be in love but can betray others and pretend nothing happened?

Setting aside these feudal discussions, Zero Nine has indeed encountered many individuals similar to that unnamed host. It makes one wonder how people can possess such shamelessness. Yet, surprisingly, straightforward individuals are rare, and there are still those who forgive.

Zero Nine arrived at this profound theory because of her first host, who was both resurrected and scum. However, all the men she cheated on were willing to take over one after another.

Xin Lan: People come in a thousand variations, and the world is full of complexities.

Xin Lan’s character is incapable of such actions. One should always be straightforward.

Zero Nine: Host, do you think those people should be forgiven?

Xin Lan: If forgiveness feels right, then forgive. Everyone must decide for themselves what is worth it and what is not.

Zero Nine: But what if it were you…

Xin Lan: Would I give them that chance?

Zero Nine: Let’s assume, just hypothetically.

Xin Lan: Playing tricks won’t be so easy. Unless they speak up, my name isn’t Xin.

For some reason, Qu Zhi’an at home suddenly sneezed.

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