Fate Trading System – Chapter 193

Plan A

Guiding Stars 9

Prelude

“You’re using age as an excuse to brush me off again.”

Yue Xingyao was unconvinced. Su Xin gently ruffled her loose hair, showing a helpless smile.

“What I’m saying is the truth – things will be better when you grow up.”

Due to their age difference, there wouldn’t be too much intersection in their lives right now, which allowed Su Xin to be more at ease.

“Da Huangjie, how many years will you need to study?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure, it depends on my situation.”

Su Xin shook her head, actually knowing the exact time in her heart, but wouldn’t say it.

The door was shut tight, but the window was open to prevent the room from becoming stuffy. The rain couldn’t blow in because of the corridor eaves, but the wind could drift in, bringing a cool sensation.

Yue Xingyao, seeming somewhat cold-sensitive, snuggled deeper into the blankets, her hands and feet rather presumptuously occupying Su Xin’s body.

“Does Imperial Father know you came out like this?”

“Of course not, though he must know by now. I snuck out secretly, had the palace servants find me an umbrella. They were watching me, not letting me leave, so I sent them all away and quickly ran over here with the umbrella.”

Yue Xingyao said this while rolling her jet-black eyes, looking somewhat proud of herself.

“Don’t do this again, you’ll definitely be punished when you return.”

“Then let me be punished, I’m not afraid. Though I fear he might direct his anger at you – why didn’t I think of that earlier?”

Yue Xingyao spoke with frustration, having clearly figured out what kind of person her Imperial Father was. She would definitely be scolded upon return, but might not be punished – however, Imperial Father would certainly take his anger out on Su Xin.

And the more Yue Xingyao tried to protect her, the more severely the Emperor Consort would punish her.

Yue Xingyao now felt angry at her own impetuousness.

The rain outside hadn’t stopped, and the Emperor Consort wouldn’t send palace servants to fetch Yue Xingyao back anytime soon.

In this rare moment of tranquility, Yue Xingyao wasn’t originally sleepy, but somehow, at this moment, embracing Su Xin beside her, feeling her body warmth under the comfortable blanket, she suddenly felt the desire to sleep. Her eyes were half-closed, like a lazy cat.

“Sleep if you want to. If someone comes to get you, I’ll wake you up.”

“What about you, Da Huangjie?”

“Let’s sleep together.”

Su Xin adjusted her hair, then lay down properly in the blankets and closed her eyes.

The rain varied in intensity, unfortunately unpredictable. Suxin had been waiting for the rain to lighten before going out to fetch the Fifth Imperial Princess, but after just a few steps, thunder and lightning suddenly struck. The rain, which had been showing signs of lessening, instantly became more violent.

The Emperor Consort didn’t care whether the palace servants sent to fetch would get wet; he only worried about Yue Xingyao getting wet when brought back, so they could only delay.

“Children really are getting bigger and more disobedient.”

The Emperor Consort’s expression was displeased as he held a cup of tea, taking a light sip.

Suxin stood silently before the Emperor Consort, eyes fixed firmly on the floor, terrified that if the Emperor Consort became unhappy, he might throw that cup of tea at him.

Suxin had served beside the Emperor Consort for many years. As the saying goes, “Time reveals a person’s heart”, and they were well aware of the Emperor Consort’s true attitude toward them.

The rain stopped.

The palace servants hurriedly began cleaning, preventing the floor from being slippery wet, which could cause the nobles to fall – that would be a grave offense on their part.

Jinxiu knocked on the door. Su Xin immediately opened her eyes and gently nudged the soundly sleeping child beside her.

“Wu Meimei, it’s time to wake up, someone’s here to get you.”

Yue Xingyao appeared to be sleeping so peacefully that when disturbed, she pouted somewhat dissatisfied. Combined with her fair, plump face, she looked especially adorable. Su Xin couldn’t resist pinching her cheeks, feeling their soft texture.

“What shichen is it now? Has the rain stopped? Why are they here to get me already? I still want to sleep more, I’m really so tired. Da Huangjie, your bed is so comfortable.”

“The furnishings of my bed probably aren’t as good as yours. Whether it’s the blankets or anything else, they should all be inferior to yours. How could my bed be more comfortable?”

Su Xin spoke very straightforwardly and honestly – according to the furnishings, Yue Xingyao’s bed was indeed better appointed than hers, this was the absolute truth.

“That’s just how I feel anyway.”

Jinxiu was hosting Suxin outside. Suxin maintained a cold face, and though Jinxiu felt some displeasure, he still said nothing.

(Inner monologue: Don’t put on that dead face, as if our mistress lured your mistress here! It was clearly your mistress who came running here with an umbrella of her own accord. Why are you giving us the cold shoulder? Do you think you’re that good-looking? Heh, men.)

“When Her Highness arrived, her clothes were already soaked. I don’t have any suitable clothes here, so I found a new set though it doesn’t fit well. I don’t know if Suxin-gege brought new clothes, otherwise the Fifth Imperial Princess won’t have suitable attire.”

“Though I did bring some, which room is the Fifth Imperial Princess in? I’ll go attend to her right away.”

“The Fifth Imperial Princess is with the First Princess. Brother, just hand me the clothes, I’ll attend to her.”

Jinxiu had no other intention than simply not wanting Suxin to enter his mistress’s room.

Suxin frowned and repeated his previous words.

“Which room is the Fifth Imperial Princess in? I’ll go attend to her right away.”

Tch, what a stubborn man.

“Yes,” Jinxiu replied.

Jinxiu couldn’t match Suxin in a direct confrontation, and could only grumble internally while secretly feeling smug. However, what needed to be done still had to be done – after Suxin repeated himself twice, there was nothing more to say.

Another knock sounded at the door. Su Xin propped herself up from the bed, stretched comfortably, and massaged her temples.

Children’s bodies really were remarkable, seeming full of endless energy.

“Fifth Imperial Princess, this humble servant has come to help you dress.”

Suxin’s voice rang out from beyond the door, carrying his unchanging formality and respect.

“No need. Today I don’t require your service. Have Jinxiu bring in the clothes and set them down. I can dress myself.”

“Yes.”

Servants never questioned why; they only needed to follow orders and know the outcome.

Jinxiu took the clothes from Su Xin’s hands, gently pushed open the door, then closed it behind her, leaving only a small gap. She placed the clothes beside the bed, then asked Su Xin if she needed help getting up and dressing.

“Mm.”

Su Xin put on her shoes, letting Jinxiu take out her clothes from the cabinet and help her dress.

When Su Xin was fully dressed, she saw Yue Xingyao still sitting motionless on the bed.

“What’s wrong, Wu Meimei? Didn’t you say you’d dress yourself?”

“I want Da Huangjie to help me dress, please, Da Huangjie?”

Yue Xingyao deployed her ultimate finishing move: acting cute and coquettish.

Su Xin felt helpless seeing her like this, and thinking about how she might turn out in the future, couldn’t help but laugh, feeling that this period would surely become the future Great Demon King’s embarrassing past.

Su Xin went to the bedside to help Yue Xingyao dress. Yue Xingyao cooperated very obediently, her large eyes fixed unblinkingly on Su Xin, her smile sweet.

Jinxiu had grown somewhat accustomed to this. Previously, he had been very afraid of the Fifth Imperial Princess, because although this little one was beautiful, her status was extremely noble, and she always maintained a stern, serious expression – a picture of complete solemnity. Combined with his fear of the Emperor Consort, Jinxiu generally tried to avoid the Fifth Imperial Princess whenever possible.

However, seeing how the Fifth Imperial Princess interacted with his own mistress, Jinxiu gradually changed his view.

Respect remained respect, and fear remained fear, but that fear was different from before. Sometimes seeing her would involuntarily bring a smile to his face – a genuine feeling without the slightest resistance.

While Jinxiu had grown used to the Fifth Imperial Princess acting cute with his mistress, Suxin, who watched through the door crack, felt both calm and shocked. Having watched the Fifth Imperial Princess grow up and knowing her personality inside out, he knew that the Fifth Imperial Princess never showed such expressions even to the Emperor Consort, yet displayed such dependent, coquettish behavior toward the First Princess.

Sharing Suxin’s unease was Yue Xingchen in the system space.

Yue Xingchen sat with a wooden expression, having cursed inwardly a thousand times.

“Do you know who she is?! Do you know what terrifying power she’ll have in the future?! Do you know how volatile she’ll become?! You dare to sleep in the same bed with her! And even help her dress!”

Most terrifying of all, the Great Demon King in Yue Xingchen’s mind was acting cute toward ‘herself.’ While Yue Xingchen admitted that the current four-year-old Yue Xingyao was indeed adorable, thinking about her future actions made that feeling vanish completely. It was truly frightening, that fear penetrating to the bone.

Fourteen offered no consolation to the nearly breakdown-bound client, only sighing quietly and shaking its head. Now wasn’t the time to face the storm – according to its experience, things would only get more intense.

Yue Xingyao left. Jinxiu and others moved the flower pots back to the small courtyard. Su Xin had wanted to help, but Jinxiu stopped her, saying that as the mistress, she should just sit and watch, no need to do it herself. So Su Xin lay comfortably on the lounge chair, gazing at the dim sky.

Because of the recent rain, the entire sky had become a solid color, with no sight of large clouds. It was as if an invisible hand had smoothed over the entire sky, blending it into a single shade – light, yet somewhat hazy and gray.

Yue Xingyao knocked and entered her Imperial Father’s chamber, sensing the low pressure within.

“Yao’er, you’ve been far too mischievous this time.”

“Imperial Father, please calm your anger. Yao’er knows her mistake.”

Yue Xingyao showed a very good attitude in admitting her fault first, head lowered, presenting the image of obedient contrition.

“Tell me, what exactly was your mistake?”

“Er Chen was wrong to run secretly to Da Huangjie’s place in such heavy rain without informing Imperial Father.”

Yue Xingyao showed an excellent attitude in admitting her mistake and correctly summarized her error.

“If you knew this was wrong, why did you still do it? With such heavy rain outside, don’t you know you could fall ill if you got wet? You even dared to dismiss the palace servants to run out. Yao’er, you’re becoming increasingly bold.”

The Emperor Consort spoke somewhat breathlessly, appearing truly quite angry. Yue Xingyao was being far too willful.

“Er Chen acknowledges the mistake.”

Yue Xingyao offered no argument – after all, everything the Emperor Consort said was correct.

“Why, in such heavy rain, did you absolutely have to run to her place? Was there something so urgent you had to tell her?”

“No.”

“So you’re saying you had no reason at all, just wanted to run out in the rain?”

The Emperor Consort massaged his temples. Would he believe this reason? He wouldn’t.

“If Imperial Father wishes to punish me, then do so.”

“Since you already know your mistake, why should I punish you? Does Imperial Father seem like an unreasonable person?”

The Emperor Consort’s reaction was rather unexpected to Yue Xingyao. No one knew better than her how volatile the Emperor Consort was in private – like a madman.

“Then… has Imperial Father ceased being angry with Er Chen?”

“Three days confined to your quarters, not allowed to go out. This will be your punishment. Did you hear?”

“I heard.”

Truth be told, Yue Xingyao wasn’t afraid of physical punishment, but rather dreaded confinement. Being locked up with nowhere to go – that was truly the most stifling thing.

The second day.

Today was overcast, with a cool breeze that felt very comfortable.

Pei Yu knocked on the small courtyard’s gate, and Jinxiu came to receive her.

In the study, the two stood facing each other. Pei Yu looked down at this child, feeling a thousand emotions surge within.

“Fu Zi [夫子 | fū zǐ | respectful term for teacher/master].”

Su Xin spoke first, breaking the room’s silence. Pei Yu nodded in acknowledgment.

“Today, that I, Pei Yu, can serve as the First Princess’s Fu Zi is my greatest honor. I will do my utmost to impart all knowledge to Your Highness, and will not disappoint.”

Pei Yu appeared somewhat stiff, reverting to that dazed expression, her gaze wandering before finally settling on the tea set on the table.

“How could Fu Zi ever disappoint me? Rather, this student fears being too dull-witted and disappointing Fu Zi instead.”

Su Xin revealed a relaxed smile, her words carrying a teasing tone.

“Your Highness’s intelligence surpasses others, and your mind is clear and perceptive. How could you be considered dull-witted? Thank you, Your Highness, for the flower gift that day. The flower was indeed extraordinarily beautiful. It’s a pity it blooms only once a month – otherwise, what an extraordinary sight it would be.”

Pei Yu finally met Su Xin’s gaze, her expression carrying undisguised admiration.

“Things are precious because they are rare. Everything is like this. Blooming once a month makes it special – if it bloomed every day, people wouldn’t treasure it.”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

“Fu Zi, by accepting this task, you should understand my meaning. If you truly get involved, there will be no way out.”

“No matter. One must venture forth sometimes. Just thinking about it is exciting, isn’t it?”

Although the person before her was only ten years old, Pei Yu dared not underestimate her.

Su Xin began her days of studying literature in the morning and martial arts in the afternoon. During weapons practice, she secretly trained with her obtained secret martial arts manual. When practicing martial arts, there was considerable freedom, and if she practiced in her own room, she had a good excuse.

Su Xin felt her body growing stronger day by day, power increasingly abundant, with neili [內力 | nèi lì | internal energy in martial arts] – the mysterious power of this world – flowing through her meridians.

Time passed very quickly, so quick that even though you knew it was being consumed each day, you remained unmoved.

A year passed. Su Xin turned eleven.

Though still appearing young, Su Xin fully felt there wasn’t enough time.

This year, she had completely absorbed everything the system had given her. She diligently cultivated her inner power, and had mostly mastered the external techniques from the martial arts manual. While she couldn’t claim complete mastery, she could utilize a good portion of its power.

Yue Xingyao turned five. The future Great Demon King was still an adorably silly child. Though a year had passed and she had grown considerably – taller, more knowledgeable, and increasingly composed – she still couldn’t help acting coquettish around Su Xin.

Su Xin had tried avoiding this several times before, but finding it impossible to escape this persistent one, she simply let it be.

Yue Xingyao maintained one unchanging trait – her dislike of speaking. She preferred listening to others, more skilled at being a consumer than a narrator. Sometimes she could go an entire day without speaking a word, just standing beside Su Xin watching her work, requiring no interaction.

Actually, such behavior was rather unsettling. For the person being watched, who could get used to having someone constantly observing them throughout the day without speaking a word, just silently standing there watching? When you met her gaze, she would offer a friendly smile.

At first, Su Xin found it quite unbearable, her sensory sensitivity being stronger than others’. But she grew accustomed to it, as if it wasn’t particularly special. She just had Fourteen keep watch over Yue Xingyao’s movements, then went about her business, treating Yue Xingyao like air.

Life isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes you don’t want to invite trouble, but trouble persistently finds its way to your door.

Yue Xinglan was increasingly unable to contain her temperament this year. Because her father grew increasingly favored, the emperor’s fondness for her also increased. Since she studied diligently, Taifu often praised her endlessly, causing her to become somewhat inflated with self-importance.

Su Xin maintained a low profile, only interacting more with Yue Xingyao while having little contact with others, completely uninterested in developing deep sisterly bonds.

Su Xin’s low profile didn’t mean others could forget her, such as the Second Imperial Princess, Yue Xinglan, who had studied with her for several years.

Yue Xinglan had disliked Su Xin for a long time. Disliking someone doesn’t require many reasons – sometimes you don’t even know the person, but from first sight, there’s an inexplicable aversion. It’s not about appearance, but rather their overall aura – perhaps due to incompatible energies.

Initially, Yue Xinglan didn’t have much prejudice against this sister, just simple contempt and indifference. In Yue Xinglan’s eyes, Su Xin was just a First Princess without backing, titular but powerless, with nothing special except being born earlier.

But later, she developed an inexplicable dislike for this person, perhaps because her sister was no longer so timid. Previously, she had been silent with a somewhat gloomy air, but later, something changed suddenly one day. She was no longer timid, would meet her gaze, would speak to her, maintaining a composed and unhurried demeanor, as if nothing could particularly frighten her, even accepting Taifu’s punishments with complete composure.

She discovered she hated this version of Da Huangjie, preferring her previous self – that version was more pleasing to her eyes.

Su Xin was returning from the training grounds as usual when she encountered Yue Xinglan on the way.

“Er Meimei [二妹妹 | èr mèi mei | Second Young Sister].”

After Su Xin gave her greeting, she prepared to step aside and pass by, having no desire for further conversation. She felt particularly averse to this younger sister, finding this child quite disagreeable, as Yue Xinglan’s expression of disdain was practically overflowing – extremely deserving of a beating.

Su Xin was returning alone. Usually at this time, Jinxiu wouldn’t accompany her. She had just parted ways with Xiao Mingyi, who headed toward the palace gates to return home while she returned to her own palace.

Yue Xinglan had a group of palace servants following behind her, holding a clear numerical advantage.

“Da Huangjie, why such haste? Could it be you don’t want to see me? Don’t want to speak with me?”

Yue Xinglan spoke up to stop her. Hearing this, Su Xin couldn’t continue walking indifferently.

She really wanted to turn away in disgust, but couldn’t act on impulse. Su Xin would rather Yue Xinglan use cruder methods, like direct confrontational intimidation, than other more troublesome approaches.

So Su Xin stopped, feeling the current situation was actually quite advantageous.

She preferred these situations of many against few – when it came to fabricating what actually happened later, it wasn’t certain whose version would prevail.

“What does Er Meimei wish to discuss?”

“It’s been so long since we’ve had a casual chat. Come to think of it, we sisters aren’t very close, are we? We’re actually quite close in age, shouldn’t we properly communicate and develop our sisterly bonds?”

Yue Xinglan came over intimately trying to grab Su Xin’s arm, but Su Xin withdrew her hand and avoided it.

“Er Meimei’s words truly overwhelm me with their favor.”

Su Xin said this, but her face maintained an aloof expression, identical to Yue Xingyao’s manner.

It was the kind of expression that seemed to acknowledge your presence while actually seeing right through you.

The hostility value was steadily rising. Yue Xinglan couldn’t bring herself to like Yue Xingyao either. Without her father’s guidance, Yue Xinglan knew Yue Xingyao would definitely be her greatest enemy in the future, because Yue Xingyao was the Emperor Consort’s daughter, possessing both noble status and undisputable inheritance rights.

Being of legitimate birth, it should be so.

Cursed legitimate birth.

“Da Huangjie, your words leave me somewhat confused. ‘Overwhelmed with favor’ is truly too elevated. For Da Huangjie to lower herself so, isn’t it rather inappropriate? Unless Da Huangjie truly believes from the bottom of her heart that my speaking with you is elevating you.”

Yue Xinglan smiled with narrowed eyes, appearing completely fearless.

The palace servants beside Yue Xinglan joined in the laughter, seemingly unconcerned that they were mocking the noble First Princess.

Su Xin’s expression remained unchanged, only lightly uttering one sentence.

“Like master, like dog, truly not an empty saying.”

Yue Xinglan’s current level of skill was clearly insufficient, showing a face wanting to explode in anger, yet forcefully suppressing it.

In life, one must face many choices.

Su Xin had seen a classic choice problem, the so-called trolley dilemma.

On the tracks, a train is approaching. On the abandoned track, one child plays, while on the operational track, several children are playing.

The children all knew that the operational track was safe for play, while the non-operational track wasn’t, yet only one obedient child stayed on the non-operational side.

If at this moment, you were the train driver, which direction would you choose?

One side has four or five lives, the other has one life.

One side represents the wrong path, the other the right path.

This should be a rather perplexing choice, after all, the weight of lives differs between the two paths.

Yet when Su Xin saw this choice problem, she unhesitatingly chose to run over those on the operational track.

However many lives there were, what of it – because they were wrong.

Su Xin only walked toward the side she believed was right.

Even though the Yue Xinglan before her was only eight years old, Su Xin pressed down the corners of her mouth – she would still teach her a lesson.

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