Fate Trading System – Chapter 209

Plan A

Guiding Stars 25

The End

The legacy left by the previous Emperor wasn’t a disaster, but many matters remained entangled and unresolved. Numerous interests were untouchable; absolute authority would never be possible here. Su Xin could only do her utmost without excessively suffering herself.

After her ascension, ministers proposed the concubine selection¹, but Su Xin dismissed it, declaring her intent to observe three years of mourning for the previous Emperor and Emperor Consort. Amidst the renewed praises², Yue Xingyao breathed a sigh of relief. Though she knew her Huangjie held no interest in men, the spectacle was an eyesore and troublesome due to the required charade. Su Xin couldn’t publicly declare her lack of interest.

A few days later, Qin Minran died by suicide. This followed Yue Xinglan’s death. Their bodies were discovered together, Yue Xinglan’s covered in wounds and bearing marks of intimacy. Yue Xinglan had bitten her tongue; Qin Minran, embracing her, swallowed poison. Su Xin arranged the funeral, holding Qin Minran’s child’s hand. Qin Yanru wept inconsolably. The middle-aged woman understood her son’s death and thanked Su Xin for granting her a dignified end.

Outsiders viewed Su Xin’s reign as cursed. After a smooth succession, her younger sister attempted usurpation. After ascending, she couldn’t take concubines due to mourning, demonstrating filial piety. Soon after, her Emperor Consort died, leaving the harem with only two concubines and one child.

However, Su Xin was content, needing no random men around. “Lang’er³, your Father Consort is gone. It’s just you and your Mother Emperor now,” she said.

“Mm-hmm, I know,” Lang’er nodded, her childish voice soft. She shed a few tears, but showed little grief. This child was innately aloof. Su Xin didn’t mind; she wasn’t a devoted mother, allowing her child to grow freely.

Another two years passed.

Su Xin bathed comfortably, attended by servants who massaged her shoulders with appropriate pressure, the warm water soothing. “Da Huangjie, one year remains, right?” the bath attendant, the Fifth Imperial Princess, murmured.

“Mm-hmm.”

“What are your plans?” The massaging hand strayed.

“Marry…” Su Xin hissed, bitten mid-sentence.

“Heartless,” Yue Xingyao said, angered. The little wolf-dog acted out, biting as they do.

Bite.

Ripples spread across the water. Su Xin closed her eyes, her fingers threaded through Yue Xingyao’s hair, now wet and clinging. “To the chaise lounge. The water is dirty.”

Su Xin pushed Yue Xingyao’s head away, rose from the water, and pulled her towards the edge of the pool, reclining on the chaise lounge. It was large enough to accommodate two adult women comfortably.

Yue Xingyao resumed massaging Su Xin. Her technique was excellent, varying pressure with precision. Su Xin, soaked and softened by the hot water, felt completely relaxed.

“Da Huangjie, are my skills adequate?” Yue Xingyao asked close to Su Xin, her breath warm against her neck.

Su Xin opened her eyes, a provocative smile playing on her lips. “So-so.”

Her face had matured, exuding an allure that could drive one mad. Only one person could witness this.

Yue Xingyao buried her face in Su Xin’s neck, hiding her own feverish smile. Only she could see it.

Su Xin caressed the young woman’s matured features, tapping her nose. “Little pest⁴.”

“Da Huangjie is the real pest.”

“Oh? Whom have I plagued?”

“Me. You’ve tethered my heart to you, unable to break free.”

Yue Xingyao chuckled, resuming her ministrations.

Lightly touch, slowly twist, gently brush, then pluck. The 《Pipa Xing》⁵ was indeed beautiful. Su Xin recited the verses internally, mimicking the motions with her hands.

The wind rustled the gauze curtains, creating dancing shadows and stirring the pool water. Two waves collided, causing the lotus at their center to sway, droplets scattering onto its heart, flowing out as clear liquid.

“Sweet?” Su Xin licked her finger.

“Da Huangjie… you’re killing me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself⁶.”

Su Xin had to hold the concubine selection. She wasn’t distressed; someone else was more anxious and agitated. Though Yue Xingyao understood it was a formality, she still found fault with every candidate: too sallow, too fat, too thin. If one seemed suitable, she’d deem them unfit for childbearing. She could always find flaws.

Su Xin deliberated, aiming to balance power and select controllable candidates. The candidates who passed the initial appearance and health screening were gathered in a palace designated for such purposes. Su Xin planned to inspect them. She had a few in mind, not intending to select many. Why bother? She wouldn’t sleep with them.

Yue Xingyao trailed Su Xin, her face scowling. However, her usual coldness masked her displeasure.

“Da Huangjie… must you come personally? Why see them…?” Yue Xingyao muttered softly, inaudible to others, but clear to the nearby Su Xin.

Like a buzzing fly, irritating enough to swat.

Su Xin stopped, and so did Yue Xingyao, along with the attendants behind them.

“Turn around,” Su Xin commanded. The attendants promptly obeyed.

Lingdang⁷, the head attendant, heard her mistress’s pleasant voice softly speaking.

“In my heart, all of them combined aren’t half as good as you.”

Lingdang was envious. Serving the Emperor for years, she knew of the intimate relationship between the Emperor and the Fifth Imperial Princess. She also knew the Emperor remained untouched by anyone for the Fifth Imperial Princess. Was this considered chastity⁸? Truly romantic. If only all women were as beautiful and devoted as Her Majesty… Such words would surely delight the Fifth Imperial Princess.

Yue Xingyao was indeed overjoyed. Seeing the attendants turned away, she embraced Su Xin’s arm, planting a fervent kiss. “Da Huangjie, you’re so good. How can you be so good?”

“Little vinegar jar⁹, still angry?”

Yue Xingyao shook her head. She wasn’t truly childish. At eighteen, she was mature, but Su Xin’s coaxing brought out her playful side. In public, Yue Xingyao was the cold-faced Yama¹⁰. With Su Xin, she was a cuddly, jealous wolf-dog.

Su Xin wiped the moisture from her lips, signaling the attendants to proceed. They were all aware of the relationship, feigning ignorance.

Reaching the palace entrance, Su Xin heard arguing.

“What’s wrong with being plump? Did I eat your rice? Spend your money? Use your fabric? If not, shut up¹¹!” The speaker was a youth, not truly fat, but round-faced and fuller than the slender men beside him.

“That’s Minister Liu Ying’s¹² youngest son. Lively, but not usually so… shrewish¹³.” Such vulgar language was indeed uncouth, at least in Lingdang’s opinion. She felt it a pity. Though few would remain in the palace, and even those might not receive favor, she still didn’t want this sweet, amiable young man eliminated so early.

The onlookers noticed the imperial entourage and bowed. The young man facing the plump youth appeared tearful and pitiful.

Most women would sympathize with him, but Su Xin and Yue Xingyao were different. They were lesbians¹⁴.

“Him,” Su Xin declared, pointing at the plump youth. Fourteen had just transmitted his information. He was a transmigrator, a man at that. A normal, 1.8-meter tall man suddenly transformed into a 1.6-meter, child-bearing man in a matriarchal world – a truly disorienting experience.

The youth was stunned. What? What was this? He had hoped the Emperor would find him undesirable, kicking him out to live his own life. That was the Emperor, right? And the woman beside her must be the Royal Princess. Both stunning, regal, with long legs. In his past life, he would have pursued them, but now…something felt amiss.

Su Xin surveyed the candidates, then left, disinterested.

“This young master, please follow me,” Lingdang said with a kind smile.

Su Xin and the youth reached an agreement. He readily agreed. Truthfully, since arriving in this world, he’d been confused about his sexuality, unsure whether he liked men or women.

Su Xin never appointed an Emperor Consort. Her harem contained only a few concubines and her only daughter.

When Lang’er was old enough to inherit the throne, Su Xin blithely passed on the burden, departing with Yue Xingyao to travel the mountains and rivers.

“Mother Emperor, Imperial Aunt, when will you return?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps when we’re about to die.” An Emperor’s remains must be interred in the imperial mausoleum, as must a Royal Princess’s.

“When we die, bury us together. Let her lie in the Emperor Consort’s position. She’s longed for it.”

Which of the Emperor’s attendants didn’t know? The Fifth Imperial Princess was the uncrowned Emperor Consort, the glory of the six palaces.

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