Plan A
The Days and Nights of the Courtesan 7
The Empress
Miss Mary Sue is indeed Miss Mary Sue, and in just half a month, she has already gotten very close with the Fifth Prince, hmm… looks quite close.
“Do you two know each other?”
Yu Hongliang looked at He Yunshu, winking at her.
“Go, go, go, you can’t touch this one.”
He Yunshu glared at Yu Hongliang, clearly knowing that the Fifth Prince in front of her was notoriously flirtatious.
He Yunshu thought so, her good friend was such a good cabbage, she couldn’t just let a pig trample it.
“What, your friend?”
Yu Hongliang raised an eyebrow, as if he didn’t expect He Yunshu to be friends with a commoner from another place.
Yu Hongliang, being of royal blood, naturally had a way of judging people. The woman in front of him was beautiful and outstanding, with a clean aura between her brows, as if she was not mundane. Her walking posture seemed trained, but there was a subtle difference compared to the demeanor of a noble lady.
Su Xin didn’t know that the Fifth Prince in front of her had thought so much about her identity. She naturally suppressed her aura. The real her wasn’t much better than Qu Feiqing, although she didn’t have any imperial majesty, there was a kind of bloody and cold feeling. If she didn’t suppress it, her character would collapse in minutes.
Neither Su Xin nor Xue Yao had anything like nobility. Su Xin was a reckless lone assassin, spending her youth among guns and artillery. Xue Yao, on the other hand, grew up in a brothel, and it was already good enough to cultivate some elegance.
“Yes, my friend, so don’t have any ideas.”
He Yunshu affectionately held Su Xin’s arm, looking very intimate.
“Xue Yao, has there been any progress in what you want to do?”
He Yunshu had been doing well recently. Although the people in the mansion always made things difficult for her, her stepmother and stepsisters tried every way to drive her away. After discovering she wasn’t crazy, they framed her in various ways.
By chance, she met this Fifth Prince who loved to flirt with girls. After a conversation, they became friends.
“No.”
Su Xin shook her head with a look of loss. She indeed had no progress now, but she wasn’t far from that opportunity.
“What thing?”
Yu Hongliang asked curiously.
“Participating in the Four Kingdoms Banquet.”
Yu Hongliang’s expression darkened, looking at Su Xin with a playful gaze.
“Not a good family girl?”
Yu Hongliang’s voice was full of sarcasm.
“Originally a courtesan, redeemed myself and came to the capital.”
Su Xin said plainly, without a trace of embarrassment or shame.
“Little fool, don’t let people use you, getting sold and even counting the money for them.”
Yu Hongliang laughed, in his heart, Su Xin had already turned into a scheming girl who fancied He Yunshu’s status and wanted to use her as a stepping stone.
It seemed to be true, but it wasn’t Su Xin who went looking for it, He Yunshu delivered herself. Su Xin wasn’t insincere towards He Yunshu, when a friend needed help, Su Xin would definitely stand out. To Su Xin, He Yunshu wasn’t a stepping stone, but an opportunity.
“You always think too much. Xue Yao had already decided to participate in the Four Kingdoms Banquet before I met her, and she was even moved from a good room to a shabby one by the old madam of that brothel.”
He Yunshu disliked Yu Hongliang speaking of Su Xin that way. She could feel that Su Xin was a good person.
“Fifth Lord, can you help?”
He Yunshu’s eyes turned, staring straight at Yu Hongliang.
Yu Hongliang cleared his throat, touched his chin and thought for a while.
“Yes, yes, but it depends on her own ability. I can recommend her, but…”
“But what?”
“But there’s a condition, you have to agree to one of my requests.”
“What request?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
On the side, Su Xin, who seemed like a light bulb, watched Miss Mary Sue and the Prince banter.
That’s how things were decided. He Yunshu still wanted to catch up with Su Xin, but was dragged away by Yu Hongliang. Yu Hongliang acted quickly, and the next day he sent someone to pick up Su Xin.
“Miss is truly blessed by the heavens… Shujuan said Miss would definitely make it!”
Hearing that Su Xin had a chance to participate in the Four Kingdoms Banquet, Shujuan was more excited than Su Xin, her face flushed, almost hugging Su Xin in joy.
This was such a rare opportunity, Shujuan felt it was more fantastical than a pie falling from the sky.
“Must thank Yunshu.”
Su Xin didn’t forget Miss Mary Sue’s contribution.
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The selection and training for the Four Kingdoms Banquet were conducted in a small courtyard in the imperial palace of the capital, in a closed manner. On the day Su Xin entered, she was surrounded and watched.
Everyone came through connections, but there were differences in timing.
There were a total of four women in the small courtyard, including Su Xin, making it five. The competition was extremely fierce; there were only two spots, and everyone wanted to squeeze in.
The four women teamed up to target Su Xin, but Su Xin didn’t mind.
With Fourteen in hand, the world is mine.
As a super powerful but not-so-powerful AI, Fourteen had collected data from many worlds. “All-knowing” couldn’t describe it. Under Fourteen’s guidance, Su Xin could easily answer questions in this fictional world, occasionally quoting poems originally created by Fourteen.
That’s right, original.
As a poetic system, Fourteen was proficient in composing poems, writing lyrics, and even creating music.
Sometimes Su Xin even thought the system was more elegant than herself, almost heavenly.
【Thanks to the creator.】
Fourteen answered calmly. The creator inputted such codes to facilitate the task.
Hey… Master Fourteen, I have a question, what’s the meaning of systems like you?
Su Xin didn’t quite understand the reason for giving others life.
Fourteen didn’t avoid the topic, telling Su Xin the truth.
【My creator is a genius from a high-level dimension, but God wouldn’t give one too much, so their body is extremely weak. Simply put, their soul power is very weak. I remember the host asked about the selection rules for fate trading clients before. That is to dedicate their own souls.】
Many people wanted to change their fate, and if it could be easily done by someone else, many people would want to do it, but it wasn’t that simple. The price paid was their own soul.
It was clearly marked, and only after confirmation would the transaction proceed. After the host completed the task, and the client received it, they would completely dedicate their soul, with the soul power being transferred to the system creator, allowing the creator to sustain life. A fair and consensual transaction.
Su Xin thought of the ancient woman who smiled charmingly at her at the beginning and doubted whether it was necessary to dedicate her soul just for the title of the most beautiful in the Four Kingdoms?
【Everyone has their own choices. Perhaps the client not only wanted to become the most beautiful but also to escape her fate.】
In this world, there were brave ones and cowardly ones; everyone had their own choices.
The original Xue Yao might have been afraid of her future fate, ending up as an obscure prostitute. Once beauty faded, there would be nothing left, and her body would be tainted with filthy marks. This path wasn’t Xue Yao’s choice; her life’s tragedy began when she was sold into that brothel by human traffickers.
Su Xin continued to confront those four girls every day, her performance flawless, even the teachers were very satisfied with Su Xin.
Shujuan stood in front of Su Xin with red eyes, a large scratch from a fingernail on her face, although not serious, it was very noticeable.
What made Shujuan’s eyes red was not her own face, but Su Xin’s exposed foot, bruised and battered, looking very miserable.
Dancing was essential, and there was no time for solo performances at the banquet, as it was a paired performance.
It was very awkward with five people, as the other four teamed up to exclude Su Xin, often stepping on her foot or bumping into her during dance, with very hidden but heavy actions.
They didn’t dare to go too far with Su Xin, so they bullied Shujuan. Shujuan tried not to go out, but when getting dinner for Su Xin, she was caught by one of the women, who while praising Shujuan’s good skin, left a scratch on her face.
Shujuan squatted down to apply medicine to Su Xin’s foot, Su Xin touched her face.
“Remember to treat your own face later.”
“Mm.”
Shujuan responded softly.
Su Xin was very angry. She wasn’t a person with a good temper. In her previous career, she played a very fierce role, representing black eating black, and didn’t need much compassion, as she was taught from the beginning, mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.
Although such small tricks were not taken seriously, letting them go would make them think she was easy to bully.
Su Xin looked at her pale pink nails. She never kept nails before, nor applied nail polish, one reason being the smell of chemicals, the other being too troublesome, not convenient for action.
【Detected the host’s irritation level at five stars, need some chrysanthemum tea to cool down?】
What the heck?
【Chrysanthemum tea, a must-have for clearing heat and reducing fire.】
Damn chrysanthemum tea… need life points?
【No need, dear.】
Oh, give me one.
【Sure, dear.】
Dear your ass.
Su Xin felt her system might be crazy.
Fourteen resumed normalcy. Colleagues said he was too serious, might scare the hosts, so they gave him a guide. Fourteen silently destroyed the guide data, what pig teammates.
The system’s chrysanthemum tea was effective, Su Xin felt at peace, as if in a very quiet and serene environment.
The provided ointment was top-notch, as those destined for performance couldn’t have any marks on their bodies.
Shujuan gently applied ointment to Su Xin’s foot, blowing on it. When she looked up, she saw Su Xin’s smiling face, feeling a bit scared, shivering uncontrollably, with a confused look in her eyes.
For some reason, the feeling that the girl had changed grew stronger, not externally, but internally. The change was small, but her attention was so deep, reaching a point where her eyes only had her. Now, the girl made her feel a bit scared, a kind of fear she couldn’t describe.
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“Shujuan, lift your head, I’ll apply medicine for you.”
“Thank you, miss.”
Shujuan obediently lifted her head, letting Su Xin apply the medicine.
A few days later, one of the girls in the small courtyard had many red spots on her face. The imperial doctor came to see, saying it was a seasonal allergy, prescribed some ointment, then left.
Su Xin’s door was knocked, seeing a girl, the lightest of the four targeting her, Qinglian, who was also the most confident among the four, because she was indeed outstanding.
“Need something?”
“It’s you, right?”
“What?”
Su Xin looked at her innocently, pretending not to know.
“You… give me the antidote, then how about we team up?”
Qinglian gritted her teeth. She moved her body slightly, sweating on her forehead.
It was too despicable, how could there be such an unscrupulous drug? Qinglian only felt that place very itchy, not a bodily need, but like being bitten, very uncomfortable.
Su Xin agreed readily. She originally didn’t know these things, but learned by being around Miss Mary Sue.
An evil deal began, Su Xin plunged into day-to-day training.
A year later, on the eve of the Four Kingdoms Banquet.
At this time, Miss Mary Sue had already taken control of the Minister’s Mansion, dealing with her stepmother and stepsisters, and had connections with several princes in the court.
Because the training was closed, He Yunshu hadn’t seen Su Xin for almost a year. Seeing her again was in this scene.
The Four Kingdoms Banquet.
Four emperors sat in the upper seats, the space was very large, the performance stage was in the middle.
Su Xin wore a light pink dress, covered with the same color thin gauze. She and Qinglian were on stage, she played and sang, sitting on the stage playing the guqin, Qinglian danced beside her, an enchanting dance with matching music. Su Xin’s voice was cool but penetrating, making people irresistibly attracted.
He Yunshu sat below, staring unblinkingly at Su Xin playing the guqin.
She didn’t dance gracefully, but He Yunshu felt that if she did, it would be very beautiful.
Su Xin played seriously, sang seriously, her eyes lowered, a petal adorned the corner of her eye, her gaze turning, very affectionate, making people unable to look away.
Not only He Yunshu noticed Su Xin, but Su Xin occasionally looked up, her gaze fixed on one person.
The only woman among the four emperors, Qu Feiqing.
Qu Feiqing had her hair tied, adorned with hairpins, looking dignified and elegant, but also very young, compared to the other three emperors.
Her beauty was stunning, worthy of being the most beautiful in the Four Kingdoms.
Qu Feiqing’s beauty was very aggressive, sometimes her strong aura overshadowed her appearance.
Like an unsheathed sword, even when resting, it was like a lion ready to pounce, making people afraid.
Such a person was not easily approachable.
So to get close, one must be fearless.
Su Xin and Qinglian finished performing, bowing to the four emperors.
Su Xin’s gaze locked with Qu Feiqing’s for a moment, unnoticed by anyone.
When Qu Feiqing’s gaze swept over, Su Xin seemed to smell blood, making her blood boil.
She too was born in darkness, stepping on blood, rising step by step.
Qu Feiqing sipped her wine, tasting its unique flavor.
She began to feel bored, and lonely.
Only 23, a very young age for an emperor, perhaps even a starting point.
Qu Feiqing yawned, feeling a gaze from the corner.
It was the beautiful woman from Yu Kingdom who just performed. Qu Feiqing was about to look away, finding nothing special.
But the next moment, her gaze froze, the woman’s expression suddenly changed.
As if all disguises were torn away, revealing a coldness that didn’t match her pretty face. She smiled, like ink dripping on pure white paper, a chilling darkness, much more pleasing than before.
Qu Feiqing wanted to look more, but Su Xin had already returned to her usual self, looking away.
Interesting.
Qu Feiqing shook her wine glass, glancing at the Yu Kingdom emperor beside her.
“Emperor Qu?”
The Yu Kingdom emperor was a man in his forties, looking quite elegant. He saw Qu Feiqing looking at him and inquired. Their two kingdoms had good relations and mutual friendship.
The Yu Kingdom emperor didn’t dare underestimate the young woman before him. At a young age, with such a mind, she would be even more remarkable in the future. The Yu Emperor worried that his descendants couldn’t compare to Qu Feiqing, so he planned to establish a good relationship in advance.
“What’s that woman’s name?”
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Qu Feiqing indicated towards Su Xin.
“Let me think… called Xue Yao, yes.”
The Yu Emperor remembered being briefed and understood.
“Emperor Qu likes her?”
Qu Feiqing lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, not answering, continuing to drink.
The lively banquet continued into the night. When Qu Feiqing returned to her resting place, she saw Su Xin standing by the roadside in thin clothes waiting for her.
Qu Feiqing got off the palanquin, walking to Su Xin.
“Empress, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Am I beautiful?”
“Are you sick?”
Qu Feiqing raised an eyebrow.
That’s awkward.
The author has something to say:
Qu Feiqing: 【looks at Su Xin】 Are you sick?
Su Xin: 【looks at Xue Yao】 Are you sick?
Xue Yao: …