When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 145

Volume Seven: The Years I Was a General

Too Late¹

Xiao Chuyu went to the morning court session, leaving only Wen Nuan to stay alone in Zhongming Hall. Outside the hall, Jinjun and secret guards were watching her, each one standing in stern readiness, a solemn appearance of being fully prepared.

Their attitude was very clear: they could die, but Gu Wen Nuan absolutely could not run.

Wen Nuan lay on the bed, bored to death, and couldn’t help but doubt herself, asking, “Is my technique… really no good?”

It shouldn’t be, right?

Last night, didn’t she climax several times, and wasn’t she humming and whimpering quite satisfiedly?

Why say her technique is no good?

System: 【People all need to learn to improve. If you keep standing still and not moving forward, you will definitely make people dissatisfied. Didn’t I give you technical resources? Study them well. Although the index of the blackening value’s decrease is small, at least it has decreased. We can accumulate less into more².】

Wen Nuan: “….The way you say that, it’s as if I’m coming out to sell.”

【If you want to say that, there’s nothing I can do.】 The System spread its hands.

“….”

Wen Nuan sighed, opened the technical resources the System had sent her, and as the film played, the fiery clips instantly impacted Wen Nuan’s three views³.

“Wocao⁴, isn’t this scale a bit too big?!” she exclaimed.

The System chuckled cheekily: 【I told you they were the latest, so of course they’re not ordinary.】

While watching, Wen Nuan marveled that the resources the System gave were truly niubi⁵.

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Xiao Chuyu was absent-minded during the morning court session. The hundred officials below were arguing until their faces were red and necks were thick⁶, while her mind was full of Gu Wen Nuan.

Last night’s scorching intimacy, this morning’s strange yet bewitching totem, and would Gu Wen Nuan escape the imperial palace while she was away?

She had dispatched a full hundred Jinjun and secret guards to watch Zhongming Hall, but Gu Wen Nuan’s martial arts were formidable and she was full of tricks. She was still worried there would be an oversight.

The court officials’ quarreling made her vexed. She tapped on the dragon throne⁷, a clear annoyance showing between her brows. She said with displeasure, “What? Zhen’s civil and military hundred officials⁸ can only act like market-well rascals⁹, being hooligans and shirking responsibility? You have argued for nearly one shichen, yet you can’t even think of a single solution?”

Xiao Chuyu’s eyes turned cold, a compelling chill sweeping through Hezheng Hall¹⁰. Her tone was faint as she said, “Zhen asks, what use are you?”

The court officials’ bodies instantly tensed, and they all knelt to kowtow.

They were trembling with fear, sweat pouring out like slurry, and they said in a loud, terrified voice, “This Minister knows his crime.”

“Know your crime?” Xiao Chuyu looked indifferently at the hundred officials prostrating on the ground, each one wagging their tail and begging like a dog.

Her gaze fell on Ye Mingxiu. “Zhen’s Chancellor looks to have bamboo in his chest¹¹. Have you thought of some ten-thousand-complete plan?”

Ye Mingxiu walked to the front and cupped his hands, “This Minister believes that for the Mobei war, the candidate who can command the army and lead a million troops is Commander Yi Lai.”

Xiao Chuyu rubbed her jade thumb ring and raised her eyes, “Reason?”

“This Minister believes Yi Lai is of general’s caliber. This person is brave and resourceful, with superb martial arts, and is loyal and devoted,” Ye Mingxiu said in a deep voice. “The most important things for a general are loyalty, courage, and wisdom, and Yi Lai possesses all three. With such great ability, she can definitely stabilize the Mobei war and rout the enemy army in one strike.”

“Then does the Chancellor believe Yi Lai can be ever-victorious?”

Ye Mingxiu’s brow furrowed. He was silent for a moment: “…She cannot.”

Xiao Chuyu let out a short laugh: “Cannot? What Zhen wants is to win battles, not to go play house¹². The Chancellor recommends this person, yet cannot guarantee this person’s capabilities himself. Are you teasing Zhen?”

The kneeling court officials were so frightened by Xiao Chuyu’s laugh that their tiger bodies trembled once¹³, cold sweat dripping, but Ye Mingxiu’s expression was calm, as if no waves were stirred.

He spoke calmly, “This Minister does not dare to deliberately make things mysterious. Yi Lai is a capable person that This Humble Minister thinks highly of, but if she is to meet the Emperor’s requirements, I’m afraid it will still take some time. Right now, there is only one person who can satisfy the Emperor’s requirements.”

“What person?”

Ye Mingxiu raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Chuyu, “Gu Wen Nuan.”

Everyone was terrified, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. They were all so frightened by this name that their hearts jumped, looking in disbelief at Ye Mingxiu for being so audacious as to mention this rebellious minister and traitorous son¹⁴ in front of the Emperor.

Xiao Chuyu’s fingertips paused slightly. “What are you saying?”

This one sentence was filled with a chilling intent.

Ye Mingxiu took a deep breath: “This Minister believes that, to this day, the only one who can be ever-victorious is… Gu Wen Nuan.”

“Hehe.” Xiao Chuyu looked into Ye Mingxiu’s eyes and clapped her hands a few times. “Truly worthy of being Zhen’s… frank and outspoken, brilliant and decisive Chancellor.”

She scanned the court officials who were almost prostrate on the ground and said mockingly, “A bunch of greedy for life and afraid of death, buying fame and fishing for reputation trash.”

The hundred officials lowered their heads and brows, not daring to speak.

Xiao Chuyu’s topic changed, and she said, “Recently, the border situation is urgent. Small countries have repeatedly invaded our country’s borders, causing the people on the border to have no means to live¹⁵ and to be in misery.”

“Now, Zhen appoints Yi Lai as ‘Zhenbei Jiangjun’¹⁶ to command two hundred thousand troops, to crusade against the vicious rebels, pacify Mobei, and display the might of our great nation.”

“I hope Qing¹⁷ will encourage yourself and not fail Zhen’s trust.”

The officials bowed and said, “The Emperor is brilliant.”

Xiao Chuyu looked at the Chancellor and, resting her forehead on her hand, said, “The Chancellor is meritorious for his recommendation. He is rewarded with one hundred liang¹⁸ of gold.”

Ye Mingxiu paused, then cupped his hands and said, “This Humble Minister kowtows and thanks the Emperor for the reward. My Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years¹⁹.”

Yuan Qi stepped forward, twirled the horsetail whisk²⁰ in his hand, and shouted in a loud voice, “If you have matters, present them; if not, retreat from court——”

The officials kowtowed: “Respectfully sending off the Emperor. My Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years——”

Xiao Chuyu glanced at Ye Mingxiu, flicked her sleeve, and turned to leave Hezheng Hall.

Ye Mingxiu heaved a long sigh.

Yuan Qi followed behind Xiao Chuyu, watching her walk faster and faster, more and more urgently. He hurried to keep up and advised, “Your Majesty, please slow down. Be careful of the stones on the ground.”

A group of palace maids approached from the front, holding porcelain vases. The moment they saw Xiao Chuyu, they immediately knelt to greet her.

“This Slave pays respects to the Emperor.”

Xiao Chuyu stopped abruptly. Looking at the porcelain vases in their hands, a nameless fire surged up. She took a vase and smashed it fiercely on the ground.

The high-quality porcelain vase was smashed to smithereens by the sharp stones.

Everyone was terrified, prostrating on the ground, ceaselessly begging for mercy, saying “Emperor, spare our lives.”

Yuan Qi immediately came forward. “Your Majesty, do not be angry. The dragon body is most important.”

“Scram!” Xiao Chuyu pushed Yuan Qi away and kicked over all the porcelain vases the palace maids had placed on the ground.

The crisp sounds of shattering made the impatience and unease in Xiao Chuyu’s heart even clearer.

Don’t think she didn’t know what Ye Mingxiu’s intentions were. He just wanted her to let Gu Wen Nuan go, which is why he deliberately used the Mobei war to coerce her.

“Aiyo, Your Majesty, your hand?!” Yuan Qi said in alarm, seeing blood seeping from Xiao Chuyu’s palm.

He looked at the palace maids who were kneeling on the ground and not getting up, and shouted, “What are you standing there dumbly for? Hurry up and call the Taiyi²¹!”

Xiao Chuyu threw away the fragment in her palm. Looking at the bleeding wound, her eyes grew more sinister, and the corner of her mouth hooked into a cruel and twisted arc.

An inexplicable malice rose without reason in her dark heart.

Even if everyone under heaven wanted her to let Gu Wen Nuan go, even if without Gu Wen Nuan the Ming’an Country would be destroyed, she would still hold Gu Wen Nuan firmly in the palm of her hand. Even in death, she would drag Gu Wen Nuan down to hell with her.

The Taiyi was hurriedly called over. Looking at Xiao Chuyu sitting in Wanfeng Pavilion²² and the wound on her palm that was still bleeding nonstop, he knelt in terror. “This Humble Minister was late. This Humble Minister will apply medicine for Your Majesty.”

The blood soaked the handkerchief and dripped onto the green stone slabs, looking shocking to the eye.

But Xiao Chuyu seemed to feel no pain. Her expression was faint as she placed her hand on the stone table. “Mm.”

The Taiyi carefully treated the wound, his movements as gentle as water.

“Yuan Qi?”

Yuan Qi immediately responded, “This Slave is here.”

“Go bring Gu Wen Nuan to Zhen.” She couldn’t wait to see her.

But she wanted even more for Gu Wen Nuan to appear before her on her own initiative.

“Yes, This Slave will go at once.”

Yuan Qi quickly left Wanfeng Pavilion, his figure disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Chuyu looked at the wound that had already been medicated and stopped bleeding, her brow furrowing slightly. “Taiyi Li²³, Zhen does not like it.”

Taiyi Li’s body trembled. He knelt and said, “This… This Minister’s bottle of hemostatic powder only needs a quarter of an hour to restore the wound as before. Please wait a little longer, Your Majesty. This Humble Minister will definitely do his best.”

“No,” Xiao Chuyu raised her hand and tore off the fine cloth that had been wrapped around it. Her fingertip viciously poked at the wound that was already about to scab over.

Taiyi Li’s eyes widened. He looked at Xiao Chuyu’s action in disbelief. “Your… Your Majesty?”

Xiao Chuyu tore the wound open and laughed, “Taiyi Li, Zhen likes it like this.”

Taiyi Li felt as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat²⁴. He said meekly²⁵, “This.. This Minister understands.”

Wen Nuan was in Zhongming Hall, idly studying technique, when she saw Yuan Qi run in in a hurry.

“Little General Gu, the Emperor requests your presence. She is waiting for you at Wanfeng Pavilion right now. Please follow This Slave there quickly,” Yuan Qi said hurriedly.

Wen Nuan got up. She was still wearing Xiao Chuyu’s inner shirt. “I’ll have to trouble Gonggong²⁶ Yuan to find me a decent set of clothes. I can’t go see Her Majesty improperly dressed.”

Yuan Qi also understood and called for a young eunuch to fetch clothes.

“Men’s clothes will be fine.” In this world, Wen Nuan was already used to wearing men’s clothes; they were simple, comfortable, and easy to wear.

The young eunuch was quick. In a short while, he brought the clothes back. Yuan Qi and the young eunuch busily helped Wen Nuan change.

Once dressed, Wen Nuan was taken by Yuan Qi to Wanfeng Pavilion.

“So urgent?” Wen Nuan saw Yuan Qi walking faster and faster. If it weren’t for the fact that she was still walking, Yuan Qi would have started running.

Yuan Qi said anxiously, “Her Majesty’s palm was cut by a porcelain fragment, and the bleeding won’t stop. This Slave is burning with anxiety.”

“What?” Wen Nuan said in shock. “Her Majesty was assassinated?”

Yuan Qi’s heart trembled with fear at Wen Nuan’s words. He quickly denied it, “No, no, no, Her Majesty was not assassinated, she was just accidentally injured.”

Wen Nuan breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good. Let’s walk faster.”

“Okay.”

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When Wen Nuan followed Yuan Qi to Wanfeng Pavilion, the Taiyi was kneeling on the ground treating Xiao Chuyu’s wound. The green stone slabs were stained with blood. Judging by the area of the blood drops, Xiao Chuyu’s wound looked very severe.

Yuan Qi brought Wen Nuan to the edge of the pavilion. “Your Majesty, This Slave has brought Little General Gu.”

Xiao Chuyu did not respond, her eyes lowered, lost in thought.

Wen Nuan looked at the wound on her palm. It looked very deep, the cut neat. Looking at the jade porcelain fragments all over the ground, and the dotted pressure marks around the palm, one couldn’t help but wonder if this porcelain fragment was an accident or intentional.

Yuan Qi thought Xiao Chuyu hadn’t heard and said again, “Your Majesty, This Slave has brought Little General Gu.”

Taiyi Li was preparing to apply medicine. The moment the medicinal powder landed on the wound, it made Xiao Chuyu’s palm tremble.

Seeing this, Wen Nuan walked forward, reached out, and took the medicine bottle from the Taiyi’s hand. “Let me.”

Taiyi Li glanced at Xiao Chuyu. Seeing that she didn’t react, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart: “After applying the hemostatic powder, wrap it with fine cloth. In no more than two days, Her Majesty’s wound will surely recover as before.”

After speaking, he withdrew from Wanfeng Pavilion and stood not far away with Yuan Qi, awaiting orders.

“Okay,” Wen Nuan knelt on one knee and held Xiao Chuyu’s cold fingertips. “Your Majesty, how did this happen?”

Xiao Chuyu’s feathered eyelashes trembled slightly. “Zhen did it accidentally.”

She saw Wen Nuan’s gentle movements as she applied the medicine, as if what she was holding was not her hand, but a fragile porcelain vase. She sneered, “What? Does your heart ache?”

Wen Nuan finished applying the medicine and took the fine cloth to slowly wrap it. “Mm, This Guilty Minister’s heart aches a little.”

Xiao Chuyu’s brow furrowed. “Since when did you, Gu Wen Nuan, also become insincere and glib-tongued?”

“Whether This Guilty Minister is being insincere and glib-tongued, doesn’t Your Majesty know clearly?” Wen Nuan deliberately licked her lips, the tip of her tongue pausing for a moment on the scabbed wound. “This Guilty Minister thought Your Majesty knew it clearly in your heart.”

A flash went through Xiao Chuyu’s eyes. “Shameless.”

Wen Nuan “hmph-ed” twice, accepting this “shameless.”

She finished wrapping the wound and looked at the blood drops on the ground. “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Xiao Chuyu’s eyes were cold and sharp, her tone faint. “After all, it doesn’t hurt as much as when you beat Zhen back then.”

A full three days and three nights of torture and interrogation, all kinds of cruel punishments taking turns. Even though the scars on her body had been removed by flesh-growing ointment²⁷, she still remembered the feeling of the whip full of barbs, the cold zanzhi²⁸, and the sharp iron nails on her body.

But the physical pain could not compare to the pain in her heart. After all, the person who personally wielded the knife for these cruel tortures was the beloved person who filled her heart and eyes.

Gu Wen Nuan.

The world said she repaid every grievance, no matter how small²⁹. They said she was ruthless and merciless. They said she was small-minded. All kinds of unbearable curses were endless, and she took them all.

All who had hurt her, she would repay a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye.

This was the way of the world that Gu Wen Nuan had taught her. But she probably never expected that these things would be visited upon her own body. Now, she really wanted to ask her a question.

Gu Wen Nuan, do you regret it?

Do you regret getting close to such a sinister and vicious Xiao Chuyu?

Wen Nuan’s eyes were filled with guilt and pity: “…I’m sorry.”

Xiao Chuyu pulled her hand back, her eyes cold. “It’s too late.”

Everything is too late.

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The author has something to say:

Female Lead, arrogant: From now on, I am the Niohuru clan’s³⁰ “Xiao Chuyu”

Wen Nuan, helpless: Come on, time for bed.

Female Lead, delighted: Coming!

Ai, the old routine, adding a chapter.

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