When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 60

Volume Three: Those Years I Was a Wangye

Coming out of the closet

The deep night was quiet and still.

From Fanming Lake, ethereal and gentle sounds of water would occasionally emerge. At first, the patrolling Imperial Guard thought it was the sound of koi fish in Fanming Lake blowing bubbles.

Gradually, they noticed the sounds becoming more frequent and dense. If it were koi fish blowing bubbles, they’d have to be epileptic koi!?

Instantly, the Imperial Guard quickly approached Fanming Lake with a lantern and saw a dark figure by the shore, repeatedly reaching into the lake as if trying to retrieve something.

The Imperial Guard immediately became alert. The Imperial Guard commander drew her sword and roared, “Who’s there?!”

“Assassin—”

“Kill—”

Everyone swarmed forward. When they saw the dark figure clearly, they exclaimed in unison, “Xian Wang…!?”

Wen Nuan, holding a Flame Turtle in each hand, chuckled drily, “Good evening, Imperial Guard sisters. Have you had dinner?”

Space Line

Huangning Palace

Xu Wenlu looked at Wen Nuan and the two Flame Turtles in front of her, silent for a long time before saying, “Instead of staying properly in your manor late at night, you sneak into the palace to steal Flame Turtles. Xu Wen Nuan, what mischief are you up to now?”

Wen Nuan gave an awkward smile. “It’s like this, this younger sister subject¹ felt that the palace’s night scenery was particularly beautiful tonight, especially the view of Fanming Lake, which was absolutely superb. While this younger sister subject was admiring the stunning night view and marveling at how clear the water was, with the gentle breeze, willows on the bank, and koi fish and turtles dancing together—it was simply a picturesque scene full of charm. Then, this younger sister subject became so engrossed that I actually made eye contact with the Flame Turtles in Fanming Lake…”

“Pfft…” The Phoenix Lord emerged from behind the beaded curtain, draped in a moon-white robe. His long black hair, like three thousand strands of silk, cascaded over his shoulders. His willow-leaf eyebrows were like crescent moons, and his eyes held the allure of recent passion.

One could imagine that Huangning Palace had just been quite… colorful and lively.

Wen Nuan glanced at Xu Wenlu, who had a dark expression, clearly looking sexually frustrated². No wonder she was so angry.

The System sighed: 【System: Tsk tsk, you interrupted their good time. How could they give you a pleasant look?】

Wen Nuan: “…..”

She understood. After all, she had also wanted to kill Ji Chenwei back then.

The Phoenix Lord patted Xu Wenlu’s back and chuckled softly, “Your Highness the Xian Wang, it’s been a while. You’re still the same, as witty and humorous as ever.”

Wen Nuan bowed, “May the Phoenix Lord be well.”

“May the Xian Wang be well.” The Phoenix Lord returned the courtesy. Seeing the two Flame Turtles in front of Wen Nuan, he said gently, “Is the Xian Wang thinking of raising a few Flame Turtles for fun?”

Wen Nuan grinned. “The Phoenix Lord understands this younger sister subject best. When this younger sister subject was enjoying the night view today, I made eye contact with these Flame Turtles and thought of taking them home to raise.”

The Phoenix Lord covered his lips and chuckled softly. “The Xian Wang jests. How can a person make eye contact with a turtle?”

“Are you listening to her nonsense?” Xu Wenlu angrily threw a handkerchief at her. Wen Nuan immediately dodged it. Xu Wenlu fumed, “Xu Wen Nuan, you dare to dodge?!”

Seeing this, Wen Nuan quickly grabbed Rong Qing’s arm and hid behind her. “This younger sister subject isn’t stupid, why wouldn’t I dodge?”

“Xu Wen Nuan, Zhen commands you to let go of Rong Qing and step out! See if Zhen doesn’t beat you to death!” Xu Wenlu stood up, grabbed a nearby candle snuffer, and chased after her.

“Aah—” Wen Nuan hurriedly dodged, shouting, “Elder Imperial Sister, calm down! Elder Imperial Sister, calm down! If that snuffer hits, it could send this younger sister subject to see Imperial Father, aaah….”

“You deserve to be sent to see Imperial Father, let Imperial Father deal with you, you profligate³!” Xu Wenlu chased relentlessly from behind.

The Phoenix Lord and Rong Qing were terrified. One tried to stop Xu Wenlu, the other shielded Wen Nuan.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, calm down! The Xian Wang is still young, and her temperament is a bit playful. But if this blow lands, the Xian Wang might be beaten until her skin splits and flesh gapes!” The Phoenix Lord hugged Xu Wenlu’s waist and shot Wen Nuan a sharp look. “If the Xian Wang is beaten to tears, you’ll end up feeling sorry and having to coax her….”

Wen Nuan got the Phoenix Lord’s hint and immediately hugged Rong Qing’s arm, wailing, “Aaah… Elder Imperial Sister doesn’t dote on me anymore! Elder Imperial Sister doesn’t love me anymore! Elder Imperial Sister wants to beat me to death over two Flame Turtles, aaah….”

Rong Qing suppressed the urge for her lips to curl upwards, shielded Wen Nuan behind her, and knelt on the ground, pleading, “This servant begs Your Majesty to calm your anger! Please prioritize your esteemed health!”

Xu Wenlu: “…..”

She sat on the bed, pointing at Rong Qing and the Phoenix Lord, panting heavily. “Every single one of you sides with her, spoiling her into this reckless⁴, ill-mannered⁵, pleasure-seeking, idle, and arrogant profligate!”

The Phoenix Lord immediately sat beside her, patting Xu Wenlu’s chest and coaxing softly, “Your Majesty, don’t be angry. The Xian Wang simply likes these Flame Turtles. If the Xian Wang likes them, Your Majesty is magnanimous, just gift her a few.”

“Is that ‘liking’ them?” Xu Wenlu pointed at Wen Nuan and said angrily, “Zhen knows her little schemes. She likes Flame Turtles? What a joke! Believe it or not, these Flame Turtles will definitely not end up in the Xian Wang’s Manor’s garden lake. The moment they leave the palace gates, they’ll go straight to the Lin Manor.”

Wen Nuan, having her thoughts exposed, smiled awkwardly. “Elder Imperial Sister is truly brilliant, ha.”

Seeing Wen Nuan still trying to be amusing, Xu Wenlu got so angry she took off her shoe and threw it at her. “You really are the epitome of someone who favors outsiders⁶!”

Wen Nuan hid behind Rong Qing, peeking her head out. “Elder Imperial Sister, don’t be angry.”

“Day in and day out, whenever there’s anything good in the palace, you secretly send it to the Lin Manor. Those who know the Lin family, and know that only the Lin family’s Eldest Miss is left, might think you two have a deep sisterly bond. Those who don’t know might think you’ve taken a fancy to some young man in the Lin Manor!”

Wen Nuan rubbed the back of her head. “Actually, I have taken a fancy to someone in the Lin Manor.”

The three people present all paused.

Xu Wenlu frowned deeply. “Who have you taken a fancy to?”

Apart from the Lin family’s Eldest Miss, there are no young masters in the Lin Manor!?

Could it be a servant from the Lin Manor?!

The moment Xu Wenlu thought of this, she flew into a rage. “You, a dignified King, have actually taken a fancy to a lowly servant! You’re truly disgracing Zhen! This is utterly ridiculous⁷!”

Wen Nuan said quietly, “….It’s not a servant.”

“Not a servant?” Just as Xu Wenlu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a thought suddenly struck her, and an image of a face, beautiful enough to rival any man’s, flashed through her mind.

The Phoenix Lord and Rong Qing also instantly thought of that charmingly beautiful face.

The expressions of all three changed simultaneously.

Xu Wenlu opened her mouth, her voice filled with disbelief. “Don’t tell Zhen that the person you like in the Lin Manor is actually… Lin Tinghan?!”

Wen Nuan looked at Xu Wenlu and nodded. “Yes, this younger sister subject likes Lin Tinghan.”

The System tsked: 【System: Wow, a public coming out! Your Elder Imperial Sister is going to explode with anger.】

Wen Nuan naturally knew Xu Wenlu would be furious, but she couldn’t be bothered to hide it anymore. It was better to tell Xu Wenlu early and let her mentally prepare.

Get it over with quickly⁸.

Everyone: “…..”

Xu Wenlu picked up the candle snuffer from the floor and raised her hand to strike. Rong Qing immediately blocked her path, pleading, “Your Majesty, calm your anger!”

The Phoenix Lord quickly held Xu Wenlu back. This matter was very serious; he could no longer side with the Xian Wang and try to calm the Emperor.

He looked at Wen Nuan and said gravely, “Xian Wang, quickly explain to Her Majesty that you were just joking with Her Majesty, that you don’t really like the Eldest Miss Lin.”

Wen Nuan looked at Xu Wenlu’s furious eyes and said forcefully⁹, “This younger sister subject likes Lin Tinghan. I’ve liked her for a long time.”

Xu Wenlu laughed angrily. “So this is why you’ve never wanted to get married, right?”

Wen Nuan lowered her eyes in tacit agreement.

I guess so.

Initially, she didn’t want to marry because Wen Nuan was a task-doer and would eventually have to leave this mission world. If she married and had children, it would be terrible to leave behind a widower and orphans when she left. So, she flatly refused every time her Elder Imperial Sister wanted to introduce her to the sons of various ministers.

Later, after returning to this world, Wen Nuan’s heart was entirely focused on ‘her.’ If she wanted to marry, the only person she would marry was Lin Tinghan.

Seeing Wen Nuan remain silent, with an attitude that clearly said, “That’s exactly how it is.”

She shook off the Phoenix Lord’s hand, pushed aside Rong Qing who was shielding Wen Nuan, and said sternly, “Zhen is asking you one more time, is this true?”

Wen Nuan clenched her fists, raised her head, and met Xu Wenlu’s eyes, which were blazing with anger. “Every word is true. It is all this younger sister subject’s heart’s…”

“Smack—”

Wen Nuan was fiercely slapped across the face by Xu Wenlu, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

【System: Oh ho, that’s the fifth slap.】

Wen Nuan: “….Why are you keeping track of this stuff?”

【System: Nothing better to do.】 The System smiled faintly.

Wen Nuan: “….”

The Phoenix Lord dropped to his knees abruptly, pleading, “Your Majesty, calm your anger!”

Rong Qing knelt and begged for mercy, “Emperor, calm your anger….”

Xu Wenlu felt her palm burning and swelling. She had never hit Wen Nuan so severely before, causing her heart to tremble, and she felt a little flustered and panicked.

“Xu Wen Nuan, Zhen asks you one last time, will you change or not?”

Wen Nuan lifted her head, her right cheek swollen. She turned her head and spat out a mouthful of blood, saying earnestly, “This younger sister subject cannot change. My feelings for Lin Tinghan are where my heart leads. How can I change that?”

Dig out my heart?!

Then dig it out.

Xu Wenlu’s eyes stung at the sight of the bloody spittle on the ground. “Xu Wen Nuan, do you really think Zhen wouldn’t dare to punish you because of Zhen’s affection for you?”

Wen Nuan shook her head. “If it allows Elder Imperial Sister to vent her anger, then this younger sister subject is willing to accept punishment.”

“Good, good, good,” Xu Wenlu said “good” three times in a row, then looked towards the door and shouted, “Someone, bring the Dragon-Slaying Whip¹⁰! Zhen wants to beat this rebellious subject to death!”

The Phoenix Lord turned pale with fright and immediately shielded Wen Nuan, crying and begging for mercy, “Your Majesty, absolutely not! This Dragon-Slaying Whip is incredibly tough and exceedingly sharp. If it strikes a person, they might not even keep half their life!”

Rong Qing kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy, “Emperor, please reconsider! Please, Emperor, retract your order! I beg the Emperor to retract her order….”

Xu Wenlu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She looked at Wen Nuan. “You are inherently mischievous, impulsive, and unrestrained. Every day, you only know how to indulge in debauchery¹¹ and idle about. Zhen doesn’t interfere with you, as long as you are happy.”

“But in the end, you dare to indulge in the habit of ‘mirror polishing’¹². Look around the entire Jiajing City—which family’s young man isn’t dashing and handsome, with a refined appearance? Which one of them couldn’t win your heart, that you insist on liking a woman?”

“A woman and a woman, how can they marry? How can they carry on the family line? If the world finds out that the Xian Wang fancies women, how do you expect the people of this world to view you?”

“Let them point at your backbone and curse you for your ‘mirror polishing’ habit, curse you for offending public decency, curse you for rebelling against orthodoxy¹³, curse you for abandoning worldly conventions!?” Xu Wenlu fiercely threw the candle snuffer to the ground and roared.

The Phoenix Lord’s eyes were already brimming with tears. He looked at Wen Nuan and choked out, “Xian Wang, this action, this behavior, is intolerable by heavenly principles! You must reconsider!”

For women to love each other is something this world simply cannot accept. The malice one would face would be overwhelming and suffocating.

At that time, apart from death, what way out would there be!

Wen Nuan took off her outer robe, wearing only her white undergarments beneath. She looked at Xu Wenlu, her gaze unwavering.

“So what if the world deceives me, insults me, laughs at me, despises me, or detests me? My heart is as firm as a rock. If she does not waver, I will not abandon. If she accompanies me in life and death, I will follow her to the grave.”

Wen Nuan, with tears in her eyes, smiled as brightly as the morning sun. “Elder Imperial Sister, for her, even if my love is unrequited, even if it doesn’t end well, this younger sister subject will stubbornly cling to my views and persist to the end.”

“This younger sister subject is prepared to endure everything. Even if Elder Imperial Sister beats this younger sister subject to death today, this younger sister subject will not change.”

The System exclaimed in shock: 【System: Ancestor, are you giving up on the mission?!】

“I am.” Wen Nuan took a deep breath. “When I’m being beaten, turn on some pain shielding for me, save my little life.”

【System: ….】

Xu Wenlu closed her eyes and said weakly, “So, does this mean you and Lin Tinghan have already confessed your feelings to each other and privately pledged your lives to one another?”

“….” Wen Nuan looked embarrassed. “Well, not exactly.”

The Phoenix Lord paused. “What does the Xian Wang mean by that?”

Wen Nuan said sheepishly, “It’s like this, Phoenix Lord, this younger sister subject currently has a secret crush on Tinghan. Tinghan doesn’t seem to know that this younger sister subject likes her, so….”

Phoenix Lord: “…..”

Xu Wenlu pointed at Wen Nuan, her fingertip trembling, and stammered, “You… you….”

Before she could finish her sentence, she actually fainted from anger.

“Emperor—”

“Your Majesty—”

“Elder Imperial Sister—”

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The author has something to say:

System: If the Emperor had a villainy index, it would definitely be maxed out right now.

Wen Nuan: ….

The world deceives me, insults me, laughs at me, slights me, despises me, detests me—taken from 《Hanshan Shide》¹⁴.

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