When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 73

Volume Three: Those Years I Was a Wangye

Ten Li of Red Dowry¹

Wang Xiaozhong picked up the whip. With a flick of her wrist, the whip flashed through the air, its afterimage barely visible.

Only a “smack” was heard, and a bloody welt instantly appeared on Wen Nuan’s white clothes.

The force of the blow sent Wen Nuan crashing to her knees, the taste of iron rising in her mouth.

Lin Tinghan’s pupils trembled. She stared at the bloody gash on Wen Nuan’s back; her clothes were torn, and crimson blood stained Lin Tinghan’s eyes and mixed with her tears.

She knelt powerlessly on the ground, Rong Qing’s words echoing endlessly in her mind, interspersed with the sharp cracks of the vicious whip.

“Smack—”

Another lash, and Wen Nuan was slammed face down onto the ground.

Rong Qing: Xian Wang may have fallen for you long ago. From the first time she met you, this servant heard Her Highness mention your name every day.

“Smack—”

Yet another lash. Wen Nuan desperately tried to keep her back straight, but she powerlessly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Rong Qing: She treasured the folding fan you gave her. Xian Wang has a very good reputation in the palace; no one had ever seen her truly angered. Except for one time, when a palace maid accidentally discarded Xian Wang’s folding fan as trash. Xian Wang was furious and turned the entire imperial palace upside down searching for it.

“Smack—”

Another lash. Wen Nuan felt her back must be a mess of torn flesh and blood. None of the onlookers could bear to watch, only Lin Tinghan stared at her without blinking.

“System buddy, did you f#cking turn on the pain shield for me?”

Why does it still hurt so much!?

The system hissed. 【There’s something rather awkward.】

“What?”

【Because we’re in the return-to-origin world to unfreeze points, the effectiveness of the pain shield is halved.】

Wen Nuan: “….”

They really want to beat me to death!

【Don’t be afraid. Even with the pain shield at half strength, Host, you can endure six lashes. I believe in you!】the system encouraged.

Wen Nuan: “…..”

Easy for you to say.²

Lin Tinghan looked at Wen Nuan’s back; it was already a horrifying sight, and her blood was everywhere on the ground.

Rong Qing: Xian Wang knew long ago that Fang Yongsi was a person of bad character. Unexpectedly, that person deliberately seduced Her Highness. Her Highness unintentionally fell into the trap and was misunderstood by you. But to let you see Fang Yongsi’s true colors, Her Highness feared you would be deceived by Fang Yongsi.

“Smack—”

Another lash. Wen Nuan lay powerlessly on the ground, gasping for breath.

Rong Qing: Xian Wang openly told the Emperor that she liked you, that it had to be you and no one else. The Emperor was so angry she slapped Her Highness twice on the spot. To make the Emperor accept your relationship, Her Highness volunteered to go and deal with the flood disaster in Wangfu City.

“Smack—”

The final lash. Wen Nuan let out a long sigh, struggled to push herself up, and, trembling with each step, walked towards Lin Tinghan, whose face was already streaked with tears.

She pulled Lin Tinghan into her arms and coaxed softly, “Don’t cry anymore, little crybaby.”

Lin Tinghan didn’t dare to hug her back tightly. She could only cry in Wen Nuan’s embrace until she lost her voice, her whole body trembling.

Rong Qing: To be with you openly and honorably, Xian Wang requested the Dragon-Slaying Whip for herself. Even if one doesn’t die from the blows of this Dragon-Slaying Whip, they’ll be half-dead. By this act, Her Highness is telling you:

Rong Qing: It must be you, I love only you, I cannot live without you.

Xu Wenlu, watching the two embracing in the hall, weakly raised a hand. “Xu Wen Nuan, Zhen is really at a loss with you.”

Wen Nuan turned her head to look at Xu Wenlu and smiled. “Many thanks, Imperial Sister, for your grace….”

Before she could finish her sentence, Wen Nuan’s eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness.

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When Wen Nuan woke up, it was already three days later. The wounds on her back had mostly recovered.

Her constitution was rather special; no matter how severe the injury, it would heal quickly.

There was no one in the room. The tea on the table had been cold for a long time.

Wen Nuan stood up and stretched her limbs. Her upper body was still wrapped in white gauze, but some areas had already started to scab over.

System: 【Feeling better?】

Wen Nuan nodded. “Much better. If it weren’t for the pain shield, I’m afraid I really would have died there.”

If a task-taker died in a mission world, it was equivalent to mission failure and expulsion from the mission world.

【The pain shield is part of it, but your special constitution is also a factor.】The system knew Wen Nuan’s constitution was very unique, with a powerful self-healing ability.

Wen Nuan touched the teapot; it was still warm. She poured a cup of tea to soothe her dry throat.

Leaning on the wall, she moved step by step to the door and looked outside. The sky was clear and vast. The ground was still wet; it must have rained this morning.

【Oh right, let me tell you, the female lead’s blackening value has dropped to 0.5!】

“Okay, I know.”

“Wangye? You’re awake?” Lianqiao immediately ran over and supported Wen Nuan. “Why did you come out? Quickly, go back to your room and lie down.”

“No need. Wangye has almost recovered. If I lie down any longer, I’ll become useless.” Wen Nuan leaned on Lianqiao’s shoulder. “Where’s Tinghan?”

Given her injuries, with Lin Tinghan’s personality, she would definitely have stayed by her side.

Lianqiao said in surprise, “Isn’t she in the room?”

“No.”

“Ah, this servant doesn’t know where Miss Lin went either. These past few days, she’s been by Wangye’s side day and night, not leaving for a moment.” Lianqiao glanced into the room; it was indeed empty.

“Alright, maybe she went back to the Lin Manor.” Wen Nuan was still a bit thirsty; she had drunk all the tea in the room. “Lianqiao, go get Wangye a pot of tea.”

Lianqiao helped Wen Nuan to a stone bench. “Yes, this servant will go right away.”

Wen Nuan closed her eyes and tilted her head up to bask in the sun. The sunlight was brilliant, warming her body.

Suddenly, she felt a shadow fall over her.

Wen Nuan opened her eyes, and her gaze fell upon a crimson rose blooming on a snow-white fan.

“This is…?”

Isn’t this rose the one on her chest!?

Lin Tinghan handed her the folding fan, a serene smile on her face. “A gift of a folding fan, may my lord’s heart understand.”

Wen Nuan opened the fan and looked at the rose on its surface, which seemed to bloom vibrantly under the sunlight.

“When did you paint this?”

“A few days ago.”

“Why didn’t you paint the previous landscape painting?”

“Don’t you like it?” Lin Tinghan tilted her head, smiling. “I thought you would like it, so I painted this rose.”

Wen Nuan smiled. “Of course, I like it.”

Lin Tinghan reached out and touched Wen Nuan’s face. “This rose suits you very well. When I was painting it, my mind was filled with your image.”

“Why is it red?”

Wen Nuan remembered that the rose on her chest wasn’t entirely red yet, but the one in Lin Tinghan’s painting was already a vibrant, rich crimson.

“I felt it should be red, and a bright red at that, so I used cinnabar to add color.”

“You painted it beautifully.” Wen Nuan set the fan aside and asked, “Did you leave the manor just now?”

“En, the Emperor summoned me.”

Wen Nuan was surprised. “Imperial Sister summoned you? For what?”

Could it be that Xu Wenlu wanted to persuade Lin Tinghan to give up?!

“Her Majesty the Emperor has already agreed to let us be together. She asked me to take good care of you,” Lin Tinghan said softly, holding her hand.

“Really!?” Wen Nuan exclaimed in astonishment.

Lin Tinghan nodded. “Really. Her Majesty the Emperor’s word is as good as gold³; how could she lie?”

Wen Nuan breathed a sigh of relief. “Imperial Sister has finally relented.”

She thought for a moment. “When I’m a bit better, I’ll go to the palace to thank Imperial Sister.”

After all, it hadn’t been easy for Xu Wenlu either.

Lin Tinghan: “Okay, I’ll go with you.”

Wen Nuan recuperated for another half a month. Her back had completely recovered, without even a scar left, all thanks to her special constitution and the precious ointments continuously sent from the palace.

Xu Wenlu was just a person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart; she scolded fiercely and punished harshly, but she also doted on this younger sister of hers.

Choosing a day with good weather, Wen Nuan took Lin Tinghan to the imperial palace but was stopped at the Beigong Gate.

“Rong Qing, what is the meaning of this?” Wen Nuan watched as the guards blocked Lin Tinghan outside the gate.

Rong Qing: “Her Majesty the Emperor has only permitted Wangye to enter the palace alone. Miss Lin, please forgive the inconvenience and wait outside the palace.”

Lin Tinghan was understanding. “Alright.”

Wen Nuan frowned. “Didn’t Imperial Sister already agree to me and Tinghan!? Why is she still doing these things?”

Rong Qing sighed softly. “The Emperor still can’t get over that hurdle. Wangye, please try to understand Her Majesty, alright?”

“Fine,” Wen Nuan hugged Lin Tinghan. “You wait for me here obediently. Don’t run off, understand?”

Lin Tinghan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m not a child, where could I run off to?”

“You can run into my heart.” A corner of Wen Nuan’s mouth quirked up.

Lin Tinghan: “….”

Rong Qing: “….”

System: 【Stop with the cheesy pick-up lines; the atmosphere has become stiff.】

Wen Nuan: “….Alright.”

Lin Tinghan watched their retreating figures, standing in the sunlight with a faint, gentle smile.

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Imperial Study

Wen Nuan watched Xu Wenlu who was continuously reviewing memorials to the throne. No matter what sound Wen Nuan made, Xu Wenlu simply ignored her, deliberately neglecting and cold-shouldering her after letting her in.

Extremely childish behavior.

After a long silence, Xu Wenlu finally spoke. “A few days ago, Zhen summoned Lin Tinghan, intending to make her leave you voluntarily.”

Wen Nuan’s brow furrowed. “Imperial Sister, what are you…?”

Xu Wenlu interrupted her. “Let Zhen finish speaking first. Interrupting Zhen’s words—such lack of manners!”

Wen Nuan gripped her folding fan, pursing her lips.

“Zhen wanted Lin Tinghan to leave you voluntarily, thinking that if she left on her own, no matter how much you struggled, it would be useless.” Xu Wenlu sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, she refused.”

Wen Nuan let out a breath, a little too loudly, earning a glare from Xu Wenlu.

She said, exasperated at her lack of composure, “You useless thing!”

Wen Nuan looked somewhat smug, trying to suppress a smile.

Xu Wenlu was rendered helpless by her roguish demeanor and continued, “Seeing her so resolute, Zhen couldn’t be bothered to struggle further. But then she proactively made a request to Zhen.”

Wen Nuan asked in surprise, “What was it?”

Xu Wenlu sighed. “She is willing to hand over all the assets of the Lin Manor to the imperial family in exchange for you still being able to live freely, unrestrained and at ease.”

The room fell silent. After a while, Wen Nuan performed a curtsy and took her leave.

Seeing her depart, Xu Wenlu picked up a blank imperial edict and, with a flourish of her brush, began to write.

Lin Tinghan felt comfortable basking in the sun, the corners of her lips turned up, her body swaying unconsciously.

Wen Nuan saw her familiar little habit, smiled, walked over, and opened her folding fan to shield Lin Tinghan’s head. “Not afraid of getting tanned?”

“Not afraid.” Lin Tinghan hugged Wen Nuan, smiling brightly. “The most dazzling light is in my arms, what do I have to fear?”

Wen Nuan took her hand. “You exchanged all the assets of the Lin Manor for my freedom and ease. Don’t you feel heartbroken?”

As the wealthiest family, the Lin family’s assets were practically comparable to that of a nation.

Lin Tinghan shook her head. “Not heartbroken. Money lost can always be regained⁴.”

“You’re quite philosophical about it,” Wen Nuan mused. “Since you’ve given all the Lin Manor assets to the imperial family, the imperial family is preparing a grand gift in return for you. Do you want it?”

“What is it?”

Wen Nuan looked into her clear, ink-black eyes and smiled gently. “Ten li of red dowry, the three matchmakers and six rites⁵. This King shall marry Lin Tinghan, daughter of the Lin family, as my Principal Consort. From now on, for one life, one lifetime, one pair of souls, our love unwavering, we shall grow old together.”

“Lin Tinghan, will you marry me?”

Lin Tinghan felt her heart pounding like thunder. Besides the sound of her heartbeat, she also heard a slight choked sob in her own voice. “I will!”

System: 【Ding! Female lead’s blackening value cleared to zero. Constructing replica body. Task-taker will soon be detached from the mission world. Please prepare.】

【Three… two… one… Replica body construction successful. Task-taker detaching!】

—Wait for me.

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The author has something to say:

Author-jun: See you in the next world!

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