“What should I do?”
“What do you mean, ‘the dragon body is most important’? System, stop talking nonsense. If I can’t write anything, you’ll be seeing my corpse soon enough.”
In the quiet, late-night corner of the study room, Song Tianyang cupped her cheeks in her hands and muttered to herself.
After a moment, she pulled out her phone. “Forget it, let’s play some King of Glory first.”
Six minutes later, the crystal exploded, and her teammates told her to get back to doing her homework.
She only started playing because she couldn’t write!
Why were her teammates telling her to go write her thesis too?
Emperor System: [Your Majesty, please do not mention the existence of this system to anyone. Otherwise, others may think Your Majesty is either foolish or suffering from hysteria.]
“You don’t get it. It’s thesis season at university. Anything a college student says to their thesis is forgivable. Honestly, I’m already handling my madness pretty well.”
You’re not supposed to make noise in the library or the study room.
But since it’s late at night, there are few people, and sometimes you can hear a few neurotic laughs, like the crazed concubines in the Cold Palace. Those who do their nails while writing their thesis—those are the types who insist on maintaining dignity, even after being thrown into the Cold Palace.
“And why is it that every time you open your mouth, you call me foolish? You’re just like my advisor.”
“I don’t think I should be a college student at all. I should be an emperor! In fact, I am the emperor, so why do I have to write a thesis!”
All of this, Song Tianyang muttered under her breath.
If she got kicked out of the study room for being too noisy, she’d have to go back to the dorm. Her upper bunk roommate, Xu Yuning, played games twenty-four hours a day, and she herself was easily tempted. She’d end up playing duo queue with her until dawn, and they’d both end up with the BE double ending of “thesis left blank” and “losing streak, dropping stars.”
Just as she was feeling frustrated, Song Tianyang’s phone vibrated.
The caller ID showed it was her brother.
She got up and walked out to the corridor outside the study room.
It was pouring rain outside, the night sky weighed down with dark clouds, and lightning flashed from time to time.
No one was around, so Song Tianyang put the call on speaker, leaned against the railing in the rainy night, and answered.
“What’s up, Yuanji?”
“…This is He Jianshen. Did you ever bother to save my name?”
He Jianshen demanded.
He thought Li Yuanji was another friend of hers, and forced down his anger to say, “Next week is your birthday. Grandpa wants to throw you a Birthday Banquet and announce your identity to the public… There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“I refuse.”
“You haven’t even heard what it is yet!”
“I don’t have to smell your crap to know it stinks.”
Whether siblings can get along is never guaranteed, not even if they grew up under the same roof, let alone if they meet as adults.
There’s not a shred of blood relation or familial affection—only pure, unfiltered hostility.
Ever since being acknowledged by the He Family, Song Tianyang had stopped reading Bone Carving Literature altogether, and the BO3 bone carving fanfics she’d occasionally write were now permanently discontinued.
He Jianshen clenched his molars. “I just said the wrong thing the first time we met, didn’t you hit me back then? Do you really have to keep treating your own brother like this?”
“You don’t get it,” Song Tianyang lashed out, “You set the Chinese literary world back thirty years! You’re a sinner!”
“……”
That was a heavy accusation to dump on He Jianshen, and he was left at a loss for words.
He paused, took three deep breaths to calm himself, and said, “That day is also Yuanyuan’s birthday. I hope you’ll take the initiative to suggest celebrating together with her.”
As soon as he finished, a muffled thunderclap lit up the corridor in a flash.
Song Tianyang looked ahead, a faint smile curling at her lips.
She found it funny.
Song Tianyang: “Is this He Yuan’s idea, or did you come up with it yourself?”
“It was me. Don’t blame her.”
“I’m not blaming her. I just think you’re a real troublemaker with your genius ideas.”
Song Tianyang raised her voice a bit, talking over him.
For the He Family, supporting one more person was no big deal. As long as He Yuan’s brain fully developed, she’d realize that what she ought to do right now is keep a low profile, not jump around causing trouble for her.
What good could this possibly do for He Yuan?
“So, are you trying to use this as an excuse to suppress me, or to help He Yuan? You know the answer in your heart.”
Her cool, resolute voice cut through the sticky, stifling summer night.
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
After a while, He Jianshen spoke in a resentful tone: “Grandpa wants to announce your Engagement Announcement with Gu Shangyang at the same time.”
Ding!
A virtual light screen appeared before her.
[By the Mandate of Heaven, the Supreme Imperial Edict proclaims: I, holding Heaven’s command, rule over all lands, diligent day and night, with the utmost care for harmony among people and the fulfillment of virtue. Now, there is the son of the Gu Family, Shangyang—handsome in bearing, both talented and virtuous; and my beloved granddaughter, Emperor Tianyang—brilliant, benevolent, filial, and kind, now of marriageable age. The two are well-matched in years and character—a match made by Heaven.]
Song Tianyang: ……
She raised a hand to rub her Sun Palace.
Why do old men in rich families love arranging marriages for the younger generation so much?
It’s seriously lacking in boundaries. If this keeps up, she suspects the old man would even want to give a push on her wedding night.
Song Tianyang reflected on herself and found she really couldn’t accept a life with such a strong sense of being pushed from behind.
She definitely needed to meet her grandfather again.
But in front of He Jianshen, she only said, “That’s great! As the He Family’s heiress joining forces with the Gu Family, once I’m in charge, I’ll send you off to the Qidian Group’s Iceland branch, so you can learn how to respect women there.”
“Qidian Group doesn’t have a branch in Iceland.”
Song Tianyang snorted. “Once I’m in charge, there will be.”
First sons, second sons—send them all away!
He Jianshen was silent for three seconds, then said, “Our circle isn’t as simple as you think. The kids from A9 to A10 families all grew up together and know each other. You’re an outsider barging in—no one’s going to include you. Have you skied in Switzerland, worn watches, played polo? Do you know how we rich people have fun? If you don’t listen to me, as long as you stay in this circle, we have plenty of ways to deal with you.”
“Gu Shangyang doesn’t like you. No one in our family likes you. Can you stay by Grandpa’s side twenty-four hours a day?”
“Don’t think Grandpa is so fond of you now. Once he realizes you’re just a good-for-nothing country bumpkin, he’ll be disappointed too—”
Ha, the dagger was finally revealed.
Song Tianyang sneered inwardly.
She’d never been to Switzerland, but lately her neighbors were already suspecting her of being a Swiss Spy.
As soon as he finished, her hand suddenly felt lighter.
She’d gotten so absorbed in the call that she hadn’t noticed someone approach. The figure, nearly 1.9 meters tall, blocked out most of the corridor’s light like a towering tree—and took her phone.
“No need for your concern.”
The man’s voice was cold and clear. “Your circle doesn’t welcome her, but she doesn’t care. I’ve done everything you mentioned, and I’ll take her to experience it too, help her cultivate her own hobbies. The only reason you can look down on her today is because she came to your family with nothing.”
“Song Tianyang is not a useless country bumpkin.”
“She is my lord.”
A bullet leaves the barrel at 900 meters per second.
But in that moment, Song Tianyang unleashed her full human potential, snatching her phone back and hanging up.
Turns out, there’s something even more embarrassing than a public confession: being declared emperor in public.
At that moment, the man said, “I haven’t met you in person yet and can only rely on the system’s description to get to know you. I was going to say you’re the Emperor Taizong of my heart…”
“Okay, stop!”
Song Tianyang’s sharp outburst was drowned out by thunder.
She could boast when no one was around.
But that didn’t mean she could accept a stranger solemnly declaring she was like Emperor Taizong! Just hearing that was enough to shave ten years off her life!
“As you command.”
The man smiled.
He’d followed her out of the study room after spotting her, planning to wait until she finished her call to introduce himself. But hearing that person slander his lord, he simply couldn’t bear it.
When the lord is troubled, the minister worries; when the lord is humiliated, the minister dies.
If that person had been in front of him, they would’ve already come to blows.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Chi Zhiqing—likely your first subject.”
Rain was blown in by the wind, soaking the corridor floor.
Yet he knelt on one knee without a care. “Your subject greets Your Majesty.”
[You have completed your first audience with Emperor Tianyang by imperial decree]
[Loyal Minister System will now unlock more features for you. Please serve your lord with all your heart and soul, to the point of death and beyond!]
Chi Zhiqing felt utterly clear-headed.
He didn’t find any of this ridiculous. If Heaven had granted him a second life, it must come at a price.
Song Tianyang was his savior.
His honor and life were now tied to this lonely young girl before him.
His life was hers—what was one kneel in comparison?
At the same time, Song Tianyang also received a notification—
[Your Majesty, please receive your mysterious Newbie Gift Pack—]
[Loyal Minister Chi Zhiqing]
[Throughout history, there have been many beautiful stories of lords and ministers, like Liu Bei X Zhuge Liang, Qi Huan Gong X Guan Zhong, and Li Shimin X Changsun Wuji. To achieve a golden age, a wise ruler needs loyal, virtuous, and candid ministers. The Emperor System’s Newbie Gift Pack takes this into account and presents Your Majesty with an absolutely loyal, solitary minister. He has no family or descendants in this world—only you.]
Uh…
Song Tianyang couldn’t help but ask inwardly: [Does ‘no descendants’ mean you castrated him before sending him over?]
Surely not!
Has the job market gotten so tough that you need to list self-castration on your resume?
The system paused for two seconds: [He just doesn’t have any descendants yet.]
Song Tianyang responded: [The way you list these lord-minister pairs is kind of ambiguous. If the CP fans come after me, I’m out of here.]
She didn’t have time to banter with the system anymore, and hurried to help the big guy up. “I don’t even know you yet—why are you my subject?”
A subject shouldn’t keep secrets from the emperor, so Chi Zhiqing truthfully explained how he’d been bound to the Loyal Minister System after his death.
He said, “I dare not overstate my abilities, but I am still somewhat useful. If there’s anything troubling Your Majesty, please order me as you wish.”
Chi Zhiqing was being modest.
He had once helped his hometown brother build an entire business empire.
“Anything at all?” she confirmed.
“Anything at all.”
Song Tianyang’s face lit up with joy: “Please, I beg you—help me write my thesis!”
Ding!
Loyal Minister System:
[You have triggered the Achievement: Governance by the Ge Clan, Sacrifice by the Monarch.]
[You have obtained Zhuge Liang Skill: With the monarch’s consent, you may temporarily control her body for one hour. In exchange, during that hour, your monarch will use your body for entertainment.]
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.