Chapter 2: The Empress Dowager and Her Substitute Young Lover (Part 2)

Wei He’s eyes fixed on Hua Yue’s face. The woman's hair was disheveled, her long tresses cascading like a waterfall, spreading over her chest in a graceful arc.

There was no denying it.

She was astonishingly beautiful.

Wei He was an ordinary man; drugged as he was, he needed release.

But at this very moment...

“Your Highness, rest assured. After tonight, everything you desire—I will give it to you.”

Hua Yue suddenly leaned in, but Wei He’s heart trembled.

He could not let anyone discover...

Otherwise—

His grand plan...

Wei He bit the tip of his tongue, the pain briefly suppressing the feverish heat surging through his body.

Seizing the moment, he shoved Hua Yue aside.

“Get away from me.”

Hua Yue hadn’t been touched at all; instead, she let herself fall to the ground, glaring in disgust at the bloodied hands of the man before her. Clutching her throat, she continued her performance, voice trembling with a hint of tears:

“Wei He, do you truly despise me so?”

Wei He didn’t notice his hands had pushed at empty air. Forcing himself to stand, he glared through gritted teeth at the woman sprawled on the floor.

“Xiao Su, from this day forth, our dealings are over.”

“Remember your place.”

With those words, he pressed his palm, staggering unsteadily toward the door.

“Wei He!”

“How dare you betray me so!”

Hua Yue, still seated on the floor, hurled a vase at his retreating back.

It hit its mark.

Wei He crashed spectacularly to the floor—face first.

Hua Yue: "..."

Ha—

She pressed her lips together, barely suppressing a laugh.

Fortunately, as befitted a male lead, he quickly got up and looked back.

Hua Yue hurriedly squeezed out a few tears. “Wei He, are you truly so heartless?”

Wei He frowned, sensing something was off about this woman, but his current state left him no time for doubt.

“...From now on, you’re on your own.”

“You’ll regret this!” Hua Yue shouted after him with all her might.

As the male lead’s shadow disappeared, the grand drama finally drew to a close.

...

Surveying the mess around her, Hua Yue yawned and called out:

“Qing Li!”

Qing Li had sensed something was amiss from the commotion inside. She was just about to enter when the Seventh Prince emerged, his eyes bloodshot.

She was nearly scared out of her wits.

Trembling, she stepped inside.

There, by the window in the moonlight, stood Hua Yue. Her black hair fluttered in the breeze, head held high, her face bathed in shifting shadows, expression unreadable.

But clearly, she was not pleased.

Qing Li knew tonight was a desperate gamble—success or failure hinged on this very moment.

“My lady.”

She knelt at once.

“I want a bath. Clean this up,” Hua Yue said calmly, lifting her chin, one delicate hand covering her nose, trying to block out the nauseating stench of blood.

It was unbearable.

How absurd.

In her own era, she had lived through the end times—a modern civilization still plagued by zombies.

By age three, she could already kill the undead, yet she had never gotten used to the smell of blood.

Who would have thought, even after traveling through worlds, the old problem would persist.

...

Professional indeed.

When Hua Yue finished bathing, Qing Li and a retinue of servants had already cleaned the room. The bedding and decorations on the couch had all been replaced; the dreadful stench of blood was gone without a trace.

Not bad at all.

Seated before the dressing mirror, Hua Yue let Qing Li wring out her hair behind her.

In the mirror—

A woman’s features as delicate as a painting, her small face framed in black locks, so lovely one could hardly bear to look away.

It was exactly her own face.

And yet, subtly different—prettier, as if touched up.

[To enhance the host’s task experience, the system has adjusted all relevant character data.]

Lost in contemplation over her own beauty, Hua Yue muttered, “...”

“Can you not appear so suddenly? Your voice is grating.”

[...In your first world, this system will provide a beginner’s guide to help you transition smoothly. I am your monitor and your aid.]

“Can I decline?”

[No.]

Hua Yue: “...”

“Then speak as little as possible.”

[Yes.]

404 sounded aggrieved.

After fiddling with the mirror a while longer, Hua Yue grew sleepy and closed her eyes to rest.

Soon, Qing Li’s gentle voice roused her.

“My lady, it’s done.”

Hua Yue opened her eyes, yawned, and waved her hand. “Mm, you may go.”

“...Yes.”

Qing Li glanced at Hua Yue in concern. She had served her young mistress since childhood—not that she knew her perfectly, but she could guess her thoughts most of the time.

Seeing Hua Yue’s calm, unruffled demeanor, Qing Li pursed her lips, anger flickering in her eyes.

That Seventh Prince dared to mistreat her mistress so.

Watching Hua Yue’s retreating figure, Qing Li bit her lip, not daring to say more, and quietly left.

Hua Yue watched Qing Li’s respectful departure and suddenly recalled the fate of this personal maid in the original story.

Like many villain’s lackeys, she was utterly loyal to her mistress, carrying out every scheme against the female lead.

In the end, when her mistress was poisoned, she was beaten to death—her end miserable beyond words.

Blinking, Hua Yue said nothing, simply turned to lie down.

No need to overthink it.

Sleep. Sleep.

[Beginner task one: Poison the Emperor.]

[Time limit: 12 hours.]

[Reminder: Please be mindful of the time constraint.]

She had just closed her eyes when a translucent red screen flashed persistently through her mind.

Hua Yue: “...”

“Go away, I got it.”

[...]

How fierce.

If not for her unusually high mental power, the system would never have bound itself to her.

After all, as everyone knew, once sleep slips away, it rarely returns.

Hua Yue blinked her pretty eyes, full of resentment.

The current Emperor, Wei Suyuan, was dashing and charming. He had inherited a peaceful and prosperous realm from his predecessor, sitting securely on the throne.

Bored, he turned to romance.

As Emperor, Wei Suyuan had countless affairs, tireless in his pursuit, bringing woman after woman into the palace only to abandon each in turn.

Wei He’s mother was one of them.

Now, Wei Suyuan had fallen victim to the combined schemes of his favored consort and his son, and had not appeared at court for days.

Tomorrow—

Would be his death day.

Abandoned by Wei He, the original Hua Yue, burning with resentment, poisoned the Emperor ahead of schedule the very next day.

It caused no small trouble for the male lead.

Of course, amid the ensuing chaos, the male lead still ascended the throne.

The original Hua Yue became Empress Dowager.

The plot would reach its climax.

Hua Yue: “...”

She couldn’t sleep anyway.

Might as well send him off early to his rest.

...

Dew fell heavy in the deep night.

The moon hung bright, the stars sparse.

“Let’s go.”

A crisp, slightly aggrieved voice broke the silence.

Qing Li, dozing off, started awake and looked at Hua Yue. “...My lady? Why are you up?”

“Let’s go.”

Hua Yue strode out purposefully.

Qing Li hurried after her.

Hua Yue threw on a cloak as she walked, her red robe billowing in the night, her steps decisive and commanding.

Oddly, Qing Li felt reassured.

This was the mistress she remembered.

A moment ago, she’d almost thought she’d been switched with someone else.

“My lady—ah, your grace—where are we going?” Qing Li’s eyes sparkled as she jogged to keep up with Hua Yue.