Chapter 29: Little Sister Yingying Is Worth It

Li Qiao watched her innocent and pure expression, a cold snort echoing in her heart. Did she really think she couldn't tell the girl was planning to stir up trouble?

"Miss Lin," Li Qiao said with a chuckle, "the Madam has given orders that you are not to leave this room until your health has fully recovered. You should just stay here with me and let me take good care of you!"

What?

Lin Xiaoyue’s face stiffened as she gritted her teeth in secret. That old woman had actually ordered this? How was she supposed to go out and seduce that ancient man now?

[G97, is there any way to make this maid pass out?] Lin Xiaoyue asked, annoyed. If she insisted on leaving now, the maid would surely realize something was wrong. She had to leave the room quietly to reach the room of the ancient man she intended to capture without obstruction; otherwise, if she drew attention, she wouldn't be able to carry out her plan.

[Host, the system can provide a 10-point favorability advance for you to purchase the one-time skill "Stun Flash" from the mall. It will cause anyone the host touches to fall into a coma for 12 hours,] G97 replied. [You must repay the 10 points within two hours. If you fail to repay them, you will suffer a one-minute lightning strike penalty.]

"Heh..." Lin Xiaoyue scoffed with arrogance. Raising that ancient man's favorability by ten points within two hours? To her, that was simple. "Go ahead and advance it."

[Congratulations, Host, you have acquired the one-time skill "Stun Flash,"] G97’s mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

Lin Xiaoyue curled her lips into a smile and grabbed Li Qiao’s hand.

Li Qiao looked confused. "Miss Lin..."

The next moment, Li Qiao felt the world go dark, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Lin Xiaoyue kicked the stiff, motionless body to confirm she was completely out cold. A mere ancient maid, thinking she could fight a modern woman with a system? Pathetic!

Lin Xiaoyue rolled her eyes and stood up. "System, give me a route to reach his room without being seen by others."

[Understood.] G97 projected the fastest route to Chu Hengyang’s sleeping quarters in her mind, ensuring she would remain undetected. Soon, Lin Xiaoyue arrived at Chu Hengyang’s courtyard, slipped through a window, and entered his bedroom with agile movements.

Lin Xiaoyue’s striking figure looked jarringly out of place in Chu Hengyang’s scholarly, elegant room. She shed her clothes, her face filled with pride and confidence in her own body and beauty. This body was the best one she had chosen from among the beggars and wanderers the system had offered. She was confident she could capture ten targets with it.

She carefully arranged her discarded clothes on the floor beside the bed, then climbed under the covers with a radiant smile. Inhaling the faint, elegant scent that filled the air, her smile deepened. Although that ancient man was quite unappreciative and caused an unexpected hitch during her first attempt to capture him, his face and aura were more outstanding than any celebrity, which suited her tastes perfectly. She hoped his physique and performance in bed would not disappoint her.

Lin Xiaoyue smirked, never imagining that she would fail to capture Chu Hengyang tonight. She lay in wait for his arrival.

***

In the Imperial Palace, Mingchao Palace.

Princess Xiao Yixi sat at her vanity for a long time, lost in silence. Beside her, Nanny Zheng Xuan, who had watched her grow up, felt a pang of heartache. Alas, the Princess had been like this ever since she returned to the palace. She had touched neither food nor drink. One could only wonder what had happened to her outside the palace walls.

Xiao Yixi looked at her own reflection, tears welling in her eyes. She lowered her gaze, hiding her sorrow, and tried to distract herself. Little Yingying had helped her a great deal today. Although... it was only at the end that she realized she might have misinterpreted Hengyang’s feelings toward her as "affection" all along. In reality, he felt no such thing; he was merely acting flustered because he feared her and her status.

But... at least little Yingying had once allowed her to see hope. She had let her feel how wonderful it was to like someone, to harbor a secret crush.

Xiao Yixi forced a bitter smile. She really ought to thank little Yingying properly.

"Nanny," Xiao Yixi called out, "please fetch my treasure box."

"As you command." Nanny Zheng, heart aching, retrieved the box from the most hidden place in the palace.

Xiao Yixi opened it and stroked the finest jade pendant, intricately carved. "I wonder if little Yingying would like this."

Nanny Zheng was startled. "Princess, you intend to give this pendant to someone else?"

"Yes," Xiao Yixi replied, stroking the jade. This pendant had been commissioned by the Emperor from a master craftsman as a gift for her Coming-of-Age ceremony. It was, in a sense, a conclusion to the four years of affection she had harbored for Hengyang since that day. Once this pendant was given away, it would mark the moment she completely severed her feelings for him.

Xiao Yixi’s breathing trembled, her fingers tightening around the jade until they ached.

"This..." Nanny Zheng looked at the Princess’s pained expression, unable to help herself. "Princess, every item in this box represents your status. This 'Phoenix Cry Jade' even more so. It does not only represent you, but also the Emperor’s high regard for you. If given to someone of unknown background, I fear it could lead to great trouble."

In the royal family, tokens of status held the power to command those of lower rank. This pendant, designed by the Emperor himself, represented both the Princess and the Emperor.

Xiao Yixi thought of her moments with Chu Ying earlier that day and couldn't help but smile. "Little Yingying is worth it."

The crushing pain in her heart eased significantly. For some reason, thinking of her time with little Yingying made her mood lift. Perhaps... that was the unique charm of the girl.

Xiao Yixi placed the jade aside. "Nanny, please bring me a box for this pendant."

"Very well..." Nanny Zheng, still stunned, went to fetch the box. The Princess had always been indifferent, never wishing for her emotions to be detected. This was the first time she had ever seen her unable to control her feelings because of someone else, breaking into a genuine, heartfelt smile. She wondered who this "little Yingying" really was.