When we arrived back at my palace, the grand rooms still felt unfamiliar, like I was standing in someone else's residence. But what choice did I have? This was the reality I was stuck with, so I resolved to endure it.
Think of this place as your new home from now on, I told myself. If I embraced that thought, maybe I'd eventually settle in, right?
After Zhong Yi escorted me into my chambers, I ordered the maids to bring some food. Then, I invited Zhong Yi to dine with me. However, he politely declined, stating he preferred to eat in his own quarters.
Ugh, why is he being so stubborn? I thought, looking at him with a firm gaze. "This is an order," I declared.
At my command, he had no choice but to sit at the table across from me.
As the dishes were served, a crucial thought crossed my mind. When exactly was the wedding ceremony with the other four? In the novel, the villain—or rather, the original owner of this body—was destined to marry them, but the story never specified the exact date or month.
Glancing at Zhong Yi, I noticed he was carefully picking out mostly vegetables. I took the opportunity to scoop a generous piece of meat onto his bowl. Taking a chance, I asked casually, "Um... Zhong Yi, do you know when the wedding ceremony is going to take place? You know, for my other four consorts? Hehe, I just... seem to have forgotten the exact month or week."
He paused, his chopsticks suspended mid-air, and looked up at me. His expression was a complicated mix—annoyance, perhaps jealousy, or something else entirely—swirling in his mesmerizing blue eyes. He let out a soft sigh before answering.
"It is scheduled to be held one month from now. Today is already the 23rd day of the 6th Month, in the 15th year of the Yuanwu Era."
"Ooh, so that would be July, and it's now June. Well, there's still time to plan," I mused to myself.
As soon as we finished eating, Zhong Yi practically bolted, reaching the door before I could even say "wait." Ugh, this cold, stone husband of mine, I thought, slightly exasperated. Well, it's probably for the better; less emotional attachment, less trouble for me.
Right! I suddenly remembered the intelligence network. The Original Host (OH) had an organization! This was perfect. I could gather useful information about the female lead that wasn't covered in the novel, and even better, I could use it to explore the outside world! Hahahaha!
Don't judge me, okay? I thought mischievously. I just want to enjoy my life, and the God of Space said I have the freedom to do what I want here. Hehehe.
First things first: disguise. I called my two maids and asked them to fetch me some clothes that weren't flashy, something ordinary a commoner might wear. "And don't tell my husband, okay? This is our secret," I whispered conspiratorially. They nodded, their eyes twinkling with amusement.
As I tiptoed silently towards the wall, intending to slip through a small, inconspicuous "dog hole," I felt a peculiar sensation—a distinct feeling of being watched, as if a pair of eyes were tracking my every move.
It wasn't just a feeling; it was real. It was the watchful, slightly annoyed gaze of my very own husband-guard, Zhong Yi.
Well, he eventually thought, sighing internally, let him go out and play. Perhaps he needs to freshen his mind and have some space. With that internal permission, he decided to turn a blind eye.
Having successfully escaped, I dashed towards the bustling lights of the night market. People swarmed the streets, laughter and chatter filling the air. My eyes wandered, taking in the vibrant scenes, until they landed on a particularly interesting establishment. It was a brothel—but not just any brothel. This was the hidden headquarters of my secret organization!
Just as I was about to walk through its doors, a hand suddenly grabbed my arm. I spun around, annoyed, and looked at the person. His status window immediately popped up.
Yan Chen
- Gender: Male
- Age: 18
- Ling Gan: Fire Realm I (- Dual Swords of Fire)
- Title: Young General
- Position: Third Son of the Duke of the North
- Skills: Sabre Combat (Master III), Horse Archery (Expert V), Battlefield Leadership (Veteran IV)
Ohh, another one of the Male Leads! And it's the youngest one! I noticed his striking yellow eyes, muscular build, and short yellow hair. He had just celebrated his eighteenth birthday and his awakening.
Oh right, I got caught, I realized with a jolt.
He looked at me with an expression that suggested he'd just found his wife giving him a 'green hat'—an ancient Chinese idiom for a man whose wife has cheated on him. "You really are good, my soon-to-be wife. You certainly know how to play, huh?" he sneered.
This guy called me his "soon-to-be wife"?! How dare he!
"Who's wife are you talking about?" I retorted, trying to pull my arm free. "Now let me go! And wait, why are you here? You just turned adult yourself!" I looked at him with a judging gaze. This guy clearly knew the original host too, though he didn't seem to hate me as much as Lin Mo did.
"I was just looking around, okay?" he said defensively. "I didn't even go in yet, because I saw you happily walking this way."
"Ha ha ha, we have that in common, then," I said, looking away, but his earlier comment about "wife" still echoed in my mind. Well, technically, he's not wrong about calling me a wife. This body can lay eggs, so I'll definitely be a '0'—a bottom. Gosh.
First, I needed to think of a way out of this situation.
As he dragged me towards a nearby crowded street, a brilliant idea sparked in my mind. Hehehe! I stifled a laugh, looked up at him, and smiled. Leaning in close, I whispered, "Bye-bye, see you soon, husband!" I quickly pecked him on the cheek and then shouted at the top of my lungs, "Help! Help! There's a man here who's harassing me!"
Yan Chen looked utterly dumbfounded—first by the unexpected kiss, and then by my sudden outburst.
As more people started gathering, whispering and staring at him with strange looks, a guard rushed over, alerted by the commotion.
"Hey, you!" the guard shouted, forcibly making Yan Chen release my arm. Yan Chen, still reeling from the kiss and the accusation, grew furious as my hand slipped from his grasp. He quickly showed the guard his general's badge.
The guard immediately bowed, flustered. "Sorry, General! We thought you were harassing someone!"
"I wasn't harassing anyone!" Yan Chen snapped. "Where's the person here?!" He looked in my direction, but I was already gone.
"Where did that person go?" he muttered, scanning the crowd. He then spotted me running into the distance.
As he saw me glance back and gesture to him to come follow, I gestured back with a firm "No way!"
Then, he started running after me. Thinking quickly, I pulled out a handful of coins and scattered them onto the street, shouting, "Look! There are coins on the ground! Come get them!"
The moment the coins hit the ground, a rush of people descended, scrambling to pick them up. Yan Chen found himself completely blocked by the surging crowd, unable to pursue me any further.
He couldn't see me anymore. Good, very good, he thought, a slow smile spreading across his face as he touched his cheek where I had kissed him. When I marry you, I will definitely punish you for this. He turned and walked back to his own residence.
Meanwhile, as for me, I eventually stopped running. My heart pounding, I decided I'd had enough adventure for one day. I should head back; this trip was surprisingly tiring, I thought, finally making my way back to the palace.
When I arrived at my room, looking thoroughly haggard, I quickly changed into my nightclothes and collapsed onto the bed. Tomorrow will be a new day, a new game, hehe, I mused, before closing my eyes. A soft snore soon escaped my lips, a testament to the exhausting day and night I'd had.