Outrageous betrayal

When Yang Yulan was brought you back to smart–alace, Qing Zixiao, who commanded the operation to find her, was finally able to breathe easy. Not knowing whether to let other family members know about what was happening, General Qing conducted the search for the princess in complete secrecy.

After learning that the girl was in trouble and was rescued by Shin Zuzhou, who was passing by, he did not ask unnecessary questions and only escorted the princess, who had awakened from a short blackout, back to the pavilion.

Yang Yulan, in turn, also did not explain anything to him. She just thanked him for his help and locked herself in her room, falling asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

The next morning, Yang Yulan logged into the updated system immediately after waking up.

She wanted to study that one until something unpleasant happened again. The hated villainess will just have to come to her. It's better to be prepared for anything.

Yang Yulan involuntarily frowned at the memories of the previous day. She really needed to rest.

– System

A pink window lit up in front of the girl. She immediately noticed the changes. Three new icons with inscriptions appeared on the screen, in addition to those that were already there. The reward, the store, and the task list. – System. What is a task list?

「The task list is a set of side quests that are now available on our service for a more fun story passage. This list will change depending on which part of the history the client is in. For each completed quest, the client will receive a certain number of points, which he can later exchange in the store for useful options or items. The client can also receive a hidden gift for quests」

– That sounds promising. Open a store.

Cells with various numbers and names immediately appeared on the screen. A certain amount of points was written under each of them.

– So let's see what's here. A headache potion, a bouquet of magical flowers.. Some kind of nonsense. What else? Here! The ability to be invisible. It works for several minutes. It is used only once. It's kind of weak.

Yang Yulan shifted her gaze to the price

– A thousand points?!

– And how many points do I already have?

A new window opened in front of the girl.

– Zero?! Seriously? I even found the poisoner, saved the bird of the main villain. Does it still not count?

「Side quests and tasks include only those that match or support the plot」

– Great!

***

Shin Zuzhou showed up at the white lotus Pavilion as if she were at home. It happened in the early morning. Yang Yulan didn't even have time to rest properly before a maid broke in with the news of an unexpected guest.

The girl did not want to test the patience of the villainess, so she immediately put on a mask and ran out into the garden.

Shin Zuzhou sat comfortably in a wooden gazebo and did not pay much attention to the man who came running to her.

Yang Yulan shuffled in place and carefully stood in front of the princess.

She finally looked at her, but with a stern and boring gaze.

– Why are you looking at me like that? - the girl asked timidly

– I'm thinking about what to do with your corpse after death. Dismember them or throw them to the pigs? Maybe both options are together?

– What? Yang Yulan's whole body trembled.

– Just kidding.

Shin Zuzhou kept a stony expression on her face, which made Yang Yulan not laugh at all.

Cold sweat slowly trickled down her back. Shin Zuzhou's short and brutal answers filled the air with an unpleasant tension. Yang Yulan was afraid to look into the princess's eyes. Despite the mask hiding her face, it seemed to her that the villainess's eyes could see through her. They were full of rage and aggression, and Yang Yulan understood that she had practically no advantage in such a situation. She knew that her life was hanging by a thread, and therefore she could not contain her trembling fear.

– Would you like chamomile tea?

The Northern Princess looked at her unfortunate victim carefully again.

– I'm a demon. I only drink the blood of my enemies.

Yang Yulan almost dropped the teapot from her hands when she heard these words.

Shin Zuzhou, in turn, noticed this and only laughed merrily.

«Oh my God. Is she laughing?»

– Please stop – Yang Yulan got a headache from the constant teasing of this woman.

– I won't be here long. So it's not necessary.

«Good» the girl mumbled, thinking to herself:

«Then why did you come here?»

– You shoot well – Shin Zuzhou suddenly reported.

– Yes, Your Highness, Yang Yulan was worried, but in her heart she was a little glad to hear such words.

After hearing the guy's answer, the Northern Princess did not continue to pull the cat by the tail and commanded.

– I want you to work for me from today on.

– What?!

– You have good training. And you know my secret. I can't leave you just like that. You will either die or serve me for the rest of your life.

– But I can't just quit here. I... I...

Yang Yulan frantically tried to come up with a decent excuse for herself.

– I didn't ask you if you could or not. This is an order.

– You won't have to do anything. But know that you will not get off just like that now. Whether you live or not depends only on me. If you didn't want that, you wouldn't have come after me from the beginning.

– I wasn't following you – Yang Yulan tried to defend herself – it just happened by accident.

– Well, of course. So every time you appeared in front of me, it was by chance?

Yang Yulan nodded.

– And you are an ordinary employee of the palace, who just always wears a mask, shoots arrows professionally and participates in the imperial hunt?

Yang Yulan didn't know what to say to that at all. On the one hand, it seemed to her that the princess was simply groundlessly paranoid, and on the other, her suspicions were well-founded.

– If I was chasing you with bad intentions, then why would I save you from bandits?

– When did you save me?

– Do you remember? At the parade?

– Haha, you fool. I wasn't in danger. These unfortunate musicians are very far from real bandits.

– But they took out a dagger and...

– They were hired for money by an annoying person. All in order to play a funny show with a lady in distress in front of the prince.

«Is she talking about the main character?» – the girl suddenly thought, but did not let this thought go far.

«I was just interrogating these people when you intervened. So you've done more harm than help. Should I punish you for this?»

– Haha, don't worry so much – Shin Zuzhou laughed, but there was not a drop of joy in her eyes – You still saved my spirit. I won't kill you right away. I'm just going to do a little checking.

While Yang Yulan was standing in a stupor, not knowing what to do next, Yang Yusheng suddenly showed up at the White Lotus Pavilion. He went straight to the gazebo, and, noticing his sister in a familiar mask in it, waved cheerfully with both hands.

– Hey, it's been a long time! – He shouted.

Noticing the guy, Yang Yulan almost burst into tears on the spot out of desperation.

– What a good time!

– Princess Shin Zuzhou, are you here too? What brings you to this place?

– I came here to hire this servant to my palace, – Shin Zuzhou did not stand on ceremony with greetings and immediately got to the point. She did not change her face at all after the appearance of the first prince. The atmosphere also remained oppressive, but the prince did not seem to notice it.

– Servant, you say?

Yang Yusheng immediately realized that something was wrong. He smiled slyly to himself, anticipating something quite interesting.

Shin Zuzhou did not comment on the words of the first prince in any way. She continued to bend her line.

– Excuse me for asking, but is this man a friend of yours?

– Yes, yes. The fact is that he is..

– I work here on the recommendation of His Highness – Yang Yulan interrupted him.

Yang Yusheng nodded contentedly.

– Anyway, I'm not changing my words, – Shin Zuzhou looked at the first prince carefully – I want this man to work for me. I can guarantee you that he will not need anything in my palace.

– Come on, Princess. Of course I believe you.

Yang Yulan looked at her brother pleadingly. He could hardly notice it because of the mask, but he could definitely feel it.

– Princess Shin Zuzhou, I understand everything. But still, this servant has been working under me for a long time. He's watching my sweet little sister. Who will take care of her if this servant leaves?

Shin Zuzhou seemed to understand what the first prince was getting at.

– What do you want for this servant?"

– What do I want? – Yang Yusheng grinned cheerfully, and then thought seriously.

– I just want you to take good care of him. After all, he is very dear to me. Nothing else.

«Traitor. What are you up to?» – Yang Yulan seethed with anger upon hearing his words.

– Agreed – concluded Shin Zuzhou and stood up from her seat.

– Follow me – she said to Yang Yulan

– But I am.. – the girl wanted to make a last attempt to save herself, but did not have time to say a word.

Yang Yusheng walked up to her and solemnly patted her shoulder.

– Don't worry, my friend. Go quietly. I'll handle all the formalities.

Yang Yulan dejectedly followed the Northern Princess, occasionally shooting angry sparks at Yang Yusheng from her eyes.

«I'm going to kill you someday, damn brother. Wait and see what happens to you.»

In turn, the first prince did not stop smiling, watching the two girls walking away.

– Just the perfect plan. I'm a genius.