Chapter 4: Please, You're So Weak

Song Yue mentioned that when she was in her thirties, she actually felt a little insecure.

This body could only pass for a teenager at best. Wearing women's clothes and layering a few pieces underneath, combined with the mature and elegant air she carried with every gesture, barely allowed her to pass as a young woman in her twenties. In reality, this young man was about the same age as her.

However, thinking of her skillful makeup techniques, she straightened her back, rubbed her face, and deliberately placed her hand in front of him, pretending to casually explain: "Makeup can make a woman look younger... plus I always wear the finest things, and I take good care of myself. It's not strange for me to appear like a woman in her twenties."

Since he was from the royal family of the Chu Kingdom, he must have been familiar with the grand, elegant consorts of the palace. Makeup and tonics could easily make the empress appear ten years younger.

Xuan Sibei glanced at the powder on her fingertips, accepting her explanation, but still wasn't willing to agree. In a blink, he had another response, almost without thinking: "According to the customs of the Chu people, you need to give me a pure silver longevity lock to complete the recognition ceremony. Where can we find one now? Or should we leave it for another day..."

"…Alright!"

"…" If this were an animation, you'd clearly see three question marks on his head, and a sinister, boss-level dark aura behind him.

But Song Yue didn't care much about that anymore. Fearing he might change his mind, she quickly settled the matter: "That's settled then! You stay in Jiulong Bay for now. Once I finish my business in Yan Kingdom and prepare the longevity lock, I'll come find you. We'll hold the recognition ceremony then. It's getting dark, so hurry up and go! If you wait until morning, it won't be so easy to leave!"

"But…"

"Is there anything else? Hurry up and go!" Song Yue quickly interrupted him. "I told you, no need for more thanks. I know you're kind-hearted and grateful for my favor... Why are you looking at me? Take big steps forward and don't look back. I won't break my word. I'll definitely come find you! Wait for me at the Yuelai Inn in Jiulong Bay, and remember it!"

A boy raised with luxury since childhood would undoubtedly feel a little awkward at the thought of suddenly having an old mother added to the family… Let alone with his complicated, cynical personality—he might even want to hit someone.

Time to make a quick escape!

Looking at Song Yue's hurried figure as she left, Xuan Sibei stood still for a while before withdrawing his gaze.

The hidden men in black began to emerge from the shadows, kneeling before him in perfect unison, exuding the iron-blooded aura typical of military personnel: "Master, we were delayed."

"Rise."

The carriage was already prepared, everything under control. His original plan was to head to Jiulong Bay—aside from that, there was no place for him in the Six Kingdoms.

It was rumored that Jiulong Bay was a place for exiles, criminals and wicked people from the Seven Kingdoms. Not only were they ruthless, but they also bullied the weak and feared the strong. They had no regard for the law of the land, and to survive, they would do anything. However... it was a perfect hiding place. Even if the Yan Kingdom noticed something, it would be of no use.

"Master!" Just as they stood, the only woman among his subordinates suddenly tore off her veil, her eyes full of confusion and disapproval. "That woman has seen you. Why not let us…" She made a throat-slashing gesture.

They had been lying in wait to meet their master, and when they saw the woman, they had intended to eliminate her for convenience, but they were stopped, which left them uneasy.

"She has no martial skill and poses no threat." Xuan Sibei pinched the two broken silver coins in his hand and lowered his gaze slightly. "Just a kind-hearted merchant girl. She's irrelevant to the plan, no need for unnecessary action."

When the sky began to turn pale with the first light of dawn, a carriage slowly entered Jiulong Bay. In a short while, the curtain of the carriage was gently lifted.

Xuan Sibei glanced at the narrow street outside before letting the curtain fall again. Suddenly, as if he had remembered something, he asked in a deep voice, "Has the inn been arranged?"

He closed his eyes lightly, leaning back against the soft cushions. His worn-out clothes had been changed, and the grime on his face had been wiped away. Even though his current clothes were not expensive, an extraordinary aura still emanated from his every movement. His black hair was loosely tied, and his once clear, harmless eyes now seemed dark and venomous.

This should have been the time for the youth to live freely, but instead, he faced such a turn of events. Still, as always, there was no sign of gloom between his brows, and his face remained indifferent, making it hard for others to read his emotions.

"Yes, yes! The Yuelai Inn in Jiulong Bay is not far from here, just around the corner." The man driving the carriage, named Qian Jiang, was the one most familiar with Jiulong Bay. "Jiulong Bay is small, and its resources are scarce. That's why the Yan, Chu, and Zhao kingdoms don't want to fight over this barren land or bother with it. It's been taken over by us homeless people. There are few outsiders here, and there are only two inns in the whole of Jiulong Bay. One is the Yuelai Inn, spacious and comfortable, with distinguished staff. The other is the Fengqi Inn, which is cheaper, a bit more remote, and the building is a bit old."

"Turn the carriage around, head to the Fengqi Inn." Xuan Sibei ordered without a second thought.

He still held the two broken silver coins in his hand, thinking of the woman who had just saved him. The corner of his mouth curled up slightly.

In this world, there were not only ambitious people in the palace, but also women like her—simple and a bit foolish—who offered him help… It's a pity he didn't need it.

Do you want to be his godmother?

Even if she had saved him, he would never agree.

"Ah, but the Fengqi Inn is really a bit too shabby. Master... I'm afraid..." Qian Jiang quickly pulled the reins, stopping the carriage by the roadside, still hesitating.

He had been around this area for a long time and knew every corner of Jiulong Bay. The Master was accustomed to a life of luxury and comfort, and he feared he wouldn't be able to adapt to the conditions at Fengqi Inn... It wasn't like the city; aside from the street across, everything behind was wilderness. Not far away, there was a large vegetable field, and the noise of rats at night was unavoidable, constantly chattering and disturbing the peace. He could already foresee the cold expression on the Master's face, his brows furrowed before even entering the place.

"It's fine." Xuan Sibei's tone was indifferent, as if he didn't care much.

He knew that the woman would take the longevity lock and wait for him at the Yuelai Inn.

But unfortunately, she would never be able to wait forever. They were from two different worlds.

He should have been lying at the deepest, darkest abyss. Perhaps, even after death, he would be exiled to hell, letting the cold, eerie river of the underworld touch his feet and carry him into the endless, bottomless void. He was destined to be a cursed villain, hated by everyone.

Even though he had lost his mother at a young age, he never wanted that unfamiliar woman to take up too much of his time. He was destined for greatness, while that ordinary woman was just a passing figure.

"Thank you."

He said softly into the air, releasing the broken silver coins from his hand.

"Your kindness was misplaced... I'm a villain... not worth saving."

"You say you're a citizen of the Yan Kingdom... Do you know that I am plotting to kill your emperor? If you knew that, you'd probably want to kill me the moment you met me..."

His voice was soft, clear, and magnetic, tinged with cold self-mockery, like poison wrapped in a sweet exterior. It lingered in the air, unheard by anyone.

After the carriage passed, a curious child picked up the broken silver coins from the road, happily pocketing them. Xuan Sibei saw this scene, lowered his gaze, and dropped the curtain of the carriage window, as if he had completed something very important.

The matter was settled. From now on, he would act as though he had never seen her. His world didn't need anyone close.

He would eventually become the king of Yan Kingdom, using a dagger to pierce his enemies' hearts, completely crushing Ji Wuzhao beneath his feet, and overturning the entire Yan dynasty.

"Send someone to monitor Ji Wuzhao's every move in the palace and wait for the right moment to strike."

After rushing back overnight, Song Yue, yawning incessantly, was spotted at the entrance of the military tent. She had already changed into a loose inner garment and resumed her attire as the little emperor. Upon seeing someone, she was not at all flustered and casually brushed it off with the excuse of going to relieve herself in the morning, then leisurely continued on her journey back.

The Grand Steward, Li Deshun, was very concerned about the emperor's mental state and carefully attended to her from the side. This was Song Yue's first time experiencing the perks of being an emperor. Simply reclining in a chair, someone immediately came over to check on her well-being, fan her, and bring her food—so comfortable. This further solidified her determination to become an arrogant empress.

Song Yue: I've now realized the benefits of being an emperor—sitting on a throne surrounded by thousands of beauties, embraced from both sides, with no worries about food or clothes...

[You might not say that once you return to the capital. By the way, is the host a lesbian?]

Song Yue: Pfft! Right now I don't have real power, so I can't reveal my gender. But once I have the power, I'll keep a handsome man around to enjoy the view...

Just as she was daydreaming about her bright future, reality slapped her back into place the next day.

After returning to the capital, Song Yue didn't head straight to the alchemy room as usual, but instead walked towards a place she had never been—the royal treasury.

This action caused the palace servants, who were busy with their tasks, to look up in surprise.

The sun must be setting in the west today? The emperor, Ji Wuzhao, who was usually obsessed with alchemy and immortality, was returning to the palace for the first time without summoning Master Wu. From the hurried steps, it seemed he was in a rush to handle something!

However, after thinking about the things Ji Wuzhao had done since taking the throne... the palace servants all lowered their heads.

What good could he do? As long as he didn't cause more trouble in the palace, that would be considered good enough! They were fortunate to have a prince who was dedicated to the Great Yan Kingdom. Otherwise, who knows? Maybe the Zhao Kingdom would have already taken advantage of them and attacked. Would they even have any peaceful days left?

But Song Yue didn't know any of this. She had just crossed over and was still getting used to her new identity. After dealing with the troublesome Xuan Sibei, she was now preparing to take charge of her country. The first thing she had to deal with was not the troublesome imperial uncle, nor the concubines in the harem, and definitely not the ministers who were eyeing her from the court... but her royal treasury.

It's said that money can solve any problem, so let's first see how much Ji Wuzhao has saved, then make long-term plans!

But reality was harsh.

Song Yue stood dumbfounded at the entrance of the empty treasury, unsure whether to enter or retreat. A gust of wind blew through the hall, making her feel cold all over.

Empty? Who cleared it out? Surely, it shouldn't take much to make some elixirs, right? Could it have been stolen? Or did she come to the wrong place?

In Ji Wuzhao's memory, all he had ever done was alchemy; he had never come to the treasury. Every time he needed funds, he seemed to hear about the amounts from others.

"What happened?" She suddenly turned to Li Deshun, who was trembling, hiding his hands in his sleeves, seemingly not daring to look her in the eye. "Why is it empty?"

Where's my money? The gold and silver? The pearls and agate? Where did they all go?

"Your Majesty... the treasury is empty. The ministers' salaries are nearly impossible to pay, and you still owe several hundred taels to the Wan Nian Bank!" Li Deshun wiped the cold sweat from his brow and stammered, "But don't worry. Although the gold and silver treasures from Chu country have mysteriously disappeared by half, we've managed to fill the gap for this month. However, if things continue like this next month..."

Song Yue finally understood what the system's words meant. To her surprise, the only gold ring she owned was the only bit of wealth she had left. If next month the treasury still doesn't have any income, would she have to sell off the things around her? No wonder Ji Wuzhao, who was obsessed with alchemy, would personally lead a military campaign. It turns out he was driven to madness by poverty.

As the poorest emperor in the world, Song Yue rested her head in her hands, deep in thought.

How could an emperor be this poor? With Ji Wuzhao's clueless actions, could it be that everything was taken by that scammer, Master Wu?! So pitiful… No father, no mother, no love from the concubines, no care from the imperial uncle. The only person she trusted, Master Wu, was a conman targeting the money in her purse. This world truly has no warmth!

Song Yue: System, my situation is dire.

[Oh, I already knew.]

Song Yue: Normally, shouldn't you be giving me some sort of special ability or something? How am I supposed to defy fate and save the world in such a difficult situation? Do you think I'm the heroine of a fantasy novel? Besides, you already knew this task was hard and still trapped me here? Do you have any sense of humanitarianism?

[...] [You have this system, host.]

Song Yue: A system that can't even open the store is still called a system???

[The reason is that you're too weak, host. If you were a martial arts master with internal power, your energy value would have reached 1000, opening the store and leading you to the peak of your life.]

Song Yue fell into thought again. After a long moment, she dragged Li Deshun out, trying to appear aloof as she looked at him with a sidelong glance and said seriously, "I have a deep frustration inside me."

Li Deshun lowered his head, not daring to look at the emperor: "..."

It's only natural for anyone to feel frustrated and short of breath seeing the empty treasury, let alone with so much debt.

"So, I need to vent properly." Song Yue continued seriously, asking, "Who is the best martial artist in the palace? I rarely have the interest today and want to practice."

"Naturally, it's..." Li Deshun had originally intended to say the prince, but then suddenly remembered the prince's hostile attitude toward the little emperor. He thought it better to call someone loyal to the emperor, just in case there were any ill intentions during the sparring. "Naturally, it's the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Mo Qingqiu!"

The emperor was still young, and would definitely lose to the cunning and scheming prince… As a subordinate, he had to be careful.

"Then… bring him to the training ground!" Song Yue waved her hand grandly, seemingly unaware of the word "fear." "Today, I must spar with him!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" Li Deshun deeply felt this was unwise. He knew exactly how capable his emperor was. Commander Mo's martial arts were exceptionally strong. One punch from him could crush stone, let alone bones.

If the emperor were to be knocked down this time, wouldn't he become the laughingstock of the palace?