Chapter 4

Lu Hua was sitting in her room, surrounded by luxurious decorations. In front of her was a fancy meal displayed on a beautifully crafted table. She was excited to enjoy the delicious food in front of her. Using her chopsticks carefully, she selected a piece of meat and lifted it to her mouth. However, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment as the raw texture of the meat made her cringe.

"Oh no, this meat isn't cooked enough!" she exclaimed in disappointment. She then turned her attention to the colorful vegetables, hoping they would be flavorful. However, after trying them, she found them to be plain and lacking the delicious taste she was hoping for. She let out a sigh and put down her chopsticks, feeling her appetite decrease due to the average quality of the meal.

As she sat there feeling defeated in her culinary experience, a bright red screen suddenly appeared in front of her, surprising her. Frustrated, she couldn't help but express her annoyance with a series of strong words that reverberated around the room.

Congratulations!

You have been chosen as our first premium user. Purchase this mod for 400 points, and you'll successfully complete your mission without any issues! The mods available are:

1. Super Strength

2. Super Hearing

3. Stats Modifier

No points? No problem! You can acquire this and pay later!!

[Buy] [Pay Later] [Exit]

Lu Hua looked at the screen with doubt, muttering quietly to herself, "Scammer." She tried to dismiss the intrusive message by pressing the exit button. But no matter how many times she tapped it, the screen wouldn't go away. "What on earth!?" she swore, growing more and more aggravated with each unsuccessful attempt.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Li Beihe burst into the room, her cheeks red from rushing to deliver urgent news. "My lady!" she gasped, clearly having hurried to share important information.

Realizing the screen wouldn't disappear, Lu Hua hesitantly chose the 'pay later' option. With a sigh of relief, the screen disappeared, allowing her to focus on Li Beihe.

"What is it?" Lu Hua asked, directing her full attention to Beihe.

"Oh! Um... I'm so exhausted..." Li Beihe panted, struggling to catch her breath. "I overheard two maids talking! They mentioned that the second prince didn't visit the bride's chamber because he heard a rumor!"

Lu Hua raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the gossip but maintaining a cool composure. "What rumor?" she inquired casually, reaching for a grapefruit and taking a thoughtful bite.

"It's about you being ugly! Rong Xianzong is to blame for spreading such rumor!" Li Beihe fumed, her frustration evident.

Lu Hua merely shrugged, showing little concern. "The second prince seems rather promiscuous. Let him indulge in his desires," she replied nonchalantly, her tone indifferent.

"B-b-but, he's your husband?" Li Beihe stuttered, visibly surprised.

"Didn't you hear what the Empress mentioned yesterday? I am set to marry the sixth prince," Lu Hua commented casually, lounging with her leg propped up on a nearby stool, displaying an air of relaxation and indifference.

Li Beihe cast a hesitant glance at her lady, noticing the unusual casualness in her demeanor. Lady Lu Hua, usually the picture of grace and sophistication, appeared somewhat... different. Shaking her head, Beihe attributed it to her lady's likely exhaustion.

"Well... apparently, the sixth prince is a reserved individual. He enjoys solitude," Li Beihe added, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Lu Hua enthusiastically slammed her hand on the table, causing Li Beihe to let out a surprised squeak. "Ay!"

"That's great news! I won't have to pretend to be a loving wife and share a bed with him!" Lu Hua exclaimed, a mischievous grin lighting up her face.

Li Beihe's eyes widened in shock. "Um, my lady... but wouldn't that be lonely?" she cautiously inquired.

"What's there to be sad about? It's peaceful. Let him do his thing, just as long as he leaves me in peace," Lu Hua replied, waving her hand dismissively, her unconventional viewpoint refreshing.

Li Beihe could only palm her face in response, finding her lady's stance both perplexing and strangely freeing.

As night fell, Lu Hua's stomach growled loudly, urging her to abandon the comfort of her bed in search of food. Moving silently through the dimly lit hallways, she skillfully avoided alerting any guards or servants. Her peaceful walk was interrupted by strange sounds coming from a nearby room.

'Hmm, what's going on?' Lu Hua wondered, her interest piqued as she stood still to listen.

"Your highness~ once you divorce that ugly girl, why not make me your wife?" a high-pitched, overly sweet voice cooed, its sickly tone unnerving.

Lu Hua narrowed her eyes, her initial intrigue turning into disgust.

"You're aware that's not possible. The empress would never allow it; you're just a mere prostitute, correct?" a man's voice retorted, dripping with disdain.

"But you adore this prostitute~" the girl simpered, her voice falsely innocent.

Lu Hua shuddered, quickly stepping away from the door. "Men, what in the world... is this some degrading fetish or what," she muttered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief at the distasteful conversation.

As Lu Hua turned the corner, she bumped into a familiar figure—the man she had met when she first awoke in this perplexing world. Standing tall, he exuded a calm authority that both unnerved and intrigued her. With a gentle smile, he addressed her.

"Beautiful lady, why are you wandering alone so late at night? It's unsafe," he said, his voice smooth and composed, his gaze unwavering.

Lu Hua stepped back, "I'm just looking for the bathroom," she responded, her voice steady despite her apprehension.

"Need assistance? I can guide you to the washroom," he kindly offered, extending his hand in a chivalrous manner.

Politely declining, Lu Hua shook her head and chuckled lightly. "Oh, it's fine. I know the way..."

"Are you sure? Well, if you insist," he responded, his gaze fixed on her with unwavering attention, as if awaiting further discourse.

"Um...I should get going now," Lu Hua said, carefully walking past him with cautious movements.

"Of course," he replied, his eyes following her retreating figure, leaving behind an aura of lingering presence like a shadow in the darkness of the night.

Looking back briefly, Lu Hua couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as the man stood unmoving, his gaze fixed ahead. His peculiar behavior left her puzzled and cautious.

"Why is he acting like that?" she pondered, hastening her steps as she continued her quest for the kitchen, the cold night air seeping into her thin robes.

"This place gives me the creeps at night..." Lu Hua murmured, rubbing her arms to stave off the chill that pervaded the dimly lit corridors.

Without a warning, a screen materialized before her, causing her to jump in surprise.

Thank you for purchasing our mod! We are delighted to let you know that you can now use it!

What mod? Lu Hua pondered briefly before recalling her recent purchase. "Oh, right."

Modify stats?

[Yes] [Exit]

Intrigued, Lu Hua selected the 'yes' option, excitement bubbling within her as she anticipated the changes that awaited her.

Name: Chun Lu Hua

Age: 17 Years old

Height: 177 cm

Weight: 55 kg

Stats:

Beauty: 80 [+]

Strength: 50 [+]

Intellect: 50 [+]

Eyesight: 70 [+]

Hearing: 66 [+]

Maximize all?

[Yes] [No]

"Ohohooo," Lu Hua chuckled, her interest sparked by the possibility of elevating her abilities to extraordinary levels.

While not one to shirk from effort, Lu Hua believed there was no harm in capitalizing on the chance to simplify her life. With a resolute tap, she confirmed her decision by selecting 'yes,' witnessing with astonishment as her stats surged to an impressive 1000. Her eyes widened, jaw dropping in shock at the drastic change.

"One thousand?????"

Well, what could go wrong, right? Surely, nothing bad could come of this... right?