After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

It's been ten days since the game restarted. The day she closed her eyes in the cave and fell into the moment of death, when she opened her eyes again, she was lying on the bed in the princess's mansion.

Her timeline rewound to the day Ogihara Ao arrived in the country. No one noticed that she had died and then been resurrected. Her beginning was like a drop of water entering the ocean, perfectly harmonious.

After the restart, no one but her will have the memories of the time before the restart; in other people's memories, she will still be the high and mighty princess.

Her experiences are unknown to anyone, she has nowhere to confide in anyone, and no one to confide in.

After waking up, Xiang An remained lying in bed without speaking, eating, or drinking. His eyes were vacant and lifeless as he stared blankly at the intricate embroidery patterns on the ceiling.

From a fate worse than death to actual death and now to resurrection, there is no greater joy or sorrow than this. Yet, her emotions are inexplicably extremely calm, even undisturbed, as she uncontrollably relives the pain in the cave over and over again.

In the past few days, the emperor has sent more than a dozen groups of imperial physicians to the princess's residence for treatment. The results of their pulse diagnosis showed that, apart from being depressed, there were no other symptoms.

"Princess, dinner is ready." Xiao Ru brought in a bowl of porridge, her eyes red and swollen.

Xiang An seemed not to hear, remaining unmoved.

Gently placing the bowl on the side table, Xiao Ru knelt by the bedside, looking at Xiang An's thinner face. Her eyes welled up with tears. She didn't know why her princess had become so dazed after waking up from her nap. She showed no joy or sorrow, and wouldn't even eat a single bite.

Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, she said softly, "Princess, look! Today is your favorite white fungus and lotus seed porridge."

Xiang An: "..."

The bitterness she had been suppressing welled up inside her and suddenly surged back up. Xiao Ru could no longer hold back her tears: "Princess, I beg you, please eat something. Your body can't take it without eating. Even if it's not for yourself, please eat something for His Majesty. His Majesty has been very worried about you lately because he has been not eating and has become so thin."

Xiang An blinked—was the emperor worried because she wasn't eating? Really worried? So worried that all he could do was talk, but not act? He wouldn't even glance at her?

How hypocritical!

Xiao Ru caught her blink in an instant and immediately added, "His Majesty specially sent people to the Princess's residence twice today, bringing a large quantity of your favorite ingredients, as well as chefs from the Imperial Kitchen, all waiting for you..."

"Get out." Xiang An hadn't drunk water for a long time, and her voice was hoarse, but it wasn't hard to hear her impatience.

"Princess, His Majesty is very worried about you..."

"I say—get out!" Each word was deliberate and heavy.

Faced with Xiang An's resolute gaze, Xiao Ru finally left with tears in her eyes and a heavy heart.

The room returned to silence. Xiang An changed the embroidered pattern and continued to stare blankly, remaining in the same reclining position on the bed.

[Host, are you planning to be a coward?] The system's voice suddenly appeared.

Xiang An: "..."

[The host's silence signifies agreement?]

Xiang An: "..."

I have no problem with you being a coward, but your inhuman, ghost-like state is making me doubt myself.

Xiang An: "..."

[This system is known for its excellent judgment; of course, I'm praising myself, it has nothing to do with you, host.] The system paused to add explanation, then continued, [My excellent judgment means I never pick the wrong person. The way you are now is inexplicably making my eyes hurt.]

Xiang An: "..."

[Please note that hosts who cause this system to doubt itself or experience eye pain generally do not fare well.]

Xiang An's blank eyes moved slightly, and he said, "You're going to kill me?"

Although this system would very much like to do so, I am bound to you; I cannot kill you, and you cannot kill me.

Xiang An parted his chapped lips and laughed, "So it turns out we're still in a mutual relationship."

[I advise the host not to make wild guesses; a curious cat will die, and so will you.]

Xiang An: "..."

[Host, you should go do your mission. It was just four people humiliating you once; you didn't die, it's nothing.]

The system's usual calm and mechanical tone sounded incredibly ironic at this moment, instantly reminding Xiang An of everything she had suffered in the cave, and her peaceful emotions could no longer be stabilized.

Unable to control her temper any longer, she roared, "...What do you mean 'just'?! What do you mean 'it's nothing'?! Physical injuries can heal with time, but for me, for a girl, this is an insult and trampling on my dignity, a shadow on my soul that I can never erase for the rest of my life!"

“Beastly behavior should be punished by law. It should not be taken lightly just because the matter is over or has already been done, but the person did not die.”

【Is that all?】

Xiang An: "No!"

"Do you know how desperate and helpless I felt when they pinned me down in the cave? I couldn't even commit suicide! I couldn't protect myself, I couldn't even control my own life! Why? Why should I have to suffer all this? Why should I have to endure all this?"

"In the original body's memories, the emperor father was gentle and kind to the original body and to me who transmigrated here. He himself ruled the country with benevolence and virtue. So why would the emperor kill me in this way? How could he do this to the original body that I couldn't bear to destroy?"

"This is his own daughter! She has always admired her emperor father and would gladly give everything for just a little bit of familial warmth!"

As she spoke, Xiang An couldn't help but burst into tears. This was the first time she had experienced such a strong emotional reaction since the incident in the cave.

It was desolate and sorrowful.

Even as she cried until the very end, she didn't know whether she was crying for what she had experienced, or for the original owner's foolish and beautiful attachment to family. Perhaps it was both, or perhaps neither.

In any case, at this moment, she really needed a dramatic, heart-wrenching, and pointless outburst of crying.

The sun is shining brightly right now, there is neither wind nor rain nor cloud, it is the best time of summer, warm and charming.

The crying gradually subsided until silence fell.

Xiang An lay motionless on the bed, her face buried in the blanket, her eyes swollen from crying, unable to squeeze out any more tears.

The system appeared at the opportune moment: [Host, you now have two choices: One: Report to the authorities. As you said, 'such beastly behavior should be punished by law,' and this system agrees with you and supports your decision. However, you know best whether this option is effective. Leaving aside the fact that the case has been reopened and no further evidence can be found, given your status as the emperor...]

Even though the host has traveled from the future, received a higher education, and has different perspectives than this era, you still have to admit one thing: emperors never make mistakes, and it's impossible for an emperor to be wrong.

Xiang An: "..."

The emperor, of course, would not make a mistake, and there were plenty of civil and military officials in the court who were happy to take the blame for the emperor's mistakes.