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

Bloody and brutal.

After repeated unanswered calls to the system, Xiang An finally snapped: "Xiang Xin! Are you crazy?! Why?!"

She spoke and cried, her voice hoarse and helpless, half of it the lingering affection the original owner had for Xiang Xin, and half of it regretting once again that the timing of killing the emperor was wrong.

Xiang Xin's actions can only be described as "outrageous" or "insane".

Suddenly, Xiang Xin, who was holding the sword, couldn't control his hand and it trembled. With a crisp clang, the sword fell to the ground.

His eyes were red-rimmed, his expression was agitated, and his breathing was rapid. He stared at the empty chair next to Fu Qingbai, stammering and trembling, "Little...Little...Little Nine!"

Everyone froze, thinking to themselves, "The little emperor has gone mad before he even took the drugs?!"

The air stagnated again.

After a while, someone peeked up and saw that the young emperor Xiang Xin's cheeks were flushed, his eyes were looking at the empty air, and he was full of joy, as if he had seen or heard something.

Has he really gone mad?

Really? Or is it just acting?

The young emperor has been quite unpredictable today. First, he used some unknown method to take down the third and fifth princes, then he ruthlessly beheaded two ministers, and then he abandoned Master Xuanqing and promoted Lingxiaozi, who appeared out of nowhere.

Before everyone could figure out what was going on, things changed again? Or is it changing for the better, or is it genuine happiness or just a facade?

The phrase "the emperor's heart is unfathomable" is vividly embodied in today's young emperor, inspiring fear in all who behold him.

The kneeling crowd was lost in thought. For a moment, no one spoke up, and even Bai Yuchen, who was shedding tears, suppressed his sobs, crying silently, like a coward who had suffered injustice but dared not cry out.

Beneath the oppressive silence of imperial authority, from a corner, someone who couldn't contain themselves cautiously called out, "Your Majesty..."

The words fell——

"Quickly! Quickly!! Ling Xiaozi! Summon Ling Xiaozi to me immediately!!"

As if freed from some kind of immobilization, Xiang Xin suddenly roared, her voice so loud it shook the very soul.

The ministers kneeling at the door exchanged glances. Finally, the one with the lowest rank stiffened his legs and went out to find someone.

Xiang Xin hurriedly led all the ministers to the side hall.

Half an incense stick later, Ling Xiaozi arrived and talked with Xiang Xin for an unknown amount of time. He then summoned Fu Qingbai. Ling Xiaozi stared intently at Fu Qingbai for a while before silently nodding to Xiang Xin.

"Good, good, good!" Xiang Xin clapped her hands and shouted excitedly, "Little Jiu, you will soon be able to return to my side."

Fu Qingbai was baffled: "What does Your Majesty mean?"

"I..." Xiang Xin was about to speak, but then stopped. With a glance, Ling Xiao Zi made a gesture to take his leave and led all the palace maids and eunuchs out of the palace.

"Fu Qing, Xiao Jiu is by your side," Xiang Xin affirmed. "Xuan Qing told me that only those with pent-up emotions in their hearts are unwilling to leave after death. But I have investigated and found that although there were rumors about you and Xiao Jiu before, you have never met in private. In the Imperial Garden... that was the first time you met." Xiang Xin paused slightly when she mentioned the Imperial Garden.

"First time meeting?" A strange light flashed in Fu Qingbai's eyes, and his tone showed an unusual fluctuation.

Xiang An initially wanted to retort, but thankfully she shut up quickly. They had already restarted the game three times, and Xiang Xin was long unaware of her first marriage alliance.

In Xiang Xin's memory, she is just a princess who suddenly lost her mind and killed the emperor. Fu Qingbai, on the other hand, had just returned to the capital from the border. While playing chess with the emperor in the imperial garden, he encountered the princess's assassination attempt on the emperor. He was unable to protect the emperor in time and thus witnessed the emperor's tragic assassination. This led to their first indirect encounter.

"Could it be that Xiao Jiu and you had a private meeting that I was unaware of?"

“A year ago, when I returned to the capital, I had a brief encounter with the princess at a flower-viewing banquet.”

"I see. Fu Qing, you have a good memory. It seems a bit of a waste to put you in the frontier."

Xiang Xin touched her smooth chin, deep in thought.

"Your Majesty's arrangements are impeccable, and I am very pleased," Fu Qingbai said, bowing slightly. "There is one thing I do not understand..."

"I know what you want to ask, but I don't want to answer. The military tally and the command token are in my hands, and I can use them however I want. Don't forget your place, Fu Qing."

Xiang An: !!!

When did the military tally and the command token for the army reach the emperor's hands?

It definitely wasn't something that happened recently. She's with Fu Qingbai every day, and she's never seen him take these things.

If it was given a long time ago, then everything that's happening now is Xiang Xin's doing?

In an instant, Xiang Xin became mysterious and terrifying in Xiang An's eyes. He still had that fair and refined face, and that gentle smile, but somehow, he was different.

One trap after another, just when you think you've got it all covered, there's another pitfall behind, the kind that includes both digging and burying the hole.

terrible.

I initially thought he was a simple-minded, manipulative psychopath, but it turns out he's a highly intelligent and resourceful psychopath.

Were people in ancient times this fierce?

"Yes." Fu Qingbai lowered his eyelids, concealing all the emotions that surfaced in his eyes.

"After today, those who are destined to die will die, and those who are not will die. From now on, my throne will be secure." Xiang Xin clenched his fist, full of fighting spirit, his eyes blazing with the ambition and arrogance that a young man should have.

Angling... law enforcement!

A word suddenly popped into Xiang An's head.

Whether it was the princes outside or the people in the palace, Xiang Xin was the one who screened all the plays performed today. She determined whether they were loyal or treacherous, whether they were usable or not, or whether they should be used with caution. After today, Xiang Xin would have a clear understanding of the situation.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Fu Qingbai offered his congratulations.

"Don't congratulate me, there's still a little bit left." Xiang Xin helped Fu Qingbai, who was about to perform a grand salute, "Xiao Jiu hasn't come to my side yet."

Fu Qingbai paused in his movements, then looked at him with a clear gaze: "Your Majesty, I am also saddened by the passing of Princess Miankang, but she is gone and that is that. We cannot believe in superstitions or supernatural phenomena."

"No, no! I didn't believe it until just now, I... I heard it, I heard Xiao Jiu questioning me 'why'."

Xiang Xin's burning gaze was so intense it seemed to burn through a sheet of paper. "It's true, it's all true. Daoist Xuanqing didn't lie to me, nor did Lingxiaozi. They... can really see Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu has never left; she's right beside me!"

Xiang An was stunned.

"System, system, did Xiang Xin really hear me?"

It was a casual question, I didn't expect the system to say anything, but it actually replied: "Maybe."

The two words in the mechanical voice made Xiang An's head explode: "Damn it! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

When she first became a spirit, Xiang An was extremely uncomfortable being treated like air. Later, when she learned that Master Xuanqing could see her, she assumed there was only one. Now, the system says that Xiang Xin might be able to hear her, which is both surprising and delightful.

"System, system, why is it possible?" Xiang An asked urgently, but the system disappeared again.

Xiang An: "...problem."

Putting aside his curiosity, Fu Qingbai knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, if Princess Miankang is indeed by my side as the two Taoist priests said, it is impossible for me not to have noticed. Moreover, it is impossible for me to be acquainted with the princess. There is no reason for the princess to be by my side all the time."