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

Her eyes, which used to be calm and serene, and which always held a hint of indifference and detachment when she looked at people, are now as still as stagnant water, devoid of any luster.

Standing there like a statue, Xiang An's mind was filled with nothing but—

Why? How could he die? Can a fall really kill someone? Is life so fragile? Did someone kill him? Who killed him? What did he see in the observatory? What exactly happened?

One mystery after another seemed to transform into threads, constantly entangled and intertwined, ultimately becoming an unsolvable knot with Fu Qingbai's death.

The heavy snow fell for a day and a night. Each snowflake was so light and beautiful. When it fell to the ground, it piled up and became the grave soil that buried Fu Qingbai.

Jade-carved and silver-adorned, pure white and flawless.

[Ding—Dear host, the barrier has been removed and the malfunction has been fixed. Welcome to the vast world.] The system's mechanical voice appeared out of nowhere.

"Why did Fu Qingbai die? Didn't you say he wouldn't die?"

[Host, are you even thinking straight? You asked such a stupid question. Does saving him once mean this system has to keep him alive for the rest of his life?] The system scoffed coldly.

“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have killed the emperor. He did nothing wrong. It was all my fault. I’m willing to accept any punishment. Please save Fu Qing’s innocence. He shouldn’t have died so hastily. He shouldn’t have died in such a way.”

Xiang An's legs gave way and she collapsed to her knees, half her body sinking into the snow. Her eyes were so dry that not a single tear could flow.

[Host, after all this time you still don't understand. This system has said that there's nothing wrong with slaughtering animals or completing tasks; what's truly wrong is your method of doing things. The world is never short of darkness, but it lacks a heart that doesn't forget the light.]

[I've told you this principle many times, and I'm tired of it, but since Heaven has chosen you, I'll say it again—if you can let go of this humiliation, it's simply a matter of 'looking forward.' If you can't let go, you can use the law. If you want to overturn or protest, your task is for the system to provide you with the most direct path.]

Human life is inherently fragile and insignificant, whether it belongs to someone else or yourself. You should cherish it, instead of repeatedly risking your life for a task or out of impulse, or using what you believe to be righteous means. The world needs order and laws, but it doesn't need your personal 'justice'.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, whatever you say is right, I beg you, you are right, I am wrong, save him, save him, save him..."

Unconsciously repeating the same thing over and over again, Xiang An could no longer hear anything. Her eyes were empty as she stared blankly at the white snow in front of her. Each snowflake was crystal clear, tiny and light, falling together, yet it felt like an insurmountable mountain, weighing heavily on her heart.

There is no truly wrong, nor truly right.

[This is a final reminder—this system is subject to unforeseen circumstances and has limited energy. Furthermore, it will not provide you with any assistance. This system has already violated the rules once for you; there will be no second time. Now, host, reflect carefully, accept the punishment, and think about how to complete tasks in the future.]

As soon as he finished speaking, bolts of lightning struck down, and powerful electric currents rushed from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, causing indescribable pain that was unbearable for ordinary people.

To be fair, in the past, Xiang An would have fainted after being struck by three bolts of lightning. Today, she endured five bolts of lightning, but she kept her jaw clenched and refused to faint for a long time.

Seven, eight, each one stronger than the last, the mortal body could not withstand the excruciating pain.

When I woke up again, I didn't know how much time had passed. The heavy snow had stopped, and the white world was silent. I was all alone, not knowing where to go.

I walked aimlessly along the cobblestone path, crossed the high steps, and entered the neglected courtyard. The withered yellow weeds, topped with snow-like clumps, huddled in the corner.

Thin, crooked pine trees squeezed out from the base of a wall with a large hole in it. Thick snow piled up and almost buried the tree crown. The evergreen pine needles buried in the snow were like a touch of green in the white, sparse and pitiful.

Looking around, I was clearly standing in a courtyard, but at this moment I felt as lonely as if I were standing at a crossroads, with no way to go in any of the directions I wanted to take.

After wandering around aimlessly and returning to where he started, Xiang An stared at the "cemetery" in the courtyard where Fu Qingbai was buried, and suddenly realized: "The barrier has disappeared..."

Fu Qingbai is dead, she's free, and her guess was right. It was something she'd clearly wanted to test for a long time, and now that it was suddenly confirmed, she felt no joy whatsoever.

Squatting on the threshold, with my hands wrapped around my legs and my chin resting gently on my knees, I stared quietly at the snow-covered protrusion in the yard. The sky gradually darkened, a cold wind swept through, and there wasn't a single cloud on the horizon. In the moonless night, the snow shone brightly.

There's no snow tonight, but it's windy and cold.

The next morning, heavy snow fell again. The heavens, which had rested overnight, were unusually excited today. The cold wind grew stronger, and the snowflakes fell one by one, pattering down like beans.

Xiang An rested her chin on her hand, silently counting the days in her mind: "Two days have passed, and no one has noticed that you are missing. Since no one cares about you, why did you leave the palace in such a hurry?"

If he hadn't been in such a hurry, how could he have fallen and died?

Also, what exactly happened that day?

With Fu Qingbai's years of fighting spirit and courage on the battlefield, let alone the dead or the living, even encountering a ghost would not cause him to panic like that.

She stood up, stretched her stiff body, and her chaotic thoughts cleared up a little. With a sigh, Xiang An slowly walked out of the courtyard where she had stayed for several days. When she saw the scene outside, she immediately understood why no one had passed by the courtyard for so many days—it was the Cold Palace.

The palace was a place where imperial concubines were imprisoned and countless people died.

Now that the emperor has just died and Xiang Xin has just ascended the throne, it is the best time for him to wear mourning clothes, gain a reputation for filial piety, and seize power. He has no time to deal with the women before the emperor, let alone select women to enter the palace.

This place, which is usually deserted and considered unlucky, is now even more deserted.

In the last moment before leaving, Xiang An couldn't help but look back. The cracked and moldy gate, the steps covered with moss and lichen, the palace walls with red walls and golden tiles, and the pure white snow had simply become the burial place of Fu Qingbai.

"Don't worry, I won't let you stay cold for too long," Xiang An thought to himself, then turned his head and didn't look back.

After leaving the Cold Palace, the first thing I did was head straight for the Star Gazing Tower.

To be fair, none of the things Xiang An had fantasized about doing after gaining freedom had anything to do with Fu Qingbai.

But Fu Qingbai's death was too suspicious, and for some reason, she always felt that Fu Qingbai's cause of death might be related to her. It was a special, blind feeling. She even had the illusion that she would regret it if she didn't find out the reason.

Few things have given Xiang An such a strong feeling; this is the first time, and it's worth investigating.