Sludge suction system

"Xiao Zha, I'm exhausted after acting all day." Ruan Quan collapsed onto the bed, too tired to care about anything else.

"Host, keep it up! You've reached 65 points, and the mission is more than half complete," Xiao Zha replied.

"I'm so tired. All this scheming and backstabbing is really not for someone as brainless as me. I've been living on tenterhooks these past few days, and it's almost made me lose weight. I don't care, Xiao Zha, hurry up and arrange some benefits for me, or I'm going on strike..." Ruan Quan groaned from exhaustion.

"I want to see handsome men, you little scumbag! I don't care, I just want to see handsome men!"

Little Scum couldn't stand his host's antics any longer and silently thought to himself, "Girls are so hard to coax. Luckily, I'm not human."

He then turned on the projection system, and soon a classically elegant scene appeared. Deep within a delicate and secluded courtyard, moon-white gauze curtains fluttered in the breeze, subtly separating that corner of the hot spring bath from the outside world. The steamy atmosphere was dreamlike and ethereal, like a fairyland shrouded in wispy clouds, specially designed for the refined gentleman who would hide here.

Beside the hot spring pool, the white marble railing is warm to the touch, with delicate carvings depicting lifelike dragons and phoenixes, seemingly about to break through the wall and fly away. Scattered petals, carefully gathered by the maids at dawn, pink and white apricot blossoms and delicate crabapple blossoms float leisurely on the water, their rich, sweet fragrance permeating the air.

A figure in a moon-white brocade robe appeared gracefully, and amidst the fluttering of the garments, a cool and aloof young master slowly emerged. His eyebrows were like distant mountains, his eyes were long and narrow, his nose was high and straight, his thin lips were naturally red, his skin was as white as snow, and his black hair was casually tied back, with a few strands falling in front of his forehead, adding a touch of casual laziness.

As he removed his robe, the movement was elegant and graceful. The wide robe slipped down, revealing his taut shoulders and lean yet powerful arms. Water droplets rolled down like shattered jade. Stepping into the pool, the warm spring water instantly enveloped him, causing him to close his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes fluttering, and a look of contentment appearing on his face.

He raised his hand to splash water, the clear spring water washing over his face, cleansing away the dust of his journey and dispelling the weariness he usually concealed between his brows. Underwater, his long, slender fingers moved gently through his hair, his dark hair flowing freely like a nimble black fish, intertwining with the surrounding petals. Occasionally, he would glance up, his gaze piercing through the misty vapor, clear and cool, like the dawn light breaking through the thin fog; for a moment, even the flowers around the hot spring paled in comparison. That was none other than Ning Yuan, the young master who had rescued her earlier.

Ruan Quan's eyes lit up the moment she saw the handsome man, and her earlier fatigue seemed to vanish instantly. She leaned closer, her eyes glued to the screen.

"That's more like it," Ruan Quan said with satisfaction, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his face.

But just then, the screen flickered, followed by an alarm. Xiao Zha cried out in panic, "Oh no, host! We've been discovered! The consciousness of this world has detected that we're spying on things we shouldn't be seeing, and it's going to retaliate!"

Ruan Quan sat up straight immediately and asked nervously, "What should we do?"

Xiao Zha quickly operated the system: "I can only disconnect for now, but this may consume some points." After saying that, the screen disappeared, and the room returned to calm.

Ruan Quan looked annoyed: "My handsome man is gone just like that, and I even lost points. What bad luck. Oh well, I should just get some rest." With that, she pulled the covers over herself and fell into a deep sleep. She still had a big show to put on tomorrow.

The next day, Hua Yu clutched the silk handkerchief tightly in her hand and ran all the way into the Fourth Prince's mansion, completely ignoring the messy hair that clung to her tear-streaked face. Reaching the study door, she stumbled and nearly fell, but managed to steady herself by grabbing the doorframe. The servant at the door wisely withdrew in silence. Hua Yu took a deep breath and pushed open the carved door.

Inside the room, the Fourth Prince was working on official documents at his desk. The candlelight illuminated his cold profile. When he saw Hua Yu barge in in such a disheveled state, he frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Hua Yu suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud, her knees aching from the impact, but she didn't care at all.

"Your Highness..." Hua Yu sobbed, her voice hoarse and broken, like a string of a zither struck by a heavy hammer, "I know I shouldn't have been so abrupt, but I really had no other choice." Tears rolled down her cheeks, leaving dark watermarks on the ground.

The Fourth Prince put down his pen, rose, and strode to her, intending to help her up. Hua Yu, however, stubbornly remained kneeling, her hand gripping his robe tightly, as if letting go would cause him to vanish completely. "My heart and eyes are filled with you, Your Highness. From the first time we met, when you recited poetry at the spring banquet, your talent and elegance instantly captivated me, and have never left my heart." The sweet memories of the past surfaced in her eyes, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of Hua Yu's lips. "I cherish those times we spent admiring the lotus blossoms together, strolling under the moon. I had always thought I could be by your side year after year."

She paused, biting her lower lip until the taste of blood spread on her tongue, and continued, suppressing her sobs, "But now, Consort Hua has designated my sister to marry you. I am the eldest sister, and I cannot, I cannot, watch my sisters grow apart because of you, Your Highness. I dare not disobey the imperial decree." Hua Yu looked up into the Fourth Prince's deep eyes, her tears filled with a mixture of love and resolve. "Your Highness, the more I love you, the more it hurts at this moment. To sever this love is like tearing out my heart. I only beg you... to marry my sister and protect the Hua family."

By the end, Hua Yu's breathing was disordered, her body trembled like a leaf, and she was almost fainting. The silk handkerchief she had been clutching was soaked with sweat, yet she still held it in her palm, just like the deep affection she couldn't let go of but had to let go of.

The Fourth Prince stood motionless for a long time, as if frozen in place, only the flickering candlelight reflecting the complex expression on his face. After a long while, he closed his eyes, concealing the turbulent emotions within, and slowly spoke, "Get up first, the ground is cold." His voice was low and hoarse, tinged with weariness. Only after Hua Yu got up did he continue, "I know your dilemma. The Hua family is of paramount importance to you, so I will accept this marriage for now. But Hua Yu, remember, the place in my heart has always been reserved only for you. In the future, if you ever suffer any grievances or difficulties, you must come to me." With that, he raised his hand and gently stroked Hua Yu's shoulder, his palm warm, his gaze unwavering, as if to ensure that this affection would transcend time and never fade.

"Host, Lan Feng's favorability towards you has surged to 80. Do you need to use the Unwavering Devotion Pill?"

"I don't need it for now. I want to use this pill during their wedding. That way, the show will be even more interesting. Don't you think so?" Hua Yu replied to Xiao Zha in her mind.

"Host, your methods are getting more and more sophisticated. You must have been reading a lot of military books." Little Scum teased.

Hua Yu reluctantly left the Fourth Prince's Mansion, then turned around and went to Qingfeng Tower. She had just seen Hua Xiang secretly go to Qingfeng Tower on the way, and she wanted to see what Hua Xiang was up to.