Holding the script, I want to give up.

Shangguan Zitong and her family ate glutinous rice balls at Renhe Palace, chatting about what they had seen and heard over the past three years.

"Seriously, let me tell you, that hostage from Dongchuan is having a terrible time in Xizhao!"

Shangguan Zitong recalled.

"Oh, is it so?"

The Southern Emperor asked with great interest.

"Really, I would never lie..."

"Speaking of protons, we also have one in Nanning."

The prince seemed to recall a distant memory.

"Wow, does our country have that too? They must be having a really tough time too."

Shangguan Zitong unconsciously thought of the male lead.

"...I left him at the General's Mansion, where he is left to fend for himself."

The Southern Emperor said with an embarrassed expression.

"Alright, alright, why are we discussing him? If it weren't for Bei Ji's underhanded tactics back then, Zi Tong wouldn't have been injured so badly."

The Empress tried to steer the conversation back on track when she realized the topic had gone astray.

"If you're really curious, you can go and take a look at the General's Mansion."

Shangguan Xiyue couldn't help but chuckle at Shangguan Zitong's curious expression.

Sigh, the queen, who was trying to steer the conversation, was speechless; she couldn't get anything out of it at all.

......

As soon as Shangguan Zitong returned to her palace, she was surrounded by Youzhi and Youxi, who served her by helping her wash and change.

"You may all leave. I will do it myself."

"That's probably not a good idea. Our duty is to serve the princess."

Youzhi stopped what she was doing, knelt down and bowed, wondering if the princess disliked them and wanted to send them away.

"Don't kneel down so easily. Get up. What I say goes. You don't need to do this anymore. Go and rest."

Shangguan Zitong pulled up Youzhi, who was kneeling, and Youxi, who was kneeling down as well, thinking that they had to take it slowly.

"And Yibai on the roof, go back and rest too."

Yibai, who was on the roof, jumped down from the roof beam and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Your subordinate..."

Before Yi Bai could finish explaining his duties, Shangguan Zitong interrupted his spellcasting.

"You get up too. The palace is very safe. Go back and rest."

"Yes."

Seeing that the three men had responded and retreated, Shangguan Zitong took off her shoes and wandered barefoot around the palace.

"System, isn't the General's Mansion where the male protagonist lives?"

Yes, so your task is to save the male protagonist and teach him the art of governing a country.

"No rush, let me find a suitable reason first. Do I look like a teacher to you?"

Then I wish the host success.

"Heh! You flatter me too much."

【…】

"So the people you just met were the male and female leads?"

【right. 】

"The female lead is clearly the kind of gentle and charming character that all men would love. The male lead, well, let's just say he's a mixed bag. He's dressed all in black and incredibly thin; the only thing he's good-looking about is his pair of fox-like eyes."

Is it possible that the male protagonist was abused by the people in the general's mansion...?

"It's not like I abused them, so can you tell me how the male and female leads met when they were so far apart!"

【Please watch the VCR. 】

Wow, she's beautiful inside and out.

【…】

"Ugh, does this have to be so melodramatic?"

[...So she can be considered the white moonlight of both the male lead and the second male lead.]

"Wait a minute, I can understand the male lead, but the second male lead is such an unattainable beauty, how did he manage to win him over?"

She's just a "white moonlight" (idealized love), not a marriage partner.

"You don't understand the destructive power of 'white moonlight' (a term used to describe someone who is unattainable or deeply loved)."

【…】

"It seems the audience quite enjoys melodramas."

Shangguan Zitong's inner monologue after learning the details is quite fascinating: The female lead is the only daughter of the Prime Minister of Dongchuan, while the second male lead is an unfavored prince who suffers abuse and is rescued by the female lead. The male lead, though favored, is not the crown prince and is sent to the general's mansion as a hostage to be abused. Coincidentally, the female lead and Sang Ran from the general's mansion are best friends, and she rescues him again and develops feelings for him.

"Does the protagonist's halo have to be used so smoothly? Why don't I have it?"

You should just wash up and go to bed.

『...』

Shangguan Zitong gave up and went straight to sleep.

......

The next day, Shangguan Zitong woke up and stretched, and then a maid came in to serve her. She yawned and let them dress her up.

When Youxi tried to put shoes on her, she felt it was too hot and covered her feet with a pale yellow dress.

Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Youxi could only carry her embroidered shoes and follow Shangguan Zitong to the morning ceremony.

Shangguan Zitong walked barefoot, enjoying the scenery along the way, until she reached Jinghe Palace. She was very pleased with herself.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, come quickly to Mother's side."

After Shangguan Zitong finished her curtsy, she ran to the Empress and acted coquettishly.

"Why does Zitong only seek out the Empress?"

The Southern Emperor feigned anger.

"No way."

Shangguan Zitong ran up to the Southern Emperor and acted coquettishly.

Seeing the family enjoying themselves, the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess couldn't help but tease her.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Why don't you stay and eat with us?"

The Queen said considerately.

"Come here, pass the meal."

After finishing their meal, Shangguan Zitong and her entourage returned to their respective palaces.

"Wait a minute, you seem shorter than usual?"

The Empress watched Shangguan Zitong's departing figure and said.

Oh, does going barefoot really make you look that short?

"Oh dear, how could Mother say that I am short? It makes me so sad."

Shangguan Zitong blinked her amber almond-shaped eyes pitifully as she spoke, lifting her skirt in a gesture of sympathy.

"How could that be, silly child? The ground is cold, it's not good to walk barefoot."

The Empress said with a look of doting affection.

"Someone, carpet the little princess's bedroom and the nearby roads as well."

Seeing the child's foolish appearance, the Southern Emperor gave instructions to his servants.

"Father is mighty! Your son loves you the most!"

Shangguan Zitong pretended to hug the Southern Emperor and act coquettishly, but the Southern Emperor pressed her head down and said helplessly, "You're just being cheeky."

"Let's go back."

The Empress couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

Fearing that her father and mother would blame Youxi when they realized what was happening, Shangguan Zitong quickly led Youxi and her entourage away.

...

Inside Shangguan Zitong's bedroom.

"Father's speed is truly amazing."

Shangguan Zitong sighed as she stepped onto the soft carpet, looking quite content, but in her mind she was plotting how to save the male lead.

"Aaaaaah, help! I have absolutely no idea! I was supposed to be a lazy bum, but now I'm racking my brains trying to come up with a solution!" Shangguan Zitong internally berated herself.

......