Holding the script, I want to give up.

I just can't do anything with you!

Ahri channeled some spiritual energy into her, allowing her to see Liu Yunwan awaken. Mu Rongyi was taken aback upon seeing the young man; he seemed to possess an aura that was difficult to detect, an aura that was hard to describe.

"I'm sorry to bother you!"

Shangguan Zitong tried to get up, but she was too weak to do so and could only kneel on the grass.

【May your soul return to its origin~】

Ahri got up and walked towards Liu Yunwan. Standing in front of them, he took out three soul fragments from the system and pushed them into Liu Yunwan's body one by one. He used a forbidden technique, chanting incantations, and conjured two more of the same fragments to inject into her body.

Just you wait!

Blood trickled from the corner of Ah Li's mouth. He licked the blood off his lips and wiped it with his hand before walking toward Shangguan Zitong.

【Azi, I tried my best.】

The boy knelt down in front of her, and she reached out to take him.

"I know, thank you."

After Shangguan Zitong finished speaking, she spat out mouthfuls of blood, and her black hair gradually turned white. She wanted to touch the boy's face, but her vision was blurred.

So... it was you all along!

Shangguan Zitong fainted immediately after she finished speaking!

I'm sorry, but it's truly a matter of life and death! I can't avert this disaster for you!

I've minimized the harm I've caused you. This might be the last time we see each other.

【Azi, wait for me.】

The boy transformed into a fox to protect her, preventing her from falling directly to the ground. The current Mu Rongyi would certainly not care about her.

"Mu Rongyi Ke, since she saved Liu Yunwan, please treat her well!"

"She has had a hard life, she really doesn't have many days left, please let her go!"

"I knew about your plans, but I didn't have time to tell her."

The fox looked at Mu Rongyi with hostility and said.

"Then there's no way!"

"She's about to die, so we have to make the most of her abilities!"

"Come out, Ah Long!"

"I forgot to tell you, Ah Long's system level is 96, not 69!"

A shower of peach blossoms swirled around Liu Yunwan as she rose and walked toward Shangguan Zitong.

"Let's merge!"

After hearing Liu Yunwan's command, Ah Long flew towards the fox.

"Wanwan! Are you using her?"

Looking at the chaotic scene before her, Mu Rongyi felt a mix of emotions.

[Congratulations, host, you have successfully won over Mu Rongyi! Your favorability with her is now 100, and my level is also 100.]

I will fulfill any request you may have as a way of repaying your kindness!

Ah Long looked at the outside world from within the system space.

"Let's put this aside for now; I have more important things to do!"

"You know you shouldn't be asking me this. I'm doing something impossible!"

She defied the will of Heaven, rescued Shangguan Zitong, and brought her back to their original world. She fed Shangguan Zitong a life-sustaining elixir to restore her body, while giving herself a pill to feign death...

After the fox disappeared, Liu Yunwan squatted down to support Shangguan Zitong and carried her towards the palace.

"Can't I just stay by your side?"

Why weren't you told about something so dangerous? So I could have been prepared.

Mu Rongyi followed behind her, pressing her for answers.

"Because I can't predict everything."

"I'm afraid that involving you will only harm you."

"Don't blame me, I've thought everything through before I do anything."

With difficulty, Liu Yunwan carried Shangguan Zitong onto the carriage that Mu Rongyi had prepared in the distance.

"So, I was never part of your plan? Not even worthy of being a passerby?"

"You have no idea how scared I was back then that you were really leaving me and didn't want me anymore."

Mu Rongyi asked, feeling wronged, as if she was about to shatter at any moment.

"That's not how it is. You are the ruler of a country. Dongchuan cannot do without you. I cannot drag you into this mess."

"I care about you, and I'm afraid you'll get hurt because of it."

Liu Yunwan explained.

"really?"

Mu Rongyi still looked at her in disbelief.

"Really, more real than real gold."

"So, where are the Prime Minister and his entourage?"

Liu Yunwan was a little curious about how Mu Rongyike had guessed that something would happen to them.

"I managed to turn the tables and kill them!"

"He wrote to me to tell me you are dead!"

"Let me come and collect your body!"

“I led an entire Shadow Guard battalion and wiped them all out to prevent future troubles.”

Mu Rongyi briefly recounted the process, omitting how anxious he was at the time, to the point that he stumbled over his words and couldn't speak fluently.

"I understand, I see. Let's go back and settle her in first before we talk about anything else."

Liu Yunwan said to Mu Rongyi Ke, who was very sleepy, and then closed her eyes and fell asleep a few minutes later.

......

"Hiss~ Damn it, I can't see it!"

Shangguan Zitong got up and rubbed her forehead, indicating that she felt terrible. She threw back the covers and groped her way out of bed. She had only taken one step when she fell.

"Grass!"

"Ah Li? Are you there?"

"If you're there, just say so."

Shangguan Zitong got up in a disheveled state and groped around the room's facilities!

"Why didn't you rest properly and instead got up?"

"I'll have the imperial physician come over and examine you again later."

Liu Yunwan helped her up as she stumbled.

"Do not touch me!"

"I hate you!"

Why did you use me?

Shangguan Zitong pushed away Liu Yunwan's hand that was trying to help her up.

"Zitong, please let me explain."

"Many things are not as simple as you think! Don't be fooled by appearances!"

Liu Yunwan simply didn't help her up, and just watched him, since she wouldn't fall anyway.

"So... is this why you took Ahri away?"

"Have you ever thought about how I feel? I only have one month left, and you won't even let me go peacefully?"

Shangguan Zitong stopped fumbling around and simply sat down on the ground.

"Do you... know something?"

"For example, I don't have a sense of taste or smell?"

"The incense and rice are fine when used separately, but they become toxic when combined, right?"

"Even though it's only minor...don't you even consider letting me go?"

"Even if I move to a different palace, you'll still keep burning incense? Are you really that heartless?"

Shangguan Zitong expressed that she did not understand Liu Yunwan's behavior, which was hurting her under the guise of doing what was best for her.

"Zitong, don't worry, I'll handle it."

"Wait a little longer, I will explain it to you later."

Liu Yunwan wanted to say that she was also helpless, but seeing Shangguan Zitong's condition, she immediately gave up. She only felt at ease after having A Long put a white eye-protecting ribbon on Shangguan Zitong.

"take a good rest!"

"Yue Ai, you stay here and take care of her daily life from now on."

Liu Yunwan left without explaining, leaving Yue Ai outside the palace to enter and see Shangguan Zitong sitting on the ground.

"Yue Ai, you can go now. I don't need your help. I can manage on my own."

Shangguan Zitong wanted to remove the eye patch, but she couldn't reach it at all.

"Stop being stubborn. Our Empress has already taken good care of you! She thinks of you first when it comes to the best things! Even His Majesty doesn't get any."

Yue Ai was indignant about Liu Yunwan's unfair behavior.

"Really?"

"Haha, this is so ridiculous!"

Shangguan Zitong was powerless to defend herself, so she let Yue Ai smear her.

Meanwhile, inside the Beiji Imperial Palace, a spy sent a message to Huangfu Hongxi.

"The man is not dead; he is in Dongchuan."

The letter contained only these six words, and was accompanied by a small scroll.

"I told you she wasn't dead!"

"How could she have died so easily? It was just a fake death."

"How ridiculous that she would delay me like this, even faking her death to escape this palace."

"But you can't escape my grasp; you'll always come back."

Huangfu Hongxi looked at the scroll in his hand and smiled sinisterly.

"Someone, clean up Cining Palace. The master will be back soon."

Huangfu Hongxi called to the servants around him, and they told him to just think he was going crazy and to simply sweep up the Cining Palace a few times and call it a day.

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The dead cannot be brought back to life."

"You must prioritize the nation's interests!"

Song Yao wanted to bring him back on track.

"Your Majesty, I merely ordered someone to clean a palace."

"Is this all the advice you've prepared to dissuade me?"

Huangfu Hongxi said impatiently.

"Your Majesty, please prioritize the overall situation."

"You've changed so much that I hardly recognize you anymore."

Song Yao looked at him calmly and spoke, seemingly trying to find a trace of love in his expression. But her search was fruitless; his eyes held only obsession.

Back in the Flower Rain Pavilion in Dongchuan.

"Shangguan Zitong, don't blame Wanwan."

"She had no choice."

Mu Rongyi went to Huayu Pavilion specifically to comfort and explain the reasons to her.

"Oh, so what? What kind of helplessness could possibly be worthy of all these wounds I've suffered?"

"Heh! There are plenty of unavoidable situations, why did they choose to hurt me out of the blue?"

"I'm coming clean! By the way, you didn't see me in your previous life, did you?"

Shangguan Zitong was speechless.

......