Holding the script, I want to give up.

Okay, okay, so this is how you play it? When Shangguan Zitong is at the hunting grounds, it's a major disaster scene; when she's not there, nothing happens. That's ridiculous.

The Southern Emperor and his men encountered no danger during the hunt, and they did manage to capture many animals.

Shangguan Zitong waited for them to return in her palace. It was too cold, but the bed was too warm, so she couldn't get up.

Shangguan Zitong got up and paced barefoot on the ground. Judging from the sound of the bell, they must have returned. She wondered if she should go and see them, when Shangguan Nuoyou entered the hall carrying a pure white fox.

"Little sister, here, I found you a beautiful snow fox."

Shangguan Nuoyou's "I'm so amazing, praise me!" expression made her laugh.

"Brother, you're amazing! Thank you, brother!"

Shangguan Zitong took the white fox, her heart melting at its tiny size. She gently rubbed its face, thinking, "So cute and bouncy."

"From now on, it can keep you company when it thunders at night, so you won't be afraid."

Shangguan Nuoyou rubbed Shangguan Zitong's head and said.

"Thank you, brother."

Shangguan Zitong was moved for a moment, her eyes reddening. Well said, don't say that again, it was practically a social disaster.

"Little sister, I've brought you a little swallow."

Shangguan Xiyue entered the hall and handed her the light blue bouquet in her hand.

Wow, these flowers are so beautiful.

It would be difficult for Shangguan Zitong to find such flowers in winter, and besides, these flowers are really beautiful; they are blue in cool light but turn purple when they come into contact with warm light.

It looked especially beautiful at dusk, and she carefully arranged the flowers in a vase.

"As long as you like it."

After chatting for a while, Shangguan Nuoyou and Shangguan Xiyue left.

Shangguan Zitong then went to Huangfu Hongxi's side hall to see what he had hunted.

"Ah Li, is Mu Rongyi going back to China this year?"

Yes, he's turned fifteen now, it's time to go back and reclaim everything that's rightfully his.

"Sigh, even after being reborn, this crazy beauty is still so beautiful, strong, and tragic."

Will Sister Liu repeat the same mistake?

You do not have permission to query.

"You said you'd have the script? I know nothing about it, how am I supposed to make any changes?"

【...】

The conversation ended in silence. When Shangguan Zitong arrived at the palace, she saw Huangfu Hongxi practicing his martial arts. The child was quite diligent.

"Is hunting fun?"

Shangguan Zitong asked curiously.

"good."

Huangfu Hongxi continued practicing his martial arts without turning his head.

"...Do you hunt cute little animals?"

What is cuteness?

"..."

Damn it, there's absolutely no way to talk about this.

"Alright, I was just being presumptuous. I thought you would bring me a gift."

"..."

Silence is Cambridge tonight, let it be destroyed. Indeed, conversation is a two-way street; one-way conversations easily lead to social stagnation.

Enraged, Shangguan Zitong left in a daze.

Huangfu Hongxi looked at Shangguan Zitong's departing figure and felt that she was inexplicably strange.

......

Shangguan Zitong had only picked up Huangfu Hongxi from school a handful of times, but this time, she was so angry that she went to pick him up at the end of the semester.

[Host, they're ganging up on Huangfu Hongxi again! Go and rescue him!]

Is this a mission?

【no. 】

"Then take your time."

【...】

Shangguan Zitong, remembering how awkward she was when she asked for a gift last time, didn't want to worry about it anymore and continued to hug the fox and Youzhi, while Youxi played with snowballs in the snow.

[Rescue mission deemed a failure and under consideration; 10, 9, 8, 7...]

"No, my ancestor, I'll go, okay?"

"Show me the scene."

As Shangguan Zitong watched those cruel scenes frame by frame, she instantly realized how terrifying Sang Ran was.

"Yibai, prepare the car, let's go pick up Huangfu Hongxi."

"Yes."

Yi Bai responded and left.

Shangguan Zitong, dressed in a cloak, sat upright and stopped the carriage as it entered the alley.

The fox lay between her legs, and she stroked its head, her composure terrifying.

She lifted the side curtain and said coldly, "Yibai, deal with them, just don't kill them."

Yi Bai was pulled off by the man riding on Huangfu Hongxi and slapped twice across the face. When the others saw that things were not going well, they surrounded him and attacked him. He knocked them down with a few blows.

Holy crap, these people are disgusting! After beating Huangfu Hongxi to near death, they took advantage of his looks and tried to rape him in this deserted alley!

Fortunately, they arrived in time, otherwise the consequences... would have been devastating to their childhood. Huangfu Hongxi's eyes were unfocused.

Shangguan Zitong stepped off the carriage and looked at the people lying on the ground. For the first time, she felt that people could be so despicable.

She walked past them toward Huangfu Hongxi, knelt down, and took off her cloak to drape it over him.

"I apologize for being late. I'm sorry you had to go through this."

"..."

"Yibai, help him into the car."

"Yes."

Yi Bai helped the person into the carriage, and Shangguan Zitong followed suit.

Inside the carriage, Shangguan Zitong noticed that Huangfu Hongxi's condition was not right and asked the system what was going on.

"Ah Li, what's wrong with him?"

[He was given muscle-relaxing powder.]

"I'm sorry, were you drugged? Is that why you couldn't beat them?"

"Is it a muscle-relaxing powder? Is it Sang Ran?"

"Please pay attention to me."

"Do you regret coming to the Imperial Academy?"

"How about I arrange a private tutor for you?"

"Fine, if you don't want to talk, then don't."

"I'm leaving now. You can have some peace and quiet by yourself."

Huangfu Hongxi finally reacted after hearing this.

Why do you hate me?

???

"Don't you hate me anymore?"

???

Shangguan Zi pulled back the foot that had stepped out of the carriage, took a few steps back, and squatted down in front of Huangfu Hongxi.

Huangfu Hongxi was already sitting, so when she squatted down, she looked very short.

"When did I say I disliked you? Why would I hate you? Have you been bullied to the point of madness?"

Shangguan Zitong was completely baffled, so he reached out and touched his forehead to see if he had a fever.

"You don't have a fever either?"

Huangfu Hongxi slapped Shangguan Zitong's hand away.

"There's a proper way to sit. What kind of manners are you displaying?"

Shangguan Zitong was not annoyed by being suddenly criticized, and sat opposite him in a serious manner.

"Then why don't you go to school with me?"

"lazy."

Why do you rarely come to pick me up?

"cold."

"Why are you still so good to me after I almost killed you?"

"Kind-hearted".

She couldn't exactly say it was because of the mission, or he'd think the world was ugly and turn into a monster on the spot. That would be too damn scary; she didn't want to be the next Mu Rongyi Ke.

"Why..."

Before Huangfu Hongxi could finish speaking, Shangguan Zitong stuffed his mouth with pastries that were already in the carriage.

"Alright, alright, why so many questions? I'm tired."

Shangguan Zitong wasn't tired, she just didn't want to listen anymore. The more she listened, the more heartbroken she felt, so she simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. After all, she couldn't fake falling asleep in a second.

Thinking back to before he was sent here as a hostage, he lived a life of luxury. Completely opposite to Mu Rongyi, he was the most favored prince, yet after going to the General's Mansion, he suffered endless torment and could only swallow his anger...

Mu Rongyi's life seemed to have been anything but smooth. She silently complained about the author in her heart.

That childhood was so miserable; going hungry was the norm, and spoiled food and vegetables were considered delicacies. A single set of clothes would be patched and mended for three years, then another three years. I was abused and couldn't fight back... It was utterly tragic.

Huangfu Hongxi also realized he was being neurotic, so he shut up and began to contemplate life.

......