Transmigrating into a book to save her best friend, her sickly husband vies for her affections every

Tingyao threw the noodles into the water and looked at the person tending the fire. "Huangling, back then your mother was also sent away." Zhang Zhan thought it was all a lie.

"If you are acquiring assets, why can't I find out? Even if you dispersed the money, it's impossible that there wouldn't be any clues."

Moreover, it was three million taels of silver. He thought of the worst-case scenario, fearing that Zhang Zhan would use it for evil deeds and treason.

Zhao Siwei considered whether to laugh it off and skip the topic.

After only a moment's hesitation, Zhao Siwei chose to confess and seek leniency, saying, "It's not that I'm afraid of being found out; I put it under Tingyao's name."

Now that Zhang Zhan has been freed from his mother's clutches, the best course of action is to be honest and straightforward, and not to engage in any deception.

Now that some of the water in his brain has been drained, he can think again, so if he discovers even the slightest clue, Zhang Zhan will definitely not utter another word.

"Who did you give it to?"

“Ji, Ting, Yao.” Zhao Siwei said, enunciating each word clearly. “Yes, that’s right, it’s the eldest daughter of the Ji family.”

Zhang Zhan raised his hand and smashed it against Zhao Siwei's head, "Are you crazy! You gave Ji Tingyao three million taels of silver!"

"Ouch!" Zhao Siwei grimaced. "Be gentle!"

Zhang Zhan swore that this was the first time in his life he had ever had the thought of killing Zhao Siwei. Without hesitation, he went straight for Zhao Siwei's neck, really wanting to strangle him to death.

"Give it back to me! Give my money back to me! What right do you have to give my money to Ji Tingyao?! Give me back my share of your money! Use your own money to pay her!"

It's said that Zhao Siwei's money was all earned through his own money-making schemes!

Zhao Siwei chuckled, "If you can't stand it, then don't ask. Ask only what you can handle. After tonight, if you still want to ask anything, I might not be able to tell you everything."

"When did you meet Ji Tingyao?" Zhang Zhan said coldly, "How long have you known her that you'd give her so much money?"

"Next question," Zhao Siwei said.

Zhang Zhan snorted coldly and remained silent.

Zhao Siwei had no idea what to say. "Tingyao is a very nice person. Don't do anything reckless, okay?"

Zhang Zhan: "I'll have someone cause her trouble tomorrow."

Zhao Siwei: ...

As they approached the Marquis's residence, Zhao Siwei felt the person on his shoulder fall asleep. The gates of the Marquis's residence were wide open, making it convenient for people to come to the funeral. The white lanterns hanging there had already been replaced with two larger ones.

Zhang Zhan was well aware of the significance of Old Master Zhang and Old Madam Zhang to him. Without them, there would be no Zhang Shizi, who shines like the bright moon in the capital.

My steps inexplicably became heavy.

Zhao Siwei didn't know if what he did today was right or wrong. If it were the Zhao Siwei who had just been reborn, he would probably have killed Zhang Zhan without hesitation to eliminate any future troubles.

However, as the investigation progressed, he discovered that many things had hidden secrets, and all of these secrets revolved around Zhang Zhan, so he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

These eight words, "clear and distinct," kept swirling in his mind.

There is another way to stop Zhang Zhan from going against him: let go of the hatred from his past life.

After all, there's more to the story.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

Zhang Zhan, who was being carried on his back, felt his hand tighten slightly and opened his eyes.

Their gazes simultaneously turned to a certain spot.

then.

"Your Highness, Prince Zhang."

In the alley, Tingyao stood quietly.

Zhong Youling held an umbrella for her, but the umbrella seemed almost unnecessary, except for the little bit of snow that had piled up around it, which suggested it was somewhat useful.

"A-Ting?" Zhao Siwei was very surprised.

"Ji Tingyao?" Zhang Zhan was also surprised. "Why are you here?"

What other major events happened in Beijing today?

Tingyao ignored Zhang Zhan and went to look at Zhao Siwei, then smiled gently at him—a reassuring smile.

The idea of ​​Zhao Siwei slowly grew in his mind.

Tingyao also knew what had happened in her past life. Although she hated Zhang Zhan and was very wary of him, what if...?

Could it be that Tingyao rescued Zhang Zhan's grandparents?

Or is there some deadly move waiting for Zhang Zhan in the Marquis's mansion?

Doesn't Tingyao hate Zhang Zhan? Why is he here?

"Come with me." After saying those three words, Tingyao turned around and urged, "Hurry up."

Zhong Youling, seeing Zhao Siwei carrying someone, immediately went up to him and asked, "Is Prince Zhang injured?"

Zhao Siwei nodded and returned to Zhong Youling, "He must have twisted his ankle."

As Zhao Siwei spoke, Zhong Youlin touched Zhang Zhan's ankle, which was indeed swollen. "Let me carry the young master on my back."

Zhong Youling watched as the two of them seemed to have rolled around in the garbage heap, wondering what earth-shattering things they had experienced.

Zhang Zhan turned his head, but tightened his grip on Zhao Siwei's shoulder a little.

Zhang Zhan disliked Zhongyouling.

Zhang Zhan didn't ask much about the existence of Zhongyouling, nor did Zhao Siwei explain it further.

Zhang Zhan felt like punching someone every time he heard the gossip that Zhao Siwei had designs on him.

What's most infuriating is that Zhong Youling is really skilled; no matter how badly he's injured, he can still keep her lively and energetic, which makes him even angrier.

Zhao Siwei shook his head at Zhong Youling, "It's alright, I can carry it, let's go." It's best not to provoke Zhang Zhan now, that's what his intuition tells him.

Tingyao turned around to look at the three people who were still dawdling.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and—"

Before the words were even finished, everything around them suddenly went dark.

Tingyao's hair stood on end.

She touched herself almost instinctively.

Could she be dead?

Nope!

The darkness around her told her that the system had been activated.

But when I was following the storyline in my previous life, the system never appeared; it was as if it had died.

The sound of the system sounded at this moment.

[Stop story mode by pressing the button.]

Tingyao: ? ? ?

Can the plot be paused? Why would it be paused?

System: [The player is currently experiencing a sudden plot change during the game's progression.]

Tingyao was even more puzzled: "The plot suddenly changed?"

What does that mean? You can play it like that?

What must the show have become before the system forcibly intervenes and pauses it?

System: [Please wait a moment...]

Tingyao paced back and forth, and about two minutes later, she heard the system's voice.

[The system detected that a cheat character provided by the system altered the storyline, but the player also modified the storyline. In light of this, the system is offering a save/load option to reload the story. Would you like to accept this assistance?]

Tingyao was surprised, her eyes widened as she looked up, unsure of where she was looking, but she knew the system could see her.

"Reload the save file? How? Do we make Zhang Zhan's grandparents really die?"

The system's cold, ruthless voice rang out: [Yes, having Zhang Zhan's grandparents die is also part of the book's plot.]

The basis for Zhang Zhan's descent into darkness lies in the sudden deaths of his grandparents.

Tingyao clenched her fists and asked loudly, "What if I don't?"

The system coldly replied: [Players are advised to reload their save file; otherwise, they may lack a God-like perspective in later storylines, leaving them without the ability to protect themselves.]

These words terrified Tingyao.

Without a God's-eye view, completing the game becomes extremely difficult.

The main problem is that her character doesn't have any of the typical female lead's aura.

Tingyao hesitated: "Zhang Zhan's grandparents were saved by Zhong Youling. I just reminded them."

It was her letter that Jingzhe sent that had its effect. When she returned to the capital, Zhong Youling said that Zhao Siwei had also told him to pay close attention to the health of Old Master Zhang and Old Madam Zhang.

Therefore, he prepared two death row inmates, who, after being disguised, looked remarkably like the two men.

Today, a replacement has been brought in.

After receiving the letter, Zhong Youling led his men to stage a switcheroo.

For specifics, we need to go out and ask Zhong Youling.

You're in too much of a hurry.

When she returned to the capital, she heard that the old master and old lady of the Marquis's mansion had died. It was truly a mouthful of dread.

He died too young.

Moreover, she knew very well that, whether from the original work or from the first timeline, Zhang Zhan's descent into darkness began with the passing of his grandfather and grandmother.

He attributed part of the deaths of his grandparents to Zhao Siwei.

In both his past and present lives, Zhao Siwei has never harmed Old Master Zhang or Old Madam Zhang!

System: [Do you want to reload the save file?]

Tingyao remained silent.

It has to be said that the system's appearance extinguished Tingyao's courage to change the plot.

System: [A reminder to players: the falling out between Zhang Zhan and the male protagonist Zhao Siwei is a necessary plot point. Based on the original storyline, players should compare their first playthrough with the current progress. For a second playthrough, the system currently recommends reloading a save file.]

Tingyao shook her head, unable to speak.

Suddenly a large screen appeared in front of me.

The screen scrolls through clips of Zhang Zhan rushing into the palace.

She could hear their conversation, as well as Zhang Zhan's extraneous voices, the voices from the depths of his heart.

—I'm going to kill you all! I'm going to kill you all!

The weeping Zhang Zhan had only one thought in his mind.

System: [Detected. If you save and restart the story, all changes made will revert to the main storyline.]

As long as Zhang Zhan turns to the dark side, there won't be too many major plot developments.

If the player has no objections, the system will automatically reload the save file after ten minutes and send the player directly back to the hot spring resort.

A ten-minute countdown began on the big screen.

This gives her ten minutes to think.

When Tingyao learned that Zhao Siwei and Zhang Zhan had left, she guessed that something had happened at the Marquis's residence.

I just didn't expect things to escalate like this.

[The player does not have the protagonist's halo. If Zhang Zhan does not turn against the male protagonist, system data analysis indicates that when the conflict arises between the player and Zhang Zhan, all of the male protagonist's actions are based on protecting Zhang Zhan.]

I want you to tell me, is it true that I can't see things clearly in this lifetime?

Zhao Siwei treated Zhang Zhan like a younger brother, while she went to join that family.

Five minutes left in the countdown.

Tingyao clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and truly did what she considered the most outrageous and courageous thing.

"No, no need to reload the save. Let it be, let nature take its course."

With a ding, the countdown stopped.

[The countdown has ended. The player has forfeited the free save/load opportunity provided by the system. The countdown has ended, and the story has resumed.]

These were the most difficult five minutes that Tingyao endured.

Another "ding" sounded.

[The plot has entered an unknown direction. The system gives a final reminder: death in the book is equivalent to death in the real world.]

Then, Tingyao suddenly felt a chill again.

The system summoning has ended.

Then look at the three people behind them who are still babbling on and on without moving.

"Should we send someone from Consort Xian's side?"

With that one sentence, all three of them shut up completely.

As they walked out of the small courtyard, Zhao Siwei looked nostalgic. He entered the house, and Tingyao opened the secret passage.

Below this place is a basement.

Zhang Zhan seemed to understand something as well, and he limped inside.

Grandfather and grandmother lay quietly.

Then, cries echoed through the sky once more.

Zhong Youling went to brew medicine.

Tingyao and Zhao Siwei went to the small kitchen next door to get something to eat.

“This place is too close to the Marquis’s residence,” Zhao Siwei said.

It's still too dangerous. This time, it was he who exposed Zhang Zhan's identity as a prince, and it was his mother who beat him to death. Zhang Zhan didn't want to cause trouble for his father, so this is a variable.

Tingyao remained calm: "Otherwise, would we have been able to react so quickly? There are advantages to being close. My suggestion is that it would be best to send Old Madam Zhang and Old Master Zhang out of the capital. There are too many eyes around you and Zhang Zhan. How about I handle it? We can bring them back after everything has settled down."

Now let the whole capital think it's good that these two are dead.

Clutching his hand, he thought, "What if Zhang Zhan really turns against me in the future? What if there are still people who threaten me?"

That's petty, but the system said that from this moment on, the plot is already changing drastically, and his limited knowledge of the original work is no longer enough.

However, Tingyao stopped what she was doing.

Does this system notification count as a reminder?

Remind her that Zhang Zhan and Zhao Siwei will never turn against each other in this lifetime.

She then remembered something, "Also, this is all thanks to Zhong Youling, I'm not taking credit for it."

Zhao Siwei: "Don't you think I'm being too soft-hearted?"

Tingyao shook her head: "I don't think so."

Having come this far, Tingyao must accept that she has developed a deep empathy for all the characters in the book.

She wanted to leave, but Zhao Siwei wanted to live here forever. The emperor's position was too cold. If Zhang Zhan were alive, if Zhang Zhan hadn't turned against him, then he would have a younger brother to keep him company.

She wanted to leave something for Zhao Siwei.

"How did you live your past life?" Tingyao asked.

Zhao Siwei was living in the warm yellow firelight, which made his cheeks look sallow. "After you asked me to posthumously honor Xu Tutu, I found that you were like a different person. You were not the 'Tingyao' I knew. Before I could figure it out, you died."

Dead? He actually died?

Tingyao felt a little sad.

That's true. According to the original story, she wasn't supposed to be the empress at all. If she didn't have that destiny, she naturally wouldn't be able to hold the position.

Zhao Siwei broke off the branch and said, "I really hated you back then."

“I numbly reigned as emperor for five years. Suddenly one day, Zhang Zhan said he wanted to see me. When I went there, I saw him in the fire. He had set a fire and burned himself to death.”

"What?" Tingyao was a little surprised.

"It was because the people below saw that I seemed to have forgotten Zhang Zhan, so they sent food to Zhang Zhan in my name. Zhang Zhan thought I was going to poison him, so he ate it... As a result, after he finished eating, it was given to Uncle Fan, who coveted him."

"Less than half a year after Zhang Zhan's death, my aunt also died. I felt it was all meaningless, and besides, I had never had any children. The Empress Yan's family was also planning a comeback, so I went with them."

This is entirely up to their opinion.

"Then I opened my eyes again and saw that I was arguing with Zhang Zhan, and my aunt was trying to mediate."