Chapter 8
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That said, the Empress still moved as if pursued by something, her steps swift and direct as she made her way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The palace attendants had long since prepared warm water, towels, and fresh garments. Chu Yingzhao washed quickly but did not change her clothes, merely saying casually, “I will dress myself. You may all leave.”
The attendants promptly acknowledged and withdrew. Just as the hall doors closed, a series of footsteps echoed within.
The Empress hurriedly approached the couch in three strides, hesitating awkwardly as she began to adjust her sitting posture and orientation. After three or four attempts, she finally seated herself facing east, adjusted the screen’s brightness, and cast all distractions aside.
Her fingertips glided over the screen, smoothly switching the system to the lottery interface.
A dazzling wheel appeared at the center of the screen, divided into four shimmering quadrants, each glowing with a distinct color:
White, Blue, Purple, and Gold.
Within each quadrant, faint silhouettes of items flickered, their shimmering lights seeming to whisper seductively, enticing the young sovereign to gamble lavishly.
Alas, the Emperor had only a single coin in her purse.
“Epic…” Chu Yingzhao’s gaze swept over the wheel, resting on the golden section. She exhaled softly, pressing the “Start” button with a quiet chant: “Give me something good, preferably an item for Qi Wangzhu’s quest. Unlocking the intermediate economy module might help in a pinch.”
She took a deep breath and pressed the start button.
The wheel began to turn slowly, light flashing from white to blue, then over purple and gold. Each sector blurred under overlapping shadows and light, radiating an irresistible allure to any who dared draw a card.
“Give me an SSR item, I am the Emperor,” she began to whisper with a devilish tone. “Do you hear me? I said I am the Emperor. I want only the highest tier.”
The wheel remained silent, only accelerating gradually, the outlines dissolving into streaks of light that intertwined into a dazzling vortex.
Her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the screen, her mouth moving on its own, babbling: “Understand? I, the sovereign, the Son of Heaven, the King.”
At last, the wheel slowed.
The pointer brushed past the blue quadrant, then the white. Chu Yingzhao’s heart beat in time with the shifting light as she tracked the pointer’s movement.
Yet, despite the deceleration, the pointer never fully stopped in the golden section, sliding onward.
Suddenly, the purple light flared, a dazzling beam striking the center of the screen.
A purple card!
Her eyes narrowed with excitement; she barely waited for the glow to fade before striving to discern the item’s silhouette.
An ancient, worn parchment map appeared, its torn edges and detailed terrain markings gradually becoming clear.
The map covered a vast expanse; Chu Yingzhao immediately recognized that half depicted her borderlands, while the other half unmistakably belonged to the nomadic grassland tribes.
[Border Region Map]
[Gift to Arisu increases target’s favorability by +30 and triggers the limited quest “The King’s Tent Candle.”]
...
Good news: Not unlucky this time—successfully pulled an SR item.
Bad news: It seems to be a useless card.
She reread the brief description three times before fully grasping it.
Stunned, she muttered, “…What? I give him a map of his own territory, then he uses it against me?”
A doomed love, yet my lord, you invite trouble upon yourself?
Tch, I’d rather throw it away than give it to you!
Leaning back in her chair, eyes still fixed on the screen, the initial thrill of a non-lucky escape to Europe began to wane. Her sharp intellect reclaimed the upper hand—
Suddenly, an idea sparked. The item was already acquired; could it be—
Given to someone else?
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For instance...
The Emperor stealthily reopened the system interface, bringing up a list of frontier generals to seek a test subject.
Unlike the bleak court officials, the generals’ loyalty was generally higher, hovering steadily between forty and sixty.
Chu Yingzhao guessed this might relate to the original Empress Dowager’s persona and the influence of the previous Regent.
She sifted through the list for a while, finally settling on one name: Zhao Jian.
His portrait was unremarkable, but his stats were intriguing:
[Zhao Jian, Deputy Protector of Anbei. Loyalty: 46, Talent: 72]
His rank was respectable but not critically important. His talent stood out, while his loyalty was only average—an excellent candidate for experimentation.
Though the Empress found no direct “gift” button, she refused to give up, instead dragging the parchment map’s icon onto Zhao Jian’s portrait.
The system seemed to freeze momentarily before a confirmation window popped up:
[Are you sure you want to bestow the “Border Region Map” upon Deputy Protector Zhao Jian of Anbei? Please note: Souvenirs and their hidden storylines are unique. Once used...]
A faint light glimmered in Chu Yingzhao’s eyes. She didn’t even finish reading the warning before resolutely clicking confirm.
I can light my own candles and pitch my own tents; such trivialities need not trouble this prince.
Right now, the realm is paramount. Let us avoid unnecessary meetings; I am far too busy.
The virtual glow of the map faded on the screen, while Zhao Jian’s loyalty value next to his name began to climb rapidly.
46, 56, 63... Chu Yingzhao held her breath, eyes glued to the numbers.
The figure finally settled at 76.
At the same time, the countdown timer in the system’s upper right corner abruptly changed.
The previously steadily decreasing number paused for several seconds before spinning rapidly backward as if pulled by an unseen force.
Chu Yingzhao watched with delight as the timer finally stabilized at:
[Special Encounter Countdown: 35 days 13 hours 58 minutes]
Subtracting the two days and more she had already spent in-game, her meeting with Arisu was delayed by a full ten days!
This not only meant she had bought herself a brief respite before the inevitable forced encounter but also gained precious time for her next maneuvers.
Things were looking up; everything was falling into place.
At that moment, a light knock outside interrupted her thoughts.
“Your Majesty,” a cautious attendant reported, “the Empress Dowager awaits in the palace. Would you like to take your morning meal?”
Chu Yingzhao paused, remembering the hurried promise she had made earlier. She rose, closing the system interface with a flick: “Understood.”
*
Inside Cining Palace, the delicate morning meal was already arranged.
Morning light filtered through sheer curtains, casting a soft glow over a dozen small dishes, making them all the more tempting.
“Your Majesty.” The Empress Dowager, dressed in simpler robes, sat at the table, beckoning her over with a gentle wave and a soft tone:
“I thought that since you grew up outside the palace, your tastes might differ from those here, so I had a few extra dishes prepared. If you enjoy any of them, the kitchen will make more in the future.”
Chu Yingzhao was not overly formal and immediately sat down. “Thank you, Mother.”
The dishes were petite and exquisite, combining palace staples with a few light rural delicacies.
And the Emperor—she was genuinely hungry.
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Perhaps due to the game’s settings, her current body was anything but frail.
After nearly twenty-four hours of nonstop activity—including nearly eight hours riding—she was still energetic and unwearied. Even passing ants would commend such high-quality humanity.
But there was a cost.
...She got hungry very easily.
Before leaving the palace, the Emperor had eaten dinner, but the food had long since been digested. Though she later found herself in a grain storehouse, fighting refugees for food hardly conformed to court etiquette.
Thus, now, her gaze burned as she watched the Empress Dowager, waiting for the elder to begin so she could devour the meal in a whirlwind—perfectly normal, indeed.
The Empress Dowager picked a tender bamboo shoot tip and placed it in her bowl, voice full of care: “This is freshly presented bamboo shoots; I find the flavor quite delightful.”
Chu Yingzhao nodded and tasted it. The fresh, sweet crispness immediately awakened her palate. Her eyes brightened as she swiftly took a second and then a third bite.
“Delicious,” she quickly remarked, never pausing, her movements swift and decisive.
The Empress Dowager smiled gently. “Since Your Majesty enjoys it, this dish will be prepared daily henceforth.”
No sooner had she spoken than Chu Yingzhao grabbed a piece of tender, white fish, dipped it in sauce, and said clearly, “This fish is really fresh.”
The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, smiling: “It’s a freshly caught river fish. The cook did a decent job.”
Chu Yingzhao nodded again, popping a piece of sweet and sour pork into her mouth. “This is good, too.”
The Empress Dowager watched silently, her expression unchanged but quietly sipping tea.
“Mother,” Chu Yingzhao finally looked up after the third bowl, casually mentioning, “I ordered the execution of a minister at court today.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression flickered briefly but showed no shock or reproach, simply raising her eyes to meet hers and speaking evenly:
“Matters at court sometimes require decisive judgment. Since it was your decision, do not burden yourself.”
Chu Yingzhao acknowledged with a quick “Mm-hmm,” her attention still on her food. “Thank you, Mother.”
The Empress Dowager smiled softly. “If you have uncertainties, feel free to consult the venerable ministers. They have weathered many storms and can be of assistance.”
Her voice faltered slightly, her loving gaze deepening, tinged with a hint of regret: “If you prefer not to consult them, I am here to ease your worries. Alas, in recent years, I have only handled trivial matters and fear I may not be much help.”
...Did the game truly design such a tender mama?
Chu Yingzhao could hardly believe it: the most considerate episode by the planners?
Despite the swirling thoughts, she did not slow her eating in the slightest.
Mama, food, delicious (in the literal sense).
After finishing her meal, the Empress wiped her mouth gently with a cloth, stood, smoothed her robes, and resumed the composed demeanor befitting an emperor.
“Mother, there are important affairs to attend today... I shall take my leave.”
The Empress Dowager blinked in surprise but quickly smiled warmly: “Very well. Since that is so, I will not detain you.”
Chu Yingzhao nodded slightly and turned to leave the palace.
—but she had no intention of returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Raising her hand slightly, Ying’s figure flickered beside her, kneeling on one knee.
“Prepare the horses,” she said calmly, “Return to the refugee district.”
Since leaving the palace yesterday, the thought had weighed heavily on her mind and now finally took shape.
The refugee crisis was a terrifying challenge for any ruler. Yet, like all things, it bore two faces: simultaneously, it was a tremendous opportunity.
The era’s most arduous reforms—the military overhaul and educational expansion—found their perfect fertile ground in such a time.
Fortuitously, she had brought the seeds.