Volume One, Chapter 5: Suddenly, His Heart Emptied

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Upon hearing that voice, Chun’er finally recalled who Fang Juexia was.
—He was Yin Lingxiao’s childhood companion, a constant shadow since their days at the private academy!
Suddenly, the system’s voice rang out: [Due to irresistible plot forces, the male lead will appear beside the ‘Beloved’ at any moment. Host, remain vigilant and strive to complete your task to stand a chance of defying fate.]
Irresistible plot forces?
So even though she had escaped to the human character class, as long as the original script remained, she could still walk the same path as before, only to be discovered and imprisoned by the male lead?
Right now, Fang Juexia was blocking her very thoroughly, but the moment he rose, she would be exposed.
The situation was urgent. Chun’er’s mind raced at lightning speed, instantly figuring out the previously stuck sections and reciting the following lines with unprecedented fluency: “There has never been a righteous cause left unfinished; there has never been a treasury that contained unrightfully acquired wealth… This means the nation values righteousness over profit, considering righteousness as true profit!”
[Ding~ Level 3 system task completed. Reward: One word revision (1 time). Proceed to the next plot segment?]
“Proceed!”
Chun’er quickly scanned the following plot.
[Yin Lingxiao stood before the human character class door, his gaze falling on Fang Juexia.
Jiang Rongrong stood up with delight. Encouraged by her friends’ teasing, she shyly approached Yin Lingxiao and handed him a gift she had prepared earlier.
Jiang Rongrong: “Brother Lingxiao, this is a small token of my affection. Please accept it…”]
At this moment, the human character class buzzed with excitement due to Yin Lingxiao’s arrival. The messenger had already called Fang Juexia away, leaving Chun’er exposed. She could almost feel a cold and oppressive gaze slowly settling on her.
She immediately controlled her brush and erased the word “gift” from the script.
Now, she needed something explosive—something that would stir up chaos and divert his attention.
The system whispered excitedly: [Host, what do you want to change it to?]
Without hesitation, Chun’er changed the word to “gunpowder.”
System: [Oho~]
Jiang Rongrong saw Yin Lingxiao and stood up excitedly, clutching the gift as she shyly approached the doorway: “Brother Lingxiao, this is a small token of my affection…”
She lowered her head bashfully and extended her hand to offer it.
The distinctive sulfur smell of black powder filled the air.
Yin Lingxiao lowered his eyes, staring at the cylindrical gunpowder with a lit fuse.

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After a moment, he paused slightly and said, “Playing with fire in front of the mountain gate… is that you as well?”
Jiang Rongrong looked up in confusion, then a sharp explosion rang out, and the crowd quickly reacted.
“Gunpowder! It’s gunpowder!”
“The fuse is almost burned out, run!!!”
Chaos erupted. Some students scrambled frantically on the ground, others fled wildly, some tripped and fell after collisions.
Jiang Rongrong trembled, clutching the gunpowder, nearly in tears.
Chun’er took advantage of the turmoil to slip through the crowd, hearing Jiang Rongrong’s trembling voice: “…How did it turn into gunpowder? Brother Lingxiao, it’s not me, really not me! Wuwu, what if it explodes?”
Fang Juexia standing nearby looked horrified: “It really is gunpowder! Brother Yin, run!”
Yin Lingxiao frowned but spoke calmly: “It’s a firecracker, and a dud at that.”
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the fuse on the cylindrical gunpowder burned out silently, without even a wisp of smoke. Jiang Rongrong was not so composed; her legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground.
Fang Juexia was dazed. He had seen Jiang Rongrong’s prepared gift with his own eyes—how had it suddenly become a cylindrical firecracker? He couldn’t help but think back to the “fire rain” from that morning; both incidents bore an eerie sense of being toyed with.
Who was Yin Lingxiao?
When the late emperor overthrew tyranny, the old marquis had served loyally. In his youth, Yin Lingxiao had accompanied his father on the battlefield, personally leading troops to repel the Wala forces far away in one battle. For his meritorious service, the sovereign had appointed him heir apparent at a young age, bestowing great favor upon him. Wherever he went, he was respectfully called “Young Marquis.”
So who dared repeatedly attempt to assassinate the brave and resolute heir apparent?
Fang Juexia was about to pat his not-so-bright head when Yin Lingxiao’s eyes subtly shifted, glancing behind him: “Is there someone sitting beside you?”
“Huh? Yes, you don’t know, she—”
Mentioning this made Fang Juexia excited. He was about to boast about the girl’s stunning beauty when he remembered her clear, autumn-like eyes and the way she had implored him to keep it a secret.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“She… loves reading. She’s been studying all day.” Fang Juexia scratched his head and smiled foolishly, then turned back in confusion: “Where is she? Did she run away?”
Only a stack of rice paper remained on the desk beside him; the seat was empty.
*
Chun’er climbed up an ancient towering tree.
Yin Lingxiao had been targeted twice for assassination at the academy in one day, and now he was finally heading home.

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She sat on a sturdy branch, lazily swinging her long legs, watching as Yin Lingxiao took the sword presented by his attendant, mounted his horse, and gradually rode away.
A gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms. Chun’er vaguely recalled that shortly after returning to the capital, she had encountered Yin Lingxiao. In her youth, he had always been by her side.
The young man came from a military family, carrying a spirit and vigor unmatched by most boys in the capital. When his face was serious, it could be intimidating, but whenever he looked at her, his eyes shone like morning stars, dazzling as the blazing sun hanging in the sky.
When did the change happen?
It seemed he had disappeared for a time, and upon reappearing, those clear eyes were tainted by darkness. Even his occasional glances at her were filled with unspeakable pain.
He had become cruel and violent, committing acts of force against her, no longer resembling the boy he once was.
Chun’er fell silent for a moment, then said, “System, I want to transfer to another academy.”
Being in the same academy was far too dangerous. If he appeared suddenly again, she currently lacked the means to eliminate him.
System: [It’s useless. In the book world, the male lead’s law is everywhere. If the host transfers schools, the male lead will also suddenly want to transfer and appear by your side again.]
Chun’er: “...” Fine, then I’ll think of another plan.
She would buy the finest ink sticks and use a brush to dot her face. Love at first sight is shallow—it’s all about appearances. If she became ugly, Yin Lingxiao would no longer notice her.
Beyond that, she needed to study harder—not only to erase Yin Lingxiao from her storyline but also to ensure her own successful future career.
Since the current emperor was young, the empress dowager controlled the court. Several years ago, she issued an imperial edict encouraging women to take the imperial examinations and enter the court, despite strong opposition from ministers. The examination system was slowly opening to women.
Three years later, the emperor mysteriously died. The empress dowager ascended the throne, and her first act was to broaden access to the exams, suppressing dissent with an iron hand and establishing the unprecedented precedent of “women may also enter the court.”
Thus, the system’s task was no fantasy but aligned well with the political climate. This time, she must seize the opportunity and rise swiftly.
Chun’er climbed down the tree and walked toward the academy.
In the distance, Yin Lingxiao suddenly pulled his reins and glanced back at the treetop.
“My lord, any orders?”
“...Nothing.”
The breeze rustled the branches, where no one remained.
For some reason, Yin Lingxiao inexplicably felt his heart suddenly empty.