Chapter 33

“Your task is completed. You can stay in this world for one week. After leaving, you cannot enter this world again. Do you confirm your departure?”

“Mm.” Jian Yixin responded softly.

“The portal has been opened for you.”

In front of Jian Yixin, a white light stretched out on the horizon, like a page of endless white paper, first spreading out on the ground in front of her, then lifted upward by an invisible hand.

Before Jian Yixin was all white, more ethereal than snow, radiating a warm light.

She stood before the cross-section of the entire world.

Behind her was the snow, and in front of her was emptiness.

“The host can directly enter and return to the domain of the Quick-Transmigration Bureau,” 09 prompted.

Jian Yixin paused, didn’t turn back, and looked up at a point in the white light:

“09, has the memory of the target been completely erased?”

09 hesitated.

“Yes, please rest assured, host.”

Jian Yixin nodded slightly, said nothing more, and stepped into the white light.

Behind her, the snow interwove densely into a net, like countless white dots between the gray sky and earth.

The soft white light actively enveloped Jian Yixin’s figure, extending to her flying hair.

At the moment of Jian Yixin’s departure, the world seemed to be paused.

The frozen clouds in the night sky stagnated, the snowflakes ceased dancing, the neon lights forgot to flicker, and everything fell into a cold silence.

On the long street, Lin Qinglu stood there, looking particularly slender in the vast world.

It seemed as if she saw clearly the moment Jian Yixin left. Because of the dense snow, it seemed like she saw nothing.

The snowflakes, about to kiss her lips, paused in mid-air.

Lin Qinglu suddenly widened her eyes.

The next moment, all the suspended white dots started moving again.

They were no longer snow.

These dense white dots stretched their shapes, forming strange contours. As Lin Qinglu looked closely, she realized why they looked familiar.

They were white butterflies.

Thin as paper, weightless, lifeless, with a snowy luster and a faint blue hue.

They crowded in the air, producing subtle and indescribable friction sounds, ethereal and unreal, as if they were only the imaginations of people.

They flew up in all directions, covering the sky.

Lin Qinglu looked up, her neck slender, her ice-blue skirt flowing like water.

She saw these elf-like creatures devouring skyscrapers on television, invading the night, and melting all the real ice and snow.

They were like snowflakes on TV, gradually obscuring the scene called “the world.”

The world was like a colorful ice cream ball thrown into milk, melting into white.

But Lin Qinglu was in it, calm as a bystander.

Until a butterfly flew in front of her, slightly taller than her, and aligned with her upward gaze, gently flapping its wings.

Lin Qinglu suddenly smiled, raising her hand to touch her lips.

But the butterfly didn’t land on her lips.

It lightly kissed Lin Qinglu’s forehead.

The excessive brightness made Jian Yixin involuntarily close her eyes. When the light faded, she opened her eyes to find herself in a pure white room.

She was still wearing the black coat, with snowflakes leaving a faint dampness on its surface.

Unlike Song Pianxian in the small world, she had chestnut-colored pupils. Even before speaking, she exuded a gentle power.

A little girl was sitting on a white square stool, staring at her with her face in her hands.

The girl had long curly hair and big eyes, wearing a little dress, resembling a doll, around five or six years old. She held a big blue pencil in her arms, with a pink cherry blossom-shaped eraser on the top.

“Host, welcome back to the Quick-Transmigration Bureau. This is your employee dormitory,” the girl said in a familiar girlish voice.

“09?”

“It’s me.” 09 showed a sweet smile, a bit shy. Remembering the task at hand, she stood up, easily manipulating the slightly taller pencil than herself, drawing a blue light-emitting settlement screen in the air.

“Congratulations, Host. In the first task world, your completion rate is S, and your contribution points have been deposited into your account.”

“According to the regulations, I have also been upgraded to a level one system and the exchange function has been activated. You can directly exchange goods in the system through me.”

Back at the Quick-Transmigration Bureau, Jian Yixin finally felt the sensation of amnesia. She felt unfamiliar with the rules here, but she quickly got to the point:

“Can goods be brought into the task world?”

“No, they are only for your life and entertainment in the Quick-Transmigration Bureau.” 09 shook her head, her long hair swaying, “In addition to system exchange, you can also trade with others in the market, and contribution points can be used as currency.”

“Alright.”

After Jian Yixin roughly understood, she looked around. It was a square room, everything was pure white, except for basic furniture, there was nothing else.

09 timely explained, “The current room is the initial appearance. If the host wants, we can remodel and upgrade it to make it more livable.”

Meaning, she had lost her memory, so whether it was the system or the assets she owned, everything was reset to zero.

Jian Yixin felt no sense of belonging here, with no intention of decorating it. But she remembered:

“When I was in the mission world, were you here too?”

09 nodded, her curly hair swaying at the ends.

Jian Yixin smiled, “Just decorate it according to your preference.”

09’s eyes lit up, full of excitement, looking more like a doll, “Can I really?”

“Furnishings and things are up to you. Just make yourself comfortable.” Jian Yixin said gently, but after some thought, she added, “Overall, not too pink.”

Ah, the host is so kind to her! Excitedly, 09 nodded repeatedly, and more little cherry blossoms bloomed beside the big pencil.

Jian Yixin took off her coat, hung it on her elbow, and pressed her forehead, “Is there a specified time for the next mission?”

“Yes, within three days.” 09 looked at her expression, “The Quick-Transmigration Bureau provides an emotional elimination function, which can eliminate the emotional impact of the small world on you.”

“Do you need it, host?”

Jian Yixin paused.

“No, thanks.”

Complete oblivion is the true separation.

09 obediently said, “Okay, Host can rest for a while. I’ll adjust the room, and then we can go out for a walk. There’s a great barbecue restaurant on the street, with very few credit points needed…”

09 started talking about food and fun, while Jian Yixin listened quietly. She felt she needed a good sleep first.

She instinctively reached for her wristwatch but found nothing.

“Oh, right.” 09, who had always paid attention to the host’s state, explained, “Items between the system space and the small world cannot communicate. Except for the clothes worn when coming from the small world, other items are all excluded.”

“So, this has also led to a second-hand clothing market, where everyone exchanges clothes from various small worlds. We can also go there to find something interesting.”

“That sounds interesting.”

Jian Yixin understood and was about to hang up her coat. Before doing so, she routinely checked the pockets of the coat.

Knowing her habit of checking pockets, 09, seeing she couldn’t overcome it for a moment, chuckled softly, “I’ve already said there won’t be anything, host, rest assured—”

09’s sweet voice abruptly stopped.

In Jian Yixin’s hand, a beautiful butterfly brooch lay quietly.

“Good afternoon, Miss.” A strict and indifferent female voice said.

The room, all silver-gray, was empty around, except for a silver-white elliptical cabin placed near the center.

“The entertainment project has officially ended. Please rate and evaluate your project experience. If you have any questions, Number 01 will be at your service.”

The voice, coming from an unknown location, had a subtle metallic texture. After patiently waiting for a minute, it finally woke up its target.

After a few faint mechanical sounds, the ecological cabin let out a long beep, rotating 45 degrees from the semi-circular position on the ground to a tilted position, standing on the silver-gray floor.

There were no support points between the ecological cabin and the ground. Upon closer inspection, there were no connecting surfaces either; it just silently floated.

The hatch opened, and the person inside sat up, black hair pouring behind her with the movement.

She had a youthful face, probably in the transitional period between girlhood and womanhood. The two charms intertwined in her, creating a beauty that was hard to ignore.

The confusion in her reddish-brown pupils gradually dissipated, replaced by a faint gleam, yet her voice remained restrained and slightly cold:

“Who is she?”

“Who are you referring to?” 01 speculated, but still confirmed, “Are you talking about the one who caused your consciousness to end the project?”

“Yes.”

“Please wait, I will check for you—”

“I’m sorry, I am temporarily unable to determine the identity of the other party.”

01 empathized, “If you need, we also provide a romance project, where professionals will find you in the small world and provide you with various romantic experiences.”

“No need,” she said coldly.

“Okay.”

01 implied no further conversation, and the room fell silent.

The woman in the ecological cabin propped her elbow on the cabin wall, supporting her head. It took her a while before she spoke, sounding somewhat annoyed:

“Why am I so… immature in this project?”

After a pause of two or three breaths, 01 replied, “After confirmation, there were no abnormalities in your life experiences in the small world. Furthermore, your performance was excellent.”

Pausing for a moment, 01 candidly continued, “However, in sudden romantic situations, your performance was indeed poor.”

“…”

She pursed her lips, then after a while, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, she asked, “You really can’t find out her identity?”

“Due to belonging to different departments, I am temporarily unable to confirm the other party’s identity. However, if you insist on finding out, I can use your Class A permissions to track her whereabouts for you.”

“I want to go to the project she’s in, help me locate her.” She hesitated for no moment, then added, “This time, with emotional retention.”

“Okay. I need to remind you that with emotional retention, your memories will still be erased.”

01 cautioned, “Without memories as a basis, emotional retention values will fluctuate between 30% and 50% of the original value.”

“Your conscious emotions towards the other party will affect your ‘personality’ in the project. Please be aware.”

“I know.” Her voice sounded lazy, leisurely saying, “Class A permissions… can they let me specify the project world?”

“You can already specify the project.”

“I mean, specify hers.” She smiled slightly, “After all, I’m following her, aren’t I?”

After a moment of silence, 01 replied, “Upon inquiry, you have the right to use one specified opportunity. Since the other party’s identity is uncertain, the specified result is uncertain and will be adjusted accordingly, or may not be effective.”

She nodded indifferently, then her eyes flashed, and she calmly made her request.

Jian Yixin was certain she had never owned such a brooch, and with her expertise in jewelry appreciation, she could easily discern the brooch’s considerable value.

Where it came from seemed obvious.

09’s reaction to the brooch was even greater than Jian Yixin’s. The pencil cherry blossom exploded completely, sounding puzzled like a reader who couldn’t solve a math problem but saw the answer to the question:

“Why is it so fat? How could this happen?”

Jian Yixin was slightly distracted, her fingertips brushing over the broken diamond contours of the butterfly wings, feeling a slightly angular and hard texture beneath her fingers.

It was beautiful.

Beautiful enough to remind her of when Lin Qinglu once said she had prepared a return gift for herself, which she would definitely like, her voice tinged with a hint of smugness.

That day, with the autumn sun shining, she teased Lin Qinglu. What if she didn’t like it?

Lin Qinglu smirked and said even if she didn’t like it, she should say she did. That way, Lin Qinglu would be happier and would give her more gifts.

“I need to scan its data and transfer the bug and information to my superiors,” Jian Yixin’s thoughts were interrupted by 09.

She stared blankly at the brooch.

“Is it okay…?” 09 asked cautiously.

If uploaded, this brooch might be treated as a bug by the higher-ups and be collected for cleaning.

After a long while, Jian Yixin said:

“Of course, it’s your job.”

09 reached out with her small hand, and Jian Yixin slowly placed the brooch in her palm.

09 carefully put away the butterfly brooch, hesitated for a moment while holding the large pencil, and whispered softly:

“I think there’s no rush to scan it. Let’s do it when you come back next time.”

Jian Yixin chuckled.

She should have advised 09 to fulfill her job duties as soon as possible, but the words were on the tip of her tongue, unable to be spoken.

Let her retain this small selfishness.

“Thank you, 09.”

“No, no need to thank me.”

Face to face, 09 seemed even shyer, covering her face with both hands, leaving only a pair of large black grape-like eyes looking at Jian Yixin, avoiding the topic:

“Host, please inform me in advance when you’re leaving. I need to report to the Quick-Transmigration Bureau for work.”

With only three days of rest, Jian Yixin didn’t have the habit of delaying things until the last moment, so she closed her eyes and said:

“The day after tomorrow, in the afternoon.”

“Okay.”

With only two days left, it was just enough time for 09 to decorate the room in her favorite fairy tale style. Fortunately, it was mostly white, so visually, aside from being overly elaborate, there was nothing too overwhelming.

After 09 returned from reporting to the Quick-Transmigration Bureau, she used the large pencil to draw four bright white halos in the room:

“Please have the host randomly select a small world to enter.”

Jian Yixin randomly pointed to one, and the halo hopped forward twice, spinning and unfolding into a light curtain, through which Jian Yixin walked straight in.

The cherry blossom eraser on 09 emitted a faint light. She found a small stool and sat down obediently, closed her eyes, entered connection mode, and muttered:

“Antique replicas…”

After the connection was complete, she opened her eyes, ready to erase the other halos.

The selected halos would lose their message protection and reveal the details as if announcing the answers.

09 glanced casually at the remaining three halos and was startled:

“Why are they all antique replicas for a matching game???”

As usual, there was a burst of blinding white light, as if stepping into nothingness, and in the next instant, Jian Yixin appeared in the task world.

She was still in the dark, but she could smell a strong medicinal odor in the air. A feeling of exhaustion swept over her body, persistent like it was embedded in her bones, as if her once healthy soul had been depleted by half, leaving only a bit of spiritual strength to support her.

In simple terms, she felt extremely weak.

“Princess! Oh dear—The situation with the Crown Prince is critical now, and you mustn’t collapse again,” a sharp and anxious voice exclaimed.

09 quickly said, “Host, your current identity is the Princess of the Li Kingdom. I will activate more advanced auxiliary functions for you.”

Jian Yixin muttered “okay” in her heart and slowly opened her eyes.

Before her was a bright yellow bed, and she was kneeling in front of it, her face cool but her eyes were hot, presumably from crying.

On the bed lay a man, his face as beautiful as a woman’s, now as pale as paper, with tiny plum blossoms reflected on his snowy undershirt, revealing the splatters of blood. His hair was like withered branches, lacking luster, but what was more frightening was his lifeless eyes, like candles struggling in the wind, making one fear they would extinguish with the next breath.

After the system upgrade, the auxiliary function allowed Jian Yixin to see the names and identities of these characters.

The Crown Prince of the Li Kingdom, Song Yu.

“Pianxian.”

Song Yu managed to force out a smile that failed to take shape, his hands, like chicken claws, gripping Jian Yixin’s tightly. He spoke slowly and laboriously:

“I didn’t marry Feng Yuexian to control the general’s mansion, remember…” He gasped, then continued, “You have been in the palace for a long time, don’t trust King Chu, don’t believe those rumors—For the sake of the Great Li, you must… seek the help of the Feng family.”

Song Yu’s eyes were filled with sorrow and admonition. Given his current condition, there were probably many things he couldn’t express, hoping only that his Little Sister who had lived in the deep palace for so long could understand the current situation.

Song Pianxian couldn’t help but be moved by him, grasping his hand back, her eyes filled with emotion as she softly said, “Elder Brother, rest assured.”

Song Yu smiled, looking even more serene. One could imagine the elegance he would exude if not for his illness.

He took a few deep breaths as if his lungs were broken drums, unable to hold anything inside. A eunuch beside him cried out in pain, “Your Highness, take a rest, there’s still time—”

“No more time.” Song Yu said slowly, trying to focus his fading gaze on his younger sister, “You, using my identity, must continue to support the Great Li. Xu Jing and others in the Eastern Palace can be trusted. Pianxian, don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” Jian Yixin comforted.

How could she let the dying man leave with such heavy concerns?

Song Yu didn’t know how much she believed, but he had no choice.

He closed his eyes. “Also, your health is better than mine, but…”

“Fate is uncertain,” he ended, still reluctant, but he insisted, “Choose someone to inherit the throne under your knee, remember!”

Jian Yixin didn’t know the plot yet, so she couldn’t say much, she could only bow and solemnly respond, “Okay, I will definitely do it.”

Song Yu suddenly coughed violently, as if trying to cough up his lungs, his face flushed with an odd redness, and Xu Jing quickly stepped forward with a handkerchief. As he retreated, blood dripped from the handkerchief onto the bed.

Drip, drip.

Song Yu forced a smile, his warmth still visible. He swallowed something, trembling lips, and finally said, “Pianxian, trust Feng Yuexian.”

“And… don’t be afraid.”

A surge of intuition rushed through Jian Yixin’s heart. Whether it was because of strong empathy or the sorrow of such a figure falling like a jade, her eyes welled up with heat, and she parted her lips:

“I…”

In the instant she opened her mouth, a strong force came from her hand, unexpectedly pushing her out of the bed curtain.

Jian Yixin fell to the ground, looking up at the figure on the bed, only to see Song Yu struggling to sit up, pulling down the bed curtain, his figure swaying.

A weak and hoarse voice came from behind the curtain, dissipating like smoke:

“Take the Princess to prepare—”

The voice abruptly stopped, and the figure behind the curtain swayed twice, collapsing like a crumbling rock, unable to rise again.

“Prince—” Xu Jing immediately knelt on the ground, and the few people in the hall couldn’t help but call out, their voices hoarse.

Jian Yixin propped herself up, tears shimmering in her tea-colored eyes.

A heavy sadness filled the air, and the hall was filled with the sound of suppressed weeping. Even the cries were quiet, like the meow of a sick cat.

Xu Jing was the first to kneel down and the first to stand up.

He waved his hand, and a palace attendant stepped forward, gently supporting Song Pianxian.

“Princess, I am Xue Qing, following the Prince’s orders, I will follow you from now on.”

Xu Jing wiped away his tears. After the Prince left, his old face seemed to have aged several years. He bowed respectfully to Song Pianxian:

“Princess, Xue Qing is from the secret guards, skilled in disguise. You and… the Prince resemble each other seventy to eighty percent. It’s safe in the Eastern Palace, but if you meet outsiders, it’s better for Xue Qing to accompany you.”

“In the future, it’s all up to you to fulfill the Prince’s last wish!”

Xu Jing’s voice was filled with grief. He knew how heavy the things entrusted by the Prince were. He was afraid that the weak Princess would be overwhelmed, but he persisted in saying these words, even though his mind and faith were on the verge of collapse.

Can the Great Li… really hold on?

He was getting old after all. His emotions were drained from the highs and lows, almost staggering, his vision darkened, and he fell straight down. Unexpectedly, someone grabbed his arm and steadied him.

When he looked up, it was the Princess.

“No, you can’t! You are of noble birth, while I am a humble servant—” Xu Jing was frightened, but he dared not struggle or push the Princess away.

“Xu Jing is a capable minister left by Elder Brother to this palace. You must not underestimate yourself.”

The Princess’s voice was gentle and soothing, with a comforting tone, so similar to the Prince! Xu Jing was stunned, tears welling up in his old eyes.

Song Pianxian supported him for a moment, waiting until he steadied himself before slowly retracting her hand.

This body was too weak; even speaking a few words made her stop to catch her breath, waiting until her voice steadied before she said:

“I hope Grand Tutor Xu won’t be too distressed. The deceased has passed away, leaving behind only wishes. I hope Grand Tutor will assist this palace in fulfilling the late emperor’s wishes and ensuring the stability of Dali’s land.”

Song Pianxian’s tone was warm yet firm, but more importantly, amidst the sudden death of the Crown Prince and the anxious hearts of the people, she suppressed her grief, steadied her mind, and stabilized the hearts of the people.

Her words were not only for Xu Jing’s ears. The expressions of the others in the hall finally settled, no longer as panicked as before.

They looked at Song Pianxian, dressed in a thin spring dress, standing delicately there. At this moment, however, she was like a nail, firmly anchoring everyone’s hearts.

Unexpectedly, in the face of great danger, the one who held up the best was the Princess, who usually seemed as fragile as a delicate spring flower.

Xu Jing gazed at Song Pianxian’s slender figure, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

If the master was like this, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope for Dali…

The palace doors opened, and a palace attendant hurriedly bowed, saying:

“Your Highness, Princess, the auspicious time is approaching, and the wedding procession is about to arrive!”

He didn’t even know that the Crown Prince had passed away.

“Princess.” Xu Jing looked to Song Pianxian, waiting for her signal.

Song Pianxian sighed softly.

The late prince had passed away, leaving behind only the old servant Xu Jing. In just a few words, it could be seen that the power of the Dali throne was precarious, surrounded by dangers.

She didn’t know how much power the late prince had left for her, but now, she had fallen to the point where she had to use a marriage as a pact and bow to the general’s residence. It was definitely not optimistic.

Now, she didn’t even have time to listen to the script that 09 had arranged; she had to deal with a series of continuous matters first.

“As for the late Prince’s side…”

Xu Jing understood and said, “You can rest assured, I’ll handle things here.”

“Mm, let’s go.” With no time to delay, Song Pianxian led Xue Qing out of the main hall of the Eastern Palace.

Xue Qing supported her as she stepped over the threshold. Song Pianxian raised her eyes and looked ahead. The light blue palace ribbons on her skirt swayed slightly in the wind.

Apart from the vermilion palace walls and glazed tiles, there were layers of auspicious beasts on the steps, and under the eaves hung lanterns made of red gauze, emitting crimson light.

There was no one around, but Xue Qing still kept her voice to a whisper.

“Princess, today is the auspicious day for Feng Yuexian and…” Xue Qing paused, “and your wedding day.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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