After Entering The Abusive Novel, I Became The Empress - Chapter 41

The palace was bustling with figures, and the Emperor, his face filled with anger, looked at Qin Yuqing lying in bed while being treated by the imperial physicians.

“This is complete nonsense!” the Emperor exclaimed as he walked out. He glanced at Lu Jingchuan standing outside the hall, his anger rising further. “What use are you if you can’t even stop her? You just stand there like a wooden block!”

Lu Jingchuan lowered his head, offering no defense, obediently listening to the Emperor’s scolding and occasionally nodding in agreement: “Your Majesty is right.”

Both he and the Emperor knew in their hearts that Aruan was stubborn. Once she set her mind on something, not even a thousand oxen could pull her back.

“Enough, Your Majesty. General Lu did not act with ill intent,” a gentle voice sounded nearby. Following her was a dignified and elegant woman—the Empress, who had been missing for over a month.

The Empress bowed to the Emperor and asked, “How is the Sixth Princess? What do the imperial physicians say?”

The Emperor cast a glance at her and shook his head. “It’s nothing serious. The physicians say she is weak and caught a chill.” He toyed with his finger ring, then looked at the Empress with a deep, penetrating gaze.

“Has Your Majesty’s health recovered? If not fully, it would be better to stay in the palace and rest.”

The Empress’ face showed guilt. Holding her handkerchief, she spoke in regret, “It’s all my fault. I have been unwell for the past month and temporarily entrusted the affairs of the harem to Consort Yu. Just now, as soon as I heard that Aruan had fallen ill, I came immediately.”

She looked around with a mixture of surprise and reproach. “Although it was Consort Yu’s first time managing the harem, and some oversights are understandable, at the very least she should have come to check on her today.”

The Emperor thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty’s health seems fine, but you still need to pay more attention to the various affairs of the harem.” He patted her hand meaningfully. “My Empress will not disappoint me.”

“I will manage the harem properly and will not let any mistakes happen,” she replied.

With the Emperor busy with state affairs and the physicians confirming that Qin Yuqing was unharmed, he had Lu Jingchuan stay behind with the imperial edict until Qin Yuqing awoke, while he returned to the study to handle official matters.

Seeing the Emperor leave, the Empress also had no reason to stay and cast a subtle glance at the closed door, then left in a pleased mood.

Lu Jingchuan shook his head silently, worry in his eyes as he looked at the closed door. Only after everyone else had left and Chun Tao nodded at him did Lu Jingchuan quietly step inside.

Qin Yuqing lay on the bed, her face pale, her cheeks and lips completely colorless, and his heart ached almost unbearably.

Lu Jingchuan sat on the bed, wanting to reach out to her but afraid of disturbing her if he touched her.

“Aruan, when will you let yourself lean on me, even just once?” he whispered.

In her dream, Qin Yuqing seemed to arrive at a strange place.

It was completely empty, with only a pure white path. Instinctively, she tried to step backward, but a voice spoke—sometimes close, sometimes far away.

“Go forward.”

“Aruan, go forward. Don’t look back.”

Since entering this book world, Qin Yuqing had kept reminding herself that she was not Aruan; she was the modern Qin Yuqing, not the original female lead.

“Who are you? I’m not Aruan.”

“You are Aruan,” the voice insisted repeatedly, unwavering.

Qin Yuqing grew irritated and continued forward, but the voice lingered like a ghost beside her.

“You are Aruan. You are Aruan.”

“I’m not! I’m the modern businesswoman Qin Yuqing, not the original female lead Aruan!”

“Stop denying it. I am you,” the voice suddenly spoke ahead, and a person who looked exactly like Qin Yuqing approached against the path. “Aruan is me, and also you.”

“You’re… the original female lead?” Qin Yuqing’s mind raced through countless possibilities, eliminating them one by one until only this remained.

The original female lead nodded, her wooden expression emotionless. “Didn’t you hear the prophecy?”

“Prophecy? What prophecy?”

“The order of Heaven is disturbed, the world is twisted. The destined ones’ trajectories are misaligned but now restored. Only the destined twins can resolve the calamity in Dayin.”

“This prophecy was left for you by Little Deer. Don’t tell me you forgot,” the original female lead’s eyes flickered with anger and jealousy. “I feel so miserable… why would she choose you? Why would he like you? Why does everyone favor you?”

“Even though we are the same person, our souls are of one origin.”

Qin Yuqing stared at the original female lead in disbelief. At first, she was a little confused, but now she realized that the original female lead had been observing everything through her body all these days.

Thinking this, Qin Yuqing tried to step back, but the original female lead grabbed her hand, forcefully pulling her forward and pushing her along the path.

“Don’t look back. Don’t retreat,” the lead said emotionlessly. “You are more suited to survive than I am. I am dull and indecisive; only you can carry us forward.”

“What do you mean? Who is she? Who exactly are you talking about?”

The original female lead didn’t answer. Behind Qin Yuqing, a gnawing sound approached. When she tried to turn back, the lead shouted:

“Don’t look back! Go forward!”

“I am Aruan, and so are you. Never doubt yourself! Never doubt this world! Never!”

“The answers you seek lie in the western Dayin. Who you are and why this is happening, you will understand there.”

Hearing the voice, Qin Yuqing’s eyes welled with tears as she began moving forward.

“Run, Qin Yuqing! Run!”

“Remember, don’t look back. Let me be useful just this once!”

The original female lead’s voice grew pained, screaming of injustice and grievance.

“The time-space administrators are no better. Did they ask me before trying to touch her? As long as I am here, no one can approach her!”

Qin Yuqing gradually ran faster. The surrounding space began to collapse, and the system’s voice sounded:

[Detected: Host Qin Yuqing’s body has fully recovered. Assisting host to exit the stuck point.]

The path beneath suddenly fractured. Qin Yuqing glanced back at the original female lead through the gap.

[Host, do not look back.]

The next moment, Qin Yuqing fell into endless darkness. When she opened her eyes again, the room was dimly lit, the candle flames flickering.

She recalled everything from her dream. She was certain; neither the system nor this world was ordinary—they were full of strangeness.

“Aruan, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

It was Lu Jingchuan’s voice.

Qin Yuqing turned her head and saw the young general, his face scruffy, dark circles under his eyes. Had she really been asleep for so long?

“How long have I been asleep?” she croaked, her throat dry and sore.

Lu Jingchuan carefully supported her, feeding her small spoonfuls of food. “Not long, just one afternoon.”

“And this?” Qin Yuqing reached out, poking his cheek and feeling the stubble. “So prickly.”

“Stop teasing,” Lu Jingchuan said, though he made no move to avoid her.

“The imperial edict on the table—is it for me?” Qin Yuqing glanced at the bright yellow document. It must either be for her or delivered by Lu Jingchuan.

“Yes. Sit still and don’t move,” Lu Jingchuan said, picking up the edict and summarizing it in his calm, cold voice: “His Majesty orders you to depart tonight for the south. Travel under cover of night, no need to look for him.”

Qin Yuqing nodded. Chun Tao entered, carrying a large parcel. “Princess, it’s late. We should leave now.”

Qin Yuqing was puzzled; she hadn’t planned to bring Chun Tao south, especially since the south was perilous. She wanted Chun Tao to stay in the capital and assist Lu Jingchuan.

“Chun Tao is skilled in martial arts and grew up with you. With her, I can feel a bit more at ease.”

Seeing that Lu Jingchuan, her master, said this, Qin Yuqing said no more. She got out of bed, asking as she walked, “Do Little Deer and Pu Qinghe know?”

“Don’t worry, they’re waiting at the city gate,” Lu Jingchuan helped Qin Yuqing onto the carriage and said, “Be careful. The capital has me.”

“All right, you too,” Qin Yuqing said, watching him fade into the distance, then called out loudly: “Aruan, I will come back for you. Take care!”

Lu Jingchuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. He joyfully stepped forward three paces, but seeing the carriage drive away, his face returned to its usual stoic expression, tinged with helplessness this time.

The carriage sped out of a side gate of the palace, quickly disappearing from the city gates.

City Gate.

“So slow! My legs are numb waiting here,” Pu Qinghe complained. “Just handle the driving; you all sit inside.”

“Chun Tao, accompany Pu Qinghe outside.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Even if Qin Yuqing didn’t say anything, Chun Tao intended to follow orders to protect her.

Qin Yuqing helped Little Deer onto the carriage. Not seeing Xiao Wu around, she asked curiously, “Where’s your brother? Didn’t he come to see you off?”

Little Deer looked sleepy, her once bright eyes now drooping. “My brother just became the national advisor. He cannot leave the Tower of the Advisor.”

“Don’t worry. I will protect you,” Qin Yuqing said, stroking Little Deer’s face.

Little Deer smiled, leaning on Qin Yuqing’s shoulder, slowly closing her eyes: “I trust you, not just because of my brother, but because you are the person of destiny.”

Hearing her soft breathing, Qin Yuqing gently laid Little Deer down, letting her rest her head on her lap.

“Princess, this is not proper,” mumbled the drowsy child, trying to sit up.

“Just sleep, child. It’s fine,” Qin Yuqing patted her head indulgently.

Little Deer was too tired. “Princess, you are truly a kind person,” she said, falling asleep again.

The carriage sped southward, while countless pigeons fluttered in the night sky above the capital.

The Sixth Princess, Qin Yuqing, had departed from the South Gate of the city.