After Entering The Abusive Novel, I Became The Empress - chapter 7

From outside the doors suddenly came the announcement of someone’s arrival, followed by a slightly arrogant voice.

“Why is Sixth Sister here?”

Qin Qinqin was dressed with clever thought. At first glance, her clothes looked plain and simple, but upon closer look, both her robes and shawl were woven with hidden golden patterns, and on her head she wore round, lustrous pearls.

“Greetings to Father Emperor, Mother Empress. Your daughter is late and will punish herself with a drink.” With that, Qin Qinqin took the cup of wine a maid had handed her, downed it with a bright smile, and then glanced at Qin Yuqing with a wink.

“I did not expect Qiner and Qing’er to be acquainted. Truly fate at work,” the Emperor said with a smiling expression. Though his tone sounded like idle family chatter, it carried an inexplicable weight of oppression.

Qin Yuqing sharply sensed the Emperor’s displeasure. But was it for her sake, or something else entirely?

“Your Majesty, look at my poor memory.” The Empress immediately spoke up, seeing the atmosphere shift. “Yes, this must be fate.”

She knew that every word from the Emperor carried the weight of gold. Since His Majesty had already declared that Qin Yuqing grew up in the temple from childhood, then the Qin Yuqing who once lived in the harem was already “dead.” How then could Qin Qinqin, raised in the palace since birth, be so familiar with her?

Thus, she explained: “Yuqing is a filial child. Not long ago she prayed in the temple for Concubine Chen’s health. It was there she happened to meet Qiner, and so they became acquainted.”

The Emperor sipped his wine and suddenly laughed. “Their names are also alike. I imagine they will become the best of friends.”

Both Qin Yuqing and Qin Qinqin let out quiet sighs of relief. At first they didn’t understand why His Majesty was upset, but the moment the Empress spoke, they both realized.

“Be seated.” The Emperor pointed to a spot nearby. “Since Qing’er and Qiner already know each other, you two shall sit together beside Youran.”

A eunuch moved chairs over to Qin Youran’s side, and then Qin Yuqing and Qin Qinqin sat down behind her.

“Fifth Sister, happy birthday. This is a small token from your elder sister.” Qin Qinqin handed over a delicate, finely crafted doll.

Qin Yuqing glanced at it, lowered her eyes, and smiled faintly. That was more like it—how could someone she was working with not repay grudges in kind?

Coincidentally, she had prepared something quite similar herself. She wondered if Fourth Sister would mind?

Most likely… not.

Still, Qin Youran hid herself far more deeply than she had imagined.

Qin Youran accepted the doll with delighted surprise, her words brimming with unrestrained joy: “Thank you, Fourth Sister. I love it. As for my gift to you, it should already have arrived in your quarters. I wonder if Sister has seen it yet?”

“How could I not? Such a grand gift, and I love it very much.” Qin Qinqin then turned toward Qin Yuqing with a smile. “So grand, in fact, that even Sixth Sister was startled.”

Qin Yuqing smiled and nodded, her tone carrying just a hint of bashfulness: “Fifth Sister, I only recently came to the capital. Once I heard of your birthday, I prepared a gift especially for you. I imagine you will receive it after the banquet.”

“Is that so? Then this sister looks forward to it.” Qin Youran deliberately emphasized the word “gift.”

“As long as Sister likes it.”

Neither Qin Yuqing nor Qin Qinqin could find any evidence linking Qin Youran to the straw doll, so for now it remained only a suspicion. Without proof, guesses were only guesses.

The birthday banquet was filled with clinking cups and mingling guests, faces hidden behind wine, motives obscured.

Halfway through the feast, a bl00d-drenched figure suddenly staggered inside, sending many recoiling in fright.

“Who is that?”

“Why would someone covered in bl00d come here?”

“Such ill-omened behavior! On such a joyous day, how dare he show up without even washing or changing clothes?”

As Qin Yuqing listened to the murmurs, her gaze shifted to the Emperor seated high above. In his eyes flickered helpless sorrow.

Of course. How could a virtuous Emperor not recognize the soldiers who defended the realm?

“Your Majesty, Suicheng is held!” The man’s voice was choked as he trembled, pulling a bloodstained sheet of paper from his robes. “But… General Lu Zhong, he… he…”

“How is General Lu? Attend him at once!” The Emperor waved his hand, and eunuchs brought over a cushioned chair, carefully settling the man—Lu Lian—down.

Lu Lian forced a bitter smile, waving the eunuchs away. Their hands were stained with crimson, and from their solemn looks, they understood. They bowed low and stepped aside.

“Your Majesty, with the world in your heart and the soldiers on your mind, I, Lu Lian, dare to thank you on their behalf.” He broke into a violent cough, dark bl00d spilling from his lips. After a pause, he continued hoarsely:

“General Lu Zhong bade me deliver his final words—Lu family soldiers held the line.”

“Good, good, very good! Worthy of my beloved subject.” Though the Emperor spoke with a smile, Qin Yuqing could feel the thick sorrow radiating around him.

“Your Majesty, there is also one more matter.” Lu Lian handed the bloodstained paper to a eunuch, who presented it to the Emperor.

The Emperor read it, closed his eyes, and carefully tucked it into his sleeve. Looking back to Lu Lian, he asked, “You have done great service. What reward do you seek?”

Lu Lian pressed a hand to his mouth to suppress coughing, but bl00d still seeped through his fingers.

“General Lu Zhong died on the battlefield. I beg Your Majesty to grant him a decree so that his soul may return home. In his final moments, he said he missed the maple tree in the Lu family courtyard. He thought if we won, he could go back and see the autumn leaves again. Who would have thought…”

The great hall fell silent. Those who had earlier complained of the stench now bowed their heads in shame, clutching their wine cups, too guilty to speak.

“Father Emperor.” Qin Yuqing stepped forward, straightened her back, and knelt, her words firm and heartfelt: “We must never chill the hearts of our soldiers. You once taught me that unless absolutely necessary, not a single man should be abandoned.”

Seeing her kneel, Lu Jingchuan instinctively moved to step forward too, but his father pulled him back. On his seat in the middle of the hall, Lu Lian shook his head at him.

Lu Lian’s gaze lingered on the young woman. He remembered her face. He had seen it somewhere before.

“I agree,” the Emperor said, tears slipping from the corner of his eyes.

Qin Yuqing didn’t know why the plot had shifted. In the original story, news had indeed come during the banquet, but brought by a fast rider—and Suicheng had fallen due to betrayal within. It was meant to pave the way for the male lead to later reclaim it.

But why must it be lost? Why must soldiers die just to highlight the male lead’s glory?

Lu Lian smiled faintly, his eyes sweeping from the Emperor to the Lu family, and finally resting for a moment on the girl’s back. He raised his head toward the ceiling beams, laughing softly—half to himself, half to all present.

“The soldiers never retreated.”

“The Lu family army never retreated.”

“We never retreated.”

He no longer had the strength to cover his mouth. Bl00d poured freely down his chin, soaking the cushion beneath him.

“It has been… so long…” Lu Lian reached toward the blinding candlelight, but his hand fell short. He was so tired. Just a little nap… to be a deserter for once.

“Such warm light,” he murmured with a smile, eyes closing for the last time.

The hall was plunged into silence.

For the first time, Qin Yuqing truly grasped what “glorious sacrifice” meant. If there were no wars, no endless schemes, cities would not fall and soldiers would not die.

If only their leaders cherished soldiers’ lives a little more—just a little—there would be no betrayal, no treason.

Her gaze passed through the Emperor, toward the throne behind him. For the first time, she truly desired that seat—not for the system’s mission, but for herself.

The story had completely diverged. Suicheng was defended. The traitors were captured.

She recalled studying the map: Suicheng was nestled in the mountains, easy to defend, hard to attack. It was the last line of defense—if it fell, the plains behind would be wide open.

Now, with traitors exposed and the Emperor clearly believing Lu Lian’s report, much of his suspicion toward the Lu family was dispelled.

Qin Yuqing was about to seize the chance to speak, to take control of the situation—when the Emperor’s voice cut through.

“Lu Aiqing.”

Lu Jingchuan stepped forward, supporting his father, and both knelt.

“I know your grief. But a city cannot go a day without a master. My thought is to have Jingchuan guard the city.”

Qin Yuqing lowered her lashes, hiding her emotions. Though the plot shifted, the overall direction still followed the novel’s logic. What she needed was not small changes but a transformation of the court, the dynasty, the world itself. That must be the system’s intent with tasks like escaping the palace or sitting for the imperial examinations.

“Your Majesty, reconsider!” Lu Father pleaded through tears. “Jingchuan has never left the capital, let alone gone to the border. He cannot bear such a weight!”

“And you, Jingchuan—what do you think?” The Emperor ignored Lu Father, placing the decision squarely on his son.

Qin Yuqing sighed inwardly. Of course Jingchuan would agree. He was loyal to the nation, and with his loved one dead before his eyes, his resolve would only be stronger.

Even characters in this fictional world had genuine feelings. She could not—and would not—interfere. But if he accepted, then their cooperation might need to change. After all, how could a border general help her in the imperial examinations?

Yet just as Lu Jingchuan opened his mouth, the Emperor cut him off. Producing the bloodstained paper again, he sighed. “Lu Aiqing speaks truly. I was hasty.”

Qin Yuqing didn’t understand why he had changed his mind, but at least it meant her partnership could continue.

“Jingchuan will remain in the capital. The young prince still needs his tutelage in martial arts.” The Emperor shifted, his gaze landing on a man in the crowd. “If I recall correctly, Jingchuan has a younger brother raised on the frontier?”

“Your Majesty! Jingyu only just returned to the capital. Not to mention that the brothers have long been apart—Jingchuan’s temperament is far too solemn. Without someone he can truly speak to, it will be misery. Please, grant the command to another general instead.”

“Since that is so…” The Emperor’s gaze suddenly fell on Qin Yuqing, filled with an unreadable light.

A chill of foreboding surged in her chest. Wait… surely this wasn’t going to involve her?

“Qing’er’s cheerful nature complements Jingchuan’s steadiness.”

Qin Yuqing instinctively turned to meet Lu Jingchuan’s equally shocked eyes.

“Today is an auspicious day. Why not bestow marriage upon you both?”

Qin Yuqing: Wait, what?! How did this get dragged onto me?!