Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 3

03: Punishment

“Xiaoxue” is a nickname, only used by the closest few. Xi Lingxue hadn’t heard it in a long time.

Her brows gradually relaxed, feeling the warmth and safety of the arm she was holding, as if that person had returned…

Jiang Ci was also lying by the bed, quietly admiring Xi Lingxue’s sleeping face.

Her jet-black hair, delicate features, cool and aloof—no wonder she’s the female lead. Just looking at her could lift one’s spirits.

Taking advantage of the free moment, the system popped up again.

[Host, can we talk now?]

Jiang Ci: [Oh, sorry, sorry, I’ve been so busy I almost forgot about you. You’re quite humane, waiting all this time?]

System: [Hehe.]

Jiang Ci: [By the way, what’s the current progress? I feel like the plot is a bit messy.]

[According to the original book, the plot should have progressed to the point where the female lead, Xi Lingxue, marries into the Marquis’s residence and is forcibly marked by Gao Yi. But due to unknown reasons, the plot has derailed. Gao Yi failed to mark her and instead had his gland slashed by Xi Lingxue.]

Oh, I see…

Hearing how impressive Xi Lingxue was, Jiang Ci thought it was great that the plot derailed. That’s what a black lotus should be like!

This part of the original book was the most disgusting. A good female lead being ruined by a scumbag—Jiang Ci wanted to send a box cutter to the author.

The system finally revealed the mission.

[Mission objective: Host, please correct the derailed plot, abuse Xi Lingxue according to the original storyline to promote her dark transformation, and achieve the original book’s ending.]

The original book’s ending…?

Jiang Ci thought about it. This book was essentially the female lead’s bitter struggle, from a bullied little princess to the ultimate ruler.

So, the ultimate goal is to help the female lead ascend to the throne, right? All roads lead to Rome. Why insist on the path of forcing her to turn dark?

Jiang Ci decisively refused: [I won’t do it. The character settings are already messed up, the plot is messed up, let’s just keep it messed up. We can twist the ending back eventually, no need to be so rigid.]

System: [Em……]

Jiang Ci: [Do you have superiors, like some management bureau? Communicate with them, everything can be negotiated. After all, not doing the mission won’t erase me, right?]

[It won’t directly erase you, but for overly outrageous behavior, the heavenly law will directly punish the host.]

In other words, the system is powerless.

Jiang Ci thought, my character is already messed up, and I haven’t seen any punishment.

Jiang Ci: [You go discuss it first, I’ll take a nap too.]

The original body was a military officer, tough and enduring, but a bit weak from injuries. After all the commotion, she couldn’t help but feel sleepy.

The system didn’t make any more noise, perhaps it really went to report the situation. Jiang Ci enjoyed the peace, lying by Xi Lingxue’s bed for a light nap.

Jiang Ci slept lightly, waking up as soon as Xi Lingxue moved.

When Xi Lingxue opened her eyes and saw herself tightly holding Gao Yi’s arm, she quickly pulled her hand back. Wrapping herself in the blanket, she shrank back as if avoiding a snake.

“Why are you here?” She glanced around the room, her voice still weak, “Where’s Jin Yu?”

Honestly, Jiang Ci didn’t know where the little maid had been derailed to by the plot. However, Jin Yu was part of Xi Lingxue’s “initial team” holding an important place in her heart. Her sudden disappearance would surely unsettle Xi Lingxue.

Jiang Ci said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go ask around.”

There were no other servants around, and Nanny Zhang had gone to prepare the medicine. Jiang Ci had to leave the courtyard to find a servant.

Once she left, Xi Lingxue lifted the blanket to check.

Fortunately, her clothes were still intact.

Xi Lingxue was puzzled. What was going on with Gao Yi? If she wanted to humiliate her, she had the perfect opportunity just now…

She could feel that her heat condition had eased.

Nanny Zhang came in with the prepared medicine, “Your Highness is awake? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

She remembered the horrifying bruise on Xi Lingxue’s abdomen.

“I’m fine.” Xi Lingxue sat up and took the bowl. She always drank her medicine herself. “Nanny Zhang, what happened while I was unconscious?”

At this question, Nanny Zhang’s worried expression lightened, “The Marquis called for a doctor. She didn’t even tend to her own injuries, staying here to watch over you. I think the Marquis has finally come around, learning to care for others!”

Xi Lingxue remained silent. If Nanny Zhang knew that Gao Yi had drugged her and locked her in the woodshed to abuse her, she wouldn’t think so.

Moreover, Gao Yi’s gland wasn’t “accidentally” slashed by her, but intentionally.

Of course, Xi Lingxue wouldn’t tell Nanny Zhang these things. Nanny Zhang was old, and telling her would only cause unnecessary worry, requiring her to comfort her in return.

Xi Lingxue sipped her medicine, pondering Gao Yi’s recent actions.

This person was truly abnormal. She couldn’t figure out what Gao Yi was up to. Maybe she was planning something?

Jiang Ci returned from outside and said, “I’ve sent people to look for her. Don’t worry, Jin Yu must be somewhere in the Marquis’s residence.”

Nanny Zhang was startled, only now realizing someone was missing, “Jin Yu is gone?”

Xi Lingxue glanced at Jiang Ci, “She’s just a child, probably playing somewhere. She can’t have left the Marquis’s residence.”

Nanny Zhang thought the same. Previously, when the Princess angered the Marquis, the Marquis had restricted their movements, forbidding them from leaving without permission.

Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow, feeling that Xi Lingxue’s words were subtly poking at her.

In the plot, Gao Yi had imprisoned Xi Lingxue in the Marquis’s residence for a long time, cutting off her contact with the outside world, leaving her isolated and helpless. Now, Xi Lingxue’s words seemed to be testing her reaction.

“Nanny Zhang,” Jiang Ci said, “You can go rest now. I’ll take care of things here.”

“Ah, yes.”

Nanny Zhang thought that the newlyweds naturally needed some alone time to talk and build their relationship. As long as the Marquis knew how to care for others, the Princess’s future would be blessed.

Jiang Ci watched Nanny Zhang leave, fully aware of her thoughts. In the original book, Nanny Zhang was always unclear, holding onto hope that Gao Yi would treat Xi Lingxue better. Little did she know, Gao Yi was a complete scoundrel.

But now, she had become Gao Yi, so Nanny Zhang’s hopes wouldn’t be in vain.

Xi Lingxue remained silent, still on guard.

Jiang Ci guessed she must be quite confused, probably with a hundred thousand questions in her mind.

“From now on, you can come and go freely from the Marquis’s residence.” Jiang Ci placed a token by the bed, “With this, you can command anyone in the Marquis’s residence.”

Gao Yi’s parents were deceased, and now the entire Marquis’s residence was under her control. The token represented the Marquis’s authority. Essentially, with the token, Xi Lingxue could roam freely within the Marquis’s residence, explore anywhere, even the study or secret chambers!

Xi Lingxue hesitated to take it, “…Really?”

“Really,” Jiang Ci said, “Not only that, but I can also give you the key to the private treasury.”

The private treasury contained treasures collected by Gao Yi, priceless and invaluable. Most importantly, Xi Lingxue’s dowry was also stored there.

Jiang Ci thought this should be enough to show sincerity, right? The real Gao Yi wouldn’t do this!

In the original book, Xi Lingxue had to go through great hardships to obtain these two things. Now, she was giving them directly. It was like playing a game, bypassing the final boss and opening the treasure chest right at the start.

Jiang Ci smiled proudly, how about that, surprised?!

Xi Lingxue was too shocked to respond.

Jiang Ci was about to say more when she suddenly felt a chill on her scalp, a sense of foreboding creeping up her spine.

She instinctively thought of the system’s warning.

[For overly outrageous behavior, the host will also be punished.]

…No way, could it be that giving things to the female lead for free isn’t allowed?!

Just then, a young girl’s furious shout came from outside, “Your Highness, Jin Yu is here to save you!”

Jiang Ci turned around to see the door being violently broken open, the two panels shattering into pieces, wood splinters scattering everywhere.

The wind blew into Jiang Ci’s eyes, and before she could open them, she felt a hand grab her chest, followed by a dizzying spin as her feet left the ground.

Jiang Ci: “What?!”

Jin Yu lifted her with one hand, ready to throw her out.

Xi Lingxue quickly stopped her, “Jin Yu! Stop!”

“Your Highness!” Jin Yu’s face was red with anger, “You don’t know how evil this Marquis is! She sent people to lure me away, trying to harm you! Since my martial arts are exposed, let’s fight our way out of the Marquis’s residence today!”

“Wait, wait!” Jiang Ci, held horizontally in the air, pleaded, “Little girl, why so violent? Can you let me say a few words first?”

Jin Yu: “Bah! Evil Marquis, you’ve gone too far! Die!”

Jiang Ci was shocked, what the hell! The plot deviation is too extreme!

In the original book, Jin Yu was just an ordinary little maid, a Zhongjun character. How did she become a super strong loli?!

Just as Jiang Ci was about to be thrown out, an electric current suddenly coursed through her body, causing her muscles to convulse, and Jin Yu, who was holding her, also started trembling.

Both of them fell to the ground, smoke rising from their heads.

Xi Lingxue covered her mouth in shock, frozen for a moment before finally reacting, “Are you… okay?”

Jiang Ci lay stiffly on the ground, her hair a mess and curled, weakly saying, “Still alive…”

Is this the punishment the system mentioned? Electric shock?!

Fvck!

“Your Highness, be careful…” Jin Yu was worse off, her hair standing on end, completely drained, “She… she knows the Soul-Stealing Technique!”

Jiang Ci, who was about to pass out, suddenly sat up, “…What?!”

Soul-Stealing Technique?! Has this kid been reading too many martial arts novels? What a bizarre thought!

“…Really, thank you, little sister.” Jiang Ci, still numb, said with a bitter smile, “Please, don’t make things more chaotic. I was clearly punished by the heavenly law!”