Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 4

04: Divorce Letter

Jiang Ci was eventually carried away by the servants in a flurry of activity. The doctor was called back again, but after an examination, he found nothing wrong. He only mentioned that due to the injury to her gland, her body was weak and she needed to rest in bed.

The Marquis’s residence was in a state of chaos, and Xi Lingxue’s side was temporarily overlooked.

The electric shock came and went quickly. Once Jin Yu recovered, the first thing she did was pack their belongings. Earlier, she had boldly declared that she would fight her way out of the Marquis’s residence, and now she was preparing to flee with her highness overnight. “That damned Marquis must have practiced some evil technique! That shock just now left my entire body numb!”

Xi Lingxue, sitting on the edge of the bed and massaging her temples, was much calmer than Jin Yu.

Gao Yi’s actions were truly unexpected. Was this a case of playing hard to get?

Not only had she given her the token and the key to the private treasury, but she had also let Jin Yu off without punishment… Logically, since their relationship had already soured, Gao Yi shouldn’t have let them go.

A soul crossing over…

Could such a strange thing really happen?

Xi Lingxue found it hard to believe, but the current Gao Yi did indeed give off a different vibe.

Forget it, Xi Lingxue thought. She would take things one step at a time. In any case, Gao Yi wouldn’t be able to mark her for a while, and she now had the Marquis’s token and the key to the private treasury. No matter how she looked at it, the situation was in her favor.

Seeing that Xi Lingxue wasn’t moving, Jin Yu anxiously said, “Your Highness, we can’t take anything from that damned Marquis! She must have ulterior motives!”

Outsiders praised the Marquis of Dingyuan, Gao Yi, for her bravery and skill in battle, calling her a rare Qianjun in the kingdom of Yu. Marrying her would guarantee a lifetime of wealth and comfort.

Jin Yu had thought her highness had finally found a way out, but it turned out this person was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Not long after the marriage, Gao Yi took a concubine. When Xi Lingxue refused to cooperate with the marking, Gao Yi resorted to force, even hitting and berating her. Jin Yu knew some martial arts, but Xi Lingxue had ordered her to hide her skills and not reveal them, so Jin Yu had always held back.

But today, that damned Gao Yi, even with her gland injured, had managed to send Jin Yu away so she could take advantage of the princess! Hearing the servant’s vulgar words, Jin Yu could no longer hold back, leading to the earlier scene.

Now, she truly hated Gao Yi.

Xi Lingxue said, “Since she’s already given them to us, why not take them? Jin Yu, stop packing.”

Jin Yu was stunned. “Your Highness, once she wakes up, we won’t have a chance to escape!”

Who knew what was wrong with that damned Marquis? If she came to her senses and had them arrested, they would be doomed!

“We’re not leaving.” Xi Lingxue said, playing with a dagger in her hands, her gaze turning cold. “Since things have come to this, let’s see what she’s really up to.”

Xi Lingxue wasn’t sure what she was hoping for deep down.

…

The electric shock punishment didn’t leave any lasting damage to her body, but due to the injury to her gland, Jiang Ci’s recovery was much slower. She lay in bed, feeling drowsy, and soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Jiang Ci was awakened by a voice in her head.

【Host? Host, how are you? Feeling better?】

Jiang Ci opened her eyes slightly. The antique room, the candle that had burned all night but hadn’t yet gone out, the pitch-black silence outside the window.

Everything was unfamiliar.

Sure enough, she was still in the world of the book.

Thinking of the voice she had just heard, Jiang Ci closed her eyes again and murmured, “Can you not wake me up so early…”

There’s no need to go to work here!

She never dreamed that one day she would be awakened not by an alarm clock, not by dreams, but by a system.

【I was just worried about you! You’re the first host I’ve encountered who got electrocuted!】

Jiang Ci could hear the excitement in its voice, as if it had discovered some new species.

Yesterday, Jiang Ci had wanted to have a heart-to-heart with Xi Lingxue, to clarify her stance, but out of nowhere, a fierce little girl had appeared. Well, the plot had already gone completely off the rails.

But after all that commotion, Xi Lingxue must be somewhat shaken, right?

After all, this world didn’t have electricity.

Jiang Ci understood that no one could immediately accept such a bizarre thing. Gaining trust wasn’t something that could happen overnight. There was plenty of time, and she could prove herself through her actions.

The original plot and Gao Yi’s character had already been ruined before the system arrived. After this, if she gave the “key items” to the female lead, the world’s natural order would bypass the system and punish her directly.

So, if the female lead wanted to kill someone, she could hand her the knife, but she couldn’t kill for her?

Jiang Ci: 【How’s the discussion with the higher-ups going? Any results?】

System: 【No response yet.】

Jiang Ci clenched her fist. 【Then why the hell did you wake me up?! Couldn’t you let me sleep a bit longer?!】

The system went silent.

Feeling dizzy and irritated, Jiang Ci lost her drowsiness and decided to get up.

Actually, the original body’s martial arts were quite good, but Jiang Ci had just crossed over and wasn’t yet familiar with this body. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been “lifted” by that little girl Jin Yu.

In her previous life, Jiang Ci had rented a small apartment with only one bedroom. The bed, wardrobe, desk, and chairs took up all the space, leaving a narrow aisle.

Now, however, the room was incredibly spacious. Jiang Ci curiously touched and examined everything. The bed was made of solid wood with carved patterns and a gauze canopy, though it was a bit hard. The screen, carpet, vases, and potted plants in the room were all spotless, clearly cleaned daily.

This was so nice…

Compared to this, her previous life was like living in a dump.

Jiang Ci sighed, then found a bronze mirror on the table. She hadn’t seen her current appearance since crossing over, so she sat down to take a closer look.

Gao Yi had lived a rough life during her military campaigns, and even after returning to the capital, she didn’t have the habit of being attended to by maids. As a result, no one had helped her wash up. Jiang Ci’s hair was still a mess after lying in bed all night.

She looked like a ghost.

Jiang Ci fell silent, her earlier excitement instantly fading. She found a comb. Fortunately, the original body also just tied her hair into a simple high ponytail, which was easy to manage. Jiang Ci fixed her hair, and it looked roughly the same as described in the book, though the hair quality was worse.

With her hair tied up, her face was clearly visible. Jiang Ci stared at the reflection in the mirror, and only two words came to mind—cannon fodder. If she had to add a prefix, it would be “not very photogenic cannon fodder.”

Gao Yi’s face was completely different from hers, barely average. Perhaps due to her military campaigns, Gao Yi’s skin was slightly darker and rougher, making her look older than her actual age. There was a protruding gland on the back of her neck, hidden by her collar. Otherwise, there were no other “accessories” and she looked no different from an ordinary woman—except her chest was much flatter than before.

Damn…

Jiang Ci wanted to cry. Why did everyone else who crossed over become so good-looking, while she ended up like this? Back in the day, she was a popular figure at school, often asked for her WeChat, and could feel people’s eyes on her when she walked down the street… Who would have thought that crossing over would turn her into this? The gap was too big!

…What should she do now? Continue living as Gao Yi?

【Host, as long as you faithfully follow the original plot, you can be reborn and return to your original world.】

Follow the original plot… and torment the character she liked?

Jiang Ci: 【Are you teaching me how to do things?】

Anyway, she had already died once, so what was there to fear!

System: 【…No, no.】

Jiang Ci: 【I’m already dead, and now I have to be enslaved? Why? At least my previous company signed a labor contract, paid my social insurance, and provided various benefits. What do you have? Just drawing a pie to trick me into working for you?】

System: 【The pie is real.】

Jiang Ci was in a bad mood and directed her anger at the system: 【Return to the original world? Do you know what my situation was like? Both my parents died during the pandemic, and I’m the only one left in the family. I haven’t been in touch with relatives for a long time. I have no partner, few friends, and even when I got sick, I had to work early and late, with no pay for overtime. Weekends were a luxury! My life had no hope, and now I can’t even eat my favorite seafood. Why should I go back? To continue suffering?】

The system didn’t dare to respond.

Jiang Ci exhaled deeply. Yes, she was alone anyway, so why go back… Staying in this world to help the character she liked would surely be more interesting and hopeful than her previous life.

So what if she was ugly… Wait, there’s a saying: There are no ugly women, only lazy women.

Gao Yi’s foundation wasn’t bad; she just didn’t take care of herself. Jiang Ci patted her face to cheer herself up. Come on! No matter what, she had to strive to live on!

As the sky began to lighten, Jiang Ci heard noises outside and guessed that the servants in the residence had already gotten up. She opened the door and called to a servant, “Hey, bring some food. I’m hungry.”

The servant bowed and nodded, “Yes, Marquis. Please wait a moment.”

Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but think how nice it felt to be in power, with food coming to her without lifting a finger!

The original body’s temper was unpredictable. Her sudden outburst yesterday seemed to be something the people in the Marquis’s residence were used to, as if it were nothing unusual.

…Good, this would save her a lot of effort in pretending. If she had crossed into the body of some dignified, gentle lady, Jiang Ci would have had a much harder time. One misstep, and she might have been burned as a witch.

Breakfast was soon laid out on the table. Jiang Ci took a look and was stunned—smoked chicken, stir-fried lamb, steamed pig’s trotters, donkey meat burgers… All meat, not a single vegetable in sight.

Gao Yi was really something…

Actually, with her injury, she should be eating lighter, but Gao Yi had no dietary restrictions. If the food didn’t suit her taste, the servants would be punished.

Jiang Ci hesitated for a long time before finally picking up a burger. She ate it while sipping tea to avoid choking. The donkey meat was quite fragrant and fresh. Jiang Ci took a big bite and asked, “Has the princess woken up?”

“Yes,” the servant replied. “Her Highness is also having breakfast now.”

Oh, they were eating separately. Well, that made sense. With a breakfast like this, few people could eat with Gao Yi…

Jiang Ci habitually reached for a tissue, wiping her hands on the table for a while before realizing that this world probably didn’t have tissues yet.

“Alright, you don’t need to stay here.” Jiang Ci quickly dismissed the servant, afraid he might notice her odd behavior. “Next time, bring something lighter for breakfast. No need for so much.”

The servant nodded, “Yes, yes, I’ll remember.”

After he left, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but think that she really needed to slowly change the original body’s habits. Otherwise, it would be too uncomfortable! Who could eat so much meat every meal? What a waste of food!

After finishing breakfast, Jiang Ci planned to take a bath and tidy up before going to see Xi Lingxue. Unexpectedly, Xi Lingxue was faster and came to her first.

Hearing the servant’s announcement, Jiang Ci was a bit surprised. Xi Lingxue really had courage… Was she here to “talk”?

Jiang Ci opened the door to let her in and dismissed the servants.

Xi Lingxue came with Jin Yu. Her complexion looked much better than the day before. As for Jin Yu, the little maid’s hair was neatly combed, and she stared at Jiang Ci with a murderous look, as if she could kill at any moment.

“Wait a moment.” Jiang Ci said, then locked the door. She peeked through the crack to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then rushed to the window to confirm no one was listening before closing it.

Jiang Ci was still wearing a white undergarment. She pulled out a chair and said, “Come, sit!”

Jin Yu looked at her with a strange expression.

This person was not only crude but also seemed to have lost her mind!

Xi Lingxue nodded calmly, “Did the Marquis sleep well last night?”

Last time, she had been careless. This time, Xi Lingxue had brought poison and a dagger. If Gao Yi had any malicious intentions, she could easily counter her.

“Not bad, just woke up too early and feel a bit sleepy.” Jiang Ci cleared her throat. “Let’s not beat around the bush. What do you think about what happened yesterday? Let’s talk openly.”

“Alright.” Xi Lingxue poured two cups of tea. Her slender, fair hands were delicate and well-defined. “Then I’ll ask directly, what are your intentions?”

She didn’t want to waste energy guessing what Gao Yi was up to, nor did she understand why her attitude had changed so drastically in an instant. If Gao Yi was playing some game, it was better to lay things out clearly. A straightforward deal was more reassuring than endless speculation.

Jiang Ci smiled. Xi Lingxue’s question showed that she had noticed the difference between her and the previous Gao Yi. Jiang Ci had also been thinking about how to make Xi Lingxue trust her more.

There was no need to explain who she was, Xi Lingxue wouldn’t understand her world anyway. Since everything was unknown to Xi Lingxue, it was better to fabricate a closer connection, like saying she had known her mother.

People always found it easier to trust those with some connection.

“Xi Lingxue, as I mentioned before, there’s another soul in this body now.” Jiang Ci pointed at herself. “I’m just a nobody, someone you wouldn’t know, but I received kindness from Consort An in my past life… So I won’t harm you. On the contrary, I’ll help you.”

Xi Lingxue’s mother was Consort An, a commoner by birth, beautiful and kind-hearted. Many people had received her kindness.

Sure enough, upon hearing about her late mother, Xi Lingxue’s expression changed. “Such an absurd thing, why should I believe you?”

Jiang Ci stared back at her and asked, “The facts are right in front of you. Gao Yi and I are completely different people. You must have noticed that, right?”

The room fell silent. The two women locked eyes, their gazes filled with hidden currents, as if an invisible electric charge was passing between them, each testing the other.

Jiang Ci understood Xi Lingxue well. She was a brave and intelligent woman, clear-headed and independent. Even if she didn’t believe, she would know what was in her best interest.

Jiang Ci was also gambling, but she felt her chances were better.

Xi Lingxue narrowed her eyes. Gao Yi was a crude person, she could never fake such words or such an expression. Through those unfamiliar eyes, she seemed to see another soul… But she couldn’t take the risk. She couldn’t let her guard down around this person.

“I won’t hold anything that happened before against you.” Jiang Ci said. “From now on, you can feel free to do whatever you want.”

Even Jin Yu wavered and couldn’t help asking, “You… really mean it?”

Jiang Ci glanced at her, “You’re still alive and haven’t been beaten to death. Do you think I mean it?”

Jin Yu was choked with anger but also felt there was some truth to it. Assassinating a Marquis was a serious crime, yet Gao Yi hadn’t had her arrested?!

Xi Lingxue said, “Words are not enough. Put it in writing.”

“Fine.” Jiang Ci agreed readily. Cooperation required a contract; she understood. “If you have any other demands, state them now. We’ll include everything.”

Xi Lingxue looked at her and said, “I also want you to write a divorce letter.”

Jiang Ci paused. A divorce letter…

Straight to divorce?!

As expected of a black lotus, so direct.

Well, it made sense. Xi Lingxue and Gao Yi had no feelings for each other, and the marriage was forced. Of course, she wanted a divorce.

“I understand.” Jiang Ci went to the desk and picked up a brush and ink. “Tell me how to write it.”

“Gao Yi temporarily assumes the role of Xi Lingxue’s consort for one year.” Xi Lingxue deliberately spoke slowly to allow her to write. “At the end of the term, the marriage will be dissolved, and we part ways amicably, each free to pursue our own happiness.”