The Vicious Woman and the White Moonlight are both me - Chapter 5

By the time Jiang Xiaoyu made it back to Chaoyang Palace, she was gasping for breath. The moment she collapsed onto her bed, the red countdown timer before her eyes finally hit zero—and only then did she truly relax.

She’d made it back just in time, without being caught.

But now she was drenched in sweat, her soaked clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin no matter how she lay.

How she wished she could take a long, proper bath.

Still, waking the palace maids in the middle of the night just to fetch water for her bath… that would be far too unreasonable.

So, Jiang Xiaoyu had no choice but to change into a clean set of clothes before lying back down to sleep.

After all the chaos from the night before, she naturally slept in the next morning. No one dared to disturb her. Everyone in the palace feared that if she hadn’t slept well, she might take her temper out on them—and none of them wanted to be punished for no reason.

When Jiang Xiaoyu finally woke up, she stretched lazily and immediately ordered hot water to prepare for a bath.

The palace maids, who had risen early, had already found the clothes she’d changed out of the previous night—but not even one dared to ask questions.

They knew very well that they hadn’t attended to the princess when she changed. If Tao Gugu, the palace stewardess, were to find out that the princess had changed clothes without anyone present to serve her, they would all be punished.

So, the maids quietly gathered the clothes and prepared to take them away for washing.

After a long, refreshing bath, Jiang Xiaoyu changed into a clean gown, while Tao Gugu gently dried and combed her hair.

“Princess, His Majesty has already sent words,” Tao Gugu said respectfully. “He heard that Your Highness fell into the water yesterday and worries your health might not have recovered yet. He has decreed that you are to rest well for the next few days—no need to attend the Wenxue Hall for lessons, and no need to offer thanks either. Just focus on recuperating.”

In this palace, all the princes and princesses studied together in a place called Wenxue Hall.

However, they didn’t study the same things all day. Sometimes lessons were held in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, and often, the princes and princesses studied separately depending on their curriculum.

The moment Jiang Xiaoyu heard she didn’t have to attend class, she was more than happy to comply.

“Got it,” she said with a relaxed wave of her hand.

The Princess Zhaohua “needed rest,” so she was excused from lessons at Wenxue Hall.

As Pei Shen—he was genuinely injured, so he probably wasn’t attending either. Which meant Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t have to follow the storyline today.

Ah, what a lovely day—what should she do to pass the time?

Just as she was thinking that, the system suddenly chimed in again, unlocking a new plot and releasing the second mission.

[Please proceed to Wenxue Hall and gain the favor of the second male lead, Pei Chengyun.]

Jiang Xiaoyu shot upright from her seat like a spring-loaded doll, her expression turning pitch dark and startling the nearby palace maids.

Seeing the uneasy looks around her, Jiang Xiaoyu could only curse the system to the heavens in her heart.

“Although Father has shown his understanding, I cannot neglect my studies,” Jiang Xiaoyu declared, putting on a dignified air. “Besides, my body is perfectly fine. Someone, help me prepare—I’ll be going to Wenxue Hall.”

The attendants showed no surprise at Princess Zhaohua’s sudden burst of diligence.

Of course, it wasn’t because their princess loved studying so much. Everyone in Chaoyang Palace knew the real reason—there was someone at the Wenxue Hall who was special to her.

And that “special someone” was none other than the Fifth Prince, Pei Chengyun.

It was common knowledge throughout the palace that Princess Zhaohua had recently come of age and seemed to have developed a fondness for Pei Chengyun.

Speaking of the Fifth Prince—this so-called second male lead—he was quite a figure in the palace. The reason Song Zhaoyan (the original princess) had taken a liking to him wasn’t just because of his face but because his personality stood apart from all the other princes and princesses.

After witnessing how the Emperor doted on Song Zhaoyan and defended her from all consequences, most of the imperial children either avoided her like the plague or bowed to her whims out of self-preservation.

But Pei Chengyun was different. He neither feared her nor flattered her. He treated her with a calm indifference—as if she were nothing more than air.

And rather than angering Song Zhaoyan, his attitude only fueled her desire to conquer him.

She was determined to make Pei Chengyun kneel before her, to become one of the admirers at her feet.

Unfortunately for her, that never happened. Instead of Pei Chengyun becoming her admirer, she became just another girl in the capital who secretly admired him.

After reading through that part of the plot, Jiang Xiaoyu was utterly speechless.

“So basically,” she muttered, “it’s the classic cold-faced CEO falls in love with me story—except this time, the CEO’s a woman. Song Zhaoyan wanted Pei Chengyun to grovel before her but somehow ended up falling for him instead. Figures.”

The system confirmed that Jiang Xiaoyu’s understanding was absolutely correct.

[To increase Pei Chengyun’s favorability and continue humiliating Pei Shen, the host will receive double points.]

Hearing that, Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but ask, “So I can only earn points when I follow the plot? What about during normal times—can’t I earn them then?”

[You can,] the system replied coolly. [Maintaining the original character’s personality will also accumulate points—but not as many as following the main plot with the male lead.]

“So… do I really have to gain Pei Chengyun’s favorability?”

[Not necessary.]

[He never had any real affection for the original host—in fact, he despised her. He merely used her feelings to his advantage, pretending to be gentle so he could please the Emperor and strengthen his position as Crown Prince. You only need to follow the story as it unfolds.]

“I see…” Jiang Xiaoyu muttered, then suddenly remembered something. “Wait! Didn’t you say you’d assist me? Then why do you only respond when I ask? If I don’t say anything, you just sit there pretending you don’t exist!”

[Because you’re not my only host.]

Jiang Xiaoyu’s cheeks puffed in outrage, but since she couldn’t actually see the system, she could only fume helplessly.

“Scam! You’re a total scam!”

[If the host wants to earn points faster, then hurry up and get ready to head to Wenxue Hall.]

Jiang Xiaoyu froze. “Wait—Pei Shen’s injured! He’s still going to Wenxue Hall?”

[The male lead has always lived a lonely, difficult life. His only hope is to study hard so that one day he can leave the palace and establish his own residence. Once he has his own territory and trusted subordinates, he’ll finally be able to stand on his own. If he were to fall behind in his studies, there would be no one to help him catch up. So even when he’s injured or ill, he endures the pain and insists on attending his lessons.]

After hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but admire Pei Shen’s perseverance.

No wonder he’s the male lead!

“Alright then, I’ll go!” She declared decisively.

Everyone in Chaoyang Palace understood the princess’s intentions. She wasn’t going to study—she was going to draw someone’s attention. So, the palace maids naturally did their utmost when applying her makeup, terrified that she might be displeased.

When they were done, Jiang Xiaoyu lifted her hand to touch her hair bun, tilting her head from side to side as she admired herself in the mirror. Finally, she nodded with great satisfaction. The maids around her let out a collective sigh of relief.

Before long, Princess Zhaohua arrived at Wenxue Hall.

——————

That morning, the tutors at Wenxue Hall had already received word that Princess Zhaohua would be taking leave. Though they dared not show it, they were delighted.

Not only that—the other princes and princesses seemed to be in particularly good spirits, listening to the lecture with newfound enthusiasm.

But class had barely begun when someone hurried in to report that Princess Zhaohua was on her way to Wenxue Hall—apparently planning to attend lessons after all.

Everyone froze at the news, especially Pei Shen, who was seated in the farthest corner.

The image of Song Zhaoyan gripping his chin and forcing him to look up at her flashed in his mind—the arrogance in her gaze. The way she looked down on him like he was nothing. The memory surged hatred in his chest.

But at this moment, aside from hatred, there was nothing else he could do. The wounds on his back even began to throb faintly again.

What puzzled him, though, was that when he woke up in the middle of the night, he’d found his injuries carefully bandaged.

He had no idea who had done it or why. The thought alone had kept him tense and sleepless for the rest of the night.

Why was he worried?

Because he was afraid someone would burst into his quarters, righteously accuse him of defying orders—after all, Princess Zhaohua had forbidden anyone from treating his wounds—and then claim he’d stolen medicine without permission.

They’d use it as an excuse to trample his dignity, to curry favor with Song Zhaoyan by playing along with her cruelty, hoping to win her smile and avoid her wrath.

They look like a pack of shameless sycophants.

Sitting in the back row, Pei Shen’s dark eyes swept over the room, cold and full of contempt for everyone present.

Yet when dawn came and no one came knocking at his door to cause trouble, he finally allowed himself to relax a little.

There were times he felt unwilling to submit to fate, but then again—what was there left to cling to? It was only a life. If he died, he died.

The only thing he couldn’t let go of… was that he hadn’t seen his mother, Zhang Cairen, in so many years. He was beginning to forget what her face even looked like.

Once his emotions had finally settled, Pei Shen gritted his teeth through the pain and changed his clothes. After washing up, he felt a faint sense of calm.

Whoever had helped him last night—if they had meant him harm, they wouldn’t have bothered to treat him. Since they’d gone to such lengths, perhaps one day he might even have the chance to thank them.

After finishing his morning meal, he headed straight for Wenxue Hall.

He didn’t want to fall behind in his studies.

Before yesterday, he and that lofty Princess Zhaohua had never exchanged a single word. The only connection between them was merely sharing the same classroom space at Wenxue Hall.

But after what happened yesterday, Pei Shen couldn’t help but feel a strange unease whenever he thought of her.

Disgust. Anger. Hatred.

When word spread that the princess was coming to class despite her “fragile health,” the tutors immediately rose to welcome her, and all the princes and princesses followed suit.

Seated at the very edge of the room, Pei Shen forced himself to stand. The movement tugged sharply at his wounds, but he endured it, subtly shifting his body to hide behind the others.

Jiang Xiaoyu—now in the role of Princess Zhaohua—walked into Wenxue Hall with her head held high.

A chorus of voices rang out: “Greetings to Princess Zhaohua.”

Jiang Xiaoyu responded with an imperious hum, her gaze sweeping briskly across the room—until it landed on Pei Shen, seated quietly in the very back.

“I came today merely to attend class as usual. There’s no need for formalities. Gentlemen, please continue the lesson.”

After speaking, Jiang Xiaoyu sat down at the very front with the help of her personal maid, Xuezhi.

The lesson continued, but ever since Princess Zhaohua entered, the atmosphere had clearly turned heavy and subdued.

The original Song Zhaoyan had always attended classes half-heartedly—three days fishing, two days drying the net—so she never truly understood the lessons. As for Jiang Xiaoyu, who had jumped halfway through the lecture, her head was already spinning.

But that wasn’t her purpose here anyway. She hadn’t come to study; she’d come to provoke Pei Shen—and, while she was at it, catch Pei Chengyun’s attention.

So, instead of listening to the tutor’s lecture, Jiang Xiaoyu turned slightly to the side, her gaze burning as she watched Pei Chengyun sitting diagonally behind her. Then, her eyes flicked past him—to the very last row, where Pei Shen sat quietly.

He had his head lowered, and Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t see his expression clearly. But seeing his solitary figure brought back the memory of his thin, bruised body last night, when she had secretly bandaged his wounds.

He must have been bullied by the other princes and princesses long before Song Zhaoyan ever started tormenting him.

Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t help sighing softly. Before anyone noticed, she withdrew her gaze from Pei Shen and turned her attention back to Pei Chengyun.

Her look was so intense and obvious that everyone around noticed, though they’d long since grown accustomed to the princess’s antics. Still, her behavior inevitably disrupted the class.

Princess Zhaohua might not study herself, but everything she did made it harder for others to concentrate.

Even so, though irritation simmered in their hearts, no one dared say a word.

When the break finally came, the students couldn’t flee fast enough—robes swishing as they all made excuses to leave the room, unwilling to spend another moment alone with her.

Pei Chengyun, of course, had felt her gaze on him earlier, but he’d ignored it completely.

Unfortunately, ignoring her didn’t mean she’d stop. Finding it unsatisfying to simply stare, Jiang Xiaoyu boldly stood up and began walking straight toward him.