A Quiet Homecoming
This small world was set in an ancient alternate historical backdrop. The female lead, Shen Yunxiu, disguised herself as a man and ranked top in the imperial examinations, becoming a trusted minister to the emperor, Xiao Mingting. Later, when her true identity as a woman came to light, their relationship deepened and transformed, eventually making her the empress.
Chen Yao's role was that of Shen Yunxiu's childhood close friend, who had lost contact after her family's decline. When they reunited years later, the supporting character, now grown, encountered the female lead still in disguise and willingly used marriage to shield her secret.
Unfortunately, the supporting character later grew jealous of the female lead's favor with the emperor, made a misstep, and attempted to expose her identity and frame her. The scheme was exposed, and she was beaten and exiled.
"Sounds pretty complicated, with lots of schemes," Chen Yao murmured, frowning slightly.
No matter how she looked at it, the plot was far more twisted than the previous world's.
"Not really," System 04 said, glancing at her with a hint of exasperation in its mechanical voice. "Your only role is to be the one who reveals the female lead's identity to the male lead. The rest is all court and politics, and you hardly touch the main plotline at all."
It had long seen through its host's lazy nature and spoke bluntly.
"Is that so?" Chen Yao thought back over the rough outline of the story and finally nodded in satisfaction. "You're right."
After all, this was derived from a story about ruler and minister. Whether it was the female lead's spirited rise to glory in the early days or the later conspiracies and emotional entanglement with the male lead, it all unfolded mainly at court.
Chen Yao found that quite agreeable. She had no grand ambitions; as long as she could continue being a slacker, she was content.
The sedan chair swayed gently, and occasionally, a breeze would lift the curtain, revealing the lively scenes along the main street.
Since she was to be married the next day, she was now on her way to a spice shop on West Street to pick up custom-made incense.
"Miss Xie, we've arrived," the young maid walking beside the sedan chimed in.
Chen Yao lifted the curtain with one hand, holding up her skirt with the other, and surveyed the spice shop in front of her before stepping carefully out in her embroidered shoes.
But the very next moment—
"Whoa—stop!"
"Watch out! Out of the way!"
Panicked screams exploded from not far down the street, like boiling water erupting in a sudden roar.
Chen Yao had barely looked up when a clearly frenzied horse came charging out of nowhere, barreling straight toward where she was getting down.
There was hardly any time to react. Her beautiful eyes flew wide, and she instinctively scrambled to dodge aside.
But she was wearing a sheer, floor-length gown that trailed heavily, and as she panicked, the hem tangled around her feet, tripping her.
Feeling herself tipping, Chen Yao let out a little gasp, and the next moment, she was pitching forward toward the cobblestones in front of the sedan.
Her mind went blank, bracing for the expected pain.
But then a solid, powerful arm hooked around her waist.
A strange, masculine, commanding presence enveloped her. Chen Yao fell helplessly against his chest, so close that she caught a faint, subtle scent of ambergris.
Xiao Mingting wore a light purple casual robe with fitted sleeves. He felt the girl in his arms was small, like a startled little rabbit, trembling and huddling against him pathetically.
He frowned at the frenzied horse, now subdued by his hidden guards in the distance, then looked down at her. "Miss, are you all right?"
He wasn't normally so kind.
But while sitting by a window on the second floor of Drunken Immortal Pavilion, waiting for someone, he had looked down casually and met the sight of a girl stepping out of her sedan.
Dark hair, fair skin, bright eyes, and white teeth. A golden hairpin was slanted in her coiffure, its delicate ornaments dangling, making her all the more radiant.
"Cloud-like hair, flower-like face, gold hairpin swaying; lotus face, willow brows," indeed.
Xiao Mingting had never considered himself the type to be swayed by mere looks, but at this moment, he clearly felt his gaze unable to pull away, and his heart began to pound wildly the instant he saw her.
That was why, the moment the girl faced danger, he could rush over in time to save her.
Chen Yao slowly came to her senses, realizing belatedly that she was pressed against a stranger's chest, her forehead still intimately resting on his sternum.
Her long lashes fluttered like fragile butterfly wings, and she unconsciously bit her lower lip with her white teeth. Her naturally fair cheeks flushed crimson, even the tips of her ears peeking out from under her dark hair were tinged with pink.
"Thank you, young master, for saving me," she said, her voice trembling.
Her voice was soft, with a slight drawl at the end, gentle as spring rain.
The man before her was tall, towering, and seemed to carry an imposing air. Chen Yao stole a cautious glance at him and tried to ease out of his hold.
Fortunately, he didn't seem inclined to press the advantage. After steadying her, he released his arm from her waist naturally and stepped back two respectful paces.
"It was merely a passing act of kindness. No need for thanks."
Xiao Mingting clasped his hands behind his back, but his fingertips unconsciously rubbed together, still recalling the soft sensation that lingered on his hand.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a subtle signal from one of his men hidden among the crowd, indicating that the person he had been waiting for had arrived.
His eyes were deep and unfathomable as he took another long look at the girl's delicately beautiful face, then lowered his gaze.
Before she could speak, he raised his hands in a courteous gesture. "I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Watching him turn and walk away without hesitation, Chen Yao stood there, a bit dazed, blinking with moist eyes.
"Miss Xie, are you all right?" The young maid, who had been equally startled, stepped forward and asked softly.
Chen Yao finally averted her gaze, shaking her head lightly. "I'm fine."
She pressed a hand to her still-racing chest, a touch of pallor on her pretty face, pitiful to behold.
But in her mind, she was musing, "I feel like the male lead's look at me was a bit odd."
"What can you do? The male lead in this world came to the throne through cutthroat scheming, so being suspicious is only natural," System 04 said.
"Alright, as long as he doesn't think I have ulterior motives," Chen Yao pouted.
After all, he was the one who had voluntarily come forward to save her, but with an emperor so prone to suspicion, one could never be too sure.