Chapter 1

“Mother! That stupid prince came to see me again today, and he talked nonsense about how he would marry me in three days. It’s so disgusting that a toad dreams of eating swan flesh every day^[1]is a metaphor that means someone who is unworthy or inferior has unrealistic ambitions, usually in romance.!” The girl who walked in from outside lifted her skirt and ran to the woman sitting in the middle of the hall in beautiful clothes, looking very noble. She pulled her mother’s sleeve and complained coquettishly.

The woman remained calm. “Actually, what King Rui said was not all nonsense.”

“What?” Li Nian’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her mother. Madam Li patted her daughter’s hand to calm her down. “Don’t worry; listen to what I have to say.”

“Nian, do you remember when your father and I brought back Li Yue a few days ago?”

The girl snorted and turned away, showing she was annoyed. Madam Li saw her daughter getting angry and felt some resentment. “Why do you think I brought that country girl back? It’s to make her your scapegoat^[2]refers to someone who held responsible for something they did not do, often to protect the actual wrongdoer. and suffer for you.”

After hearing her mother, Li Nian finally understood. She took a breath and asked carefully, “Do you mean… to let Li Yue marry in my place?”

Madam Li nodded. Li Nian’s eyes lit up with joy, but she hesitated. “This… isn’t a good idea, is it? Sister Yue is also your daughter.”

The woman didn’t care. “What’s wrong with that? She comes from a humble family and can marry a prince from the royal family. Even if he’s a fool, it’s her good luck.”

As she spoke, she poked Li Nian’s forehead playfully. “Everything I’ve done is for you. After tomorrow, you won’t have to worry about King Rui bothering you again.”

Li Nian’s sister, who was recently brought back to the Marquis’ Mansion, was very beautiful. It was said that she could be a concubine who would cause problems. Unfortunately, she was only good for her looks, so she had to help Li Nian succeed.

Although Prince Rui is foolish and incompetent, he still likes beauty. He is favored by His Majesty. Sending Li Yue, his “free” daughter, to befriend him is a good way to help Li Nian…

The woman was thinking about the value her newly recognized daughter could bring. However, she didn’t know that her conversation with Li Nian had already been overheard by Li Yue, who was the one she had calculated. The beautiful girl a few steps from the hall’s door bit her lower lip, tears filling her eyes, with two clear tears rolling down her cheeks. Anyone witnessing this moment would undoubtedly feel heartbroken, as tears from a beautiful woman often evoke pity.

_

Li Yue’s original name was not Li Yue. In fact, she was still getting used to the name Li Yue. She was more familiar with the name others used, which was Ying Yue. Before being brought back by her biological parents to the Marquis’s Mansion, she was the daughter of a merchant family with the surname Ying. Although her family was wealthy and provided for her, they were considered a small family compared to scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans.

Two months ago, her adoptive parents passed away from illness. She became an orphan overnight and was taken in by her uncle and aunt living in Beijing. They welcomed the lonely Ying Yue, but she soon discovered that her so-called “kind” uncle and aunt were actually greedy for the wealth left by her parents. Not only that, her cousin seemed to have a crush on her and looked at her with malicious eyes.

Ying Yue lived under this stressful environment for more than half a month. Then, nine days ago, the housekeeper of the Marquis’s Mansion suddenly came to her and said that she was the Marquis’s daughter, taken away by mistake over ten years ago. The master and mistress missed her dearly and wanted her back.

Ying Yue, feeling trapped in a bad environment, didn’t question why the Marquis’s Mansion would deceive an orphan like her. Moreover, she wanted to escape from her suffocating “home,” so she took the housekeeper’s words seriously and followed him to the Marquis’s Mansion.

Upon her return, the Marquis and his wife were indeed very welcoming, and Ying Yue thought she was embraced by everyone. But little did she know—

…there was a hidden agenda.

Ying Yue lowered her eyelids, and her long lashes cast a shadow on her cheeks.

The reason she came here today was that, encouraged by her personal maid, she prepared a lung-moistening pear soup^[3]is a traditional Chinese soup made from pears and sometimes sweet ingredients like honey or sugar. It’s used to help with coughs and dry lungs, especially in cold or dry weather. for her parents to taste, hoping to improve their mother-daughter relationship. During this ordinary moment, she accidentally overheard her “mother” and “sister” speaking.

She learned a “huge” “secret”—

—About the secret that she would be married off in three days.

This was a well-kept secret in the Marquis’s Mansion. Not only was Ying Yue, the newly adopted daughter, unaware of it, but until Madam Li and the fake daughter Li Nian revealed it today, only the two heads of the family and the loyal housekeeper knew. The mansion hadn’t made any plans for a celebration.

Her delicate fingers tightened around the food box she held. The stunning girl bit her lips tightly, struggling to hold back her emotions.

Ying Yue reminded herself to stay calm and to sneak out quietly.

…Although she didn’t know what she could do after escaping, she had to try. However—

The moment she turned around, she unexpectedly saw a familiar face.

The housekeeper who brought her to the mansion wore a blank expression. Although he seemed respectful, he was indifferent when he asked, “Miss, why are you here?”

Ying Yue immediately shook her head in panic, but the housekeeper’s loud voice alerted the mother and daughter inside.

The Marquis’s wife came out, holding her daughter’s hand. When she saw Ying Yue at the door, her expression changed instantly. She realized that Ying Yue had overheard her and her daughter’s conversation, so she signaled to the butler. Ying Yue sensed something was wrong and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say “I…”, the butler knocked her out, and she fell limply.

The butler caught the beautiful girl as she fell and told the Marquis’s wife, “Rest assured, Madam, there will be no mistakes in the eldest lady’s ‘marriage’ tomorrow.”

The woman nodded in satisfaction and then pulled Li Nian away. She felt a bit annoyed that Ying Yue’s pretty face hadn’t fallen directly to the ground, but she didn’t want to show her emotions too much because her mother was present.

_

When Ying Yue woke up, she felt the sedan chair swaying.

Opening her eyes, she saw dazzling red. She wanted to lift her hand to remove the red veil over her head, but her body felt weak, making even that simple action difficult.

The beautiful girl realized she had likely been drugged.

Can’t escape…

It seemed that she could only wait for her fate…

Could she regain enough strength to harm herself before the wedding night?

She felt so foolish for being in this situation…

Ying Yue slumped back in the sedan, feeling lost and hopeless.

Time passed before Ying Yue felt the sedan chair stop. She was helped out by the matchmaker.

As she walked through the long corridor, surrounded by the noise of guests, she bowed to the prince, whom she had heard of as foolish and lecherous, before being taken to the bridal chamber.

Perhaps the drugs made her limbs weak, preventing her escape. After being sent to the bridal chamber, the matchmaker whispered encouraging words, saying, “Think positively; you will become rich and powerful in the future,” then left the room, taking all the maids with her and leaving Ying Yue in a brief moment of peace.

After everyone departed, Ying Yue attempted to move again. Although she still felt weak, she could manage the basic movement of raising her hand.

Although Ying Yue didn’t know what she could do just by raising her hand, she remembered she could also take off her veil.

Feeling annoyed, she tore off the red veil from her head and threw it on the ground. Next to her was the edge of an iron bed. However, her head was still spinning, and she felt too weak to hit the bed hard. She thought she might end up becoming foolish if she did that.

Afraid of becoming foolish, Ying Yue didn’t dare to bang her head against the bed.

The beautiful girl sighed, feeling useless. She began to have unrealistic thoughts about praying for help.

If only there were gods in the world…

It would be wonderful if someone could rescue her…

If someone saved her, she would try her best not to be useless anymore…

Suddenly, a strange, emotionless voice echoed in her mind.

“[The system database has been loaded, and the system is logging in.]”

Ying Yue wondered if she was so panicked that she was imagining things. 

“[Ding! The Lord Cultivation System sincerely serves you. The host binds the system and gives you a character card for free. Do you want to draw the card and draw your ‘minister’?]”

There really was a voice in her mind…

As someone from an ancient time, Ying Yue panicked but, thinking of her dire situation, she bravely asked, “You… who are you?”

“[The system is not human.]”

“[The existence of the system is to train you, my bound host, Miss Ying Yue, into the most qualified top-tier lord to dominate the world. To this end, the system will spare no effort!]”

“[In this process, the host can obtain the right to draw cards by completing system tasks, and draw counselors to assist you, generals to expand your territory, and scholars to educate the people, laying the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful country!]”

The beautiful picture painted by the system brightened Ying Yue’s narrow, beautiful eyes. But soon, her bright eyes dimmed again, “But, I am useless…”

“[Host, please do not underestimate yourself. According to the system’s database, you have the qualifications to become a qualified lord.]”

The system’s affirmation warmed her heart. With a low, shy voice, she said, “Thank you… but you also saw that I am like this now…” I feel like a fish waiting to be slaughtered.

Ying Yue lowered her head, hiding the loneliness in her beautiful eyes.

But the system didn’t give up on her. It patiently said, “Why don’t you try drawing a card?”

“[The host binding system gives you a free character card draw. Would you like to draw the card and draw your ‘subordinate’?]”

“Draw… draw?”

Nervously, Ying Yue responded to the system’s question. She thought her situation was so desperate that it couldn’t get worse. So, she might as well follow the system’s suggestion in case it brought her some luck.

With a small hope of being rescued, Ying Yue pressed the “draw card” button on the transparent screen that appeared in front of her.

The next second, strange characters flashed on the screen until it stopped. The system’s voice said:

“[Ding! Congratulations to the host for winning the SSR card: God of War Bai Qi!]”