System: “Yuan Ruan, remember the story of Jing Ke attempting to assassinate the King of Qin? That woman outside is using a similar trick. Jing Ke hid a dagger, but she’s hiding a fire starter in the map she plans to present. As the map unfolds bit by bit, at the very end, she’ll pull out the fire starter and throw it at you.”

Yuan Ruan: “Wait, why would she throw it at me?”

System: “You’ve complained before about how greasy ancient babies are. That old woman has been rubbing flammable oils on you every day. Right now, even a strand of your hair is flammable. If she throws the fire starter at you, you’ll turn into a fireball, catching the Emperor off guard while signaling the hidden rebels to attack.”

Yuan Ruan: “Wow, that’s downright malicious.”

Wu Yi: !!!
The Emperor: !!!

The two exchanged a glance. Wu Yi wiped cold sweat from his brow, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Yuan Ruan.

The Emperor nodded subtly and made a downward motion with his hand.

Wu Yi understood the Emperor’s signal to remain calm and act at the right moment. He walked toward the curtain and said in a deep voice, “Keep her there. Send scouts to search the surrounding area for accomplices.”

The guards were puzzled by the unusual order but responded without hesitation. “Yes, sir.”

Wu Yi was about to leave when he heard another inner monologue:

System: “Yuan Ruan, that woman may be detained for now, but if the rebels get desperate, they might resort to fire attacks or something else. You need to get away from the Emperor—he’s basically a big target. You should crawl as far away as you can.”

“I…how can I struggle with my short body. It’s better to cry and coax them to take me away together.”

System: “Don’t! The Emperor is fated to face a deadly tribulation today. If you follow him, you’ll turn into a moving target instead of a stationary one.”

The Emperor: ???
Wu Yi: !!!

A deadly tribulation? Could his death be inevitable?

The Emperor and Wu Yi’s expressions darkened immediately. Wu Yi strode toward Yuan Ruan, he was determined to confront the mysterious “system” directly.

Just then, the soft childish voice rang out again:

Yuan Ruan: “Pah! The Great Dao has fifty, and the heavens follow the law of four-nine, with one step taken by mankind! I will take the handsome man with me, destined to defeat half of Heaven, ah-choo…!”

Yuan Ruan reasoned with the system, believing that as a baby, her tiny legs wouldn’t let her run far. She decided it was better to stay with the adults and gamble on their survival together.

However, what she didn’t know was that in this patchwork world of melodramatic storylines, the Book of Music from the Six Classics was preserved, but much of the Book of Changes was lost.

Her casual quotation left the Emperor and Wu Yi deep in thought.

“Humans can defy fate!”
Such stirring words.

If this little “divine child” hadn’t given up, why should they? They could defy fate, too.

The two men exchanged a look and, surprisingly, both smiled. Their anxiety eased.

The Emperor stood up and said, “It seems the little one is hungry. Let’s find her a wet nurse.”

Wu Yi glanced at Yuan Ruan’s small face, brimming with anticipation. Understanding the Emperor’s intention, he said, “As you command, Your Majesty. Please follow me this way.”

The three of them discreetly left the main tent through a hidden back path leading up a rugged mountain trail.

Every five steps, there was a guard; every ten steps, a sentry. The area was heavily fortified.

But before long, loud commotion erupted from the main tent.

The three turned back, only to see dark shapes blotting the sky above the tent. In moments, waves of arrows descended with terrifying speed, “thunk thunk thunk,” piercing the tent.

Many arrows carried sparks, and thick black smoke billowed from the camp. A gust of wind swept through the valley, fueling the flames. Within seconds, half the camp was engulfed in fire.

Yuan Ruan peeked out and couldn’t help but mutter:

“Wow, is this an assassination or a full-scale war? The scale is ridiculous.”

System: “This is standard plot-driven destruction. See? The Emperor avoided the old woman’s trap, but the plot escalated with the rebels burning the camp. A ‘fate wind’ even helped the flames spread. Now that the Emperor has left the camp, I wouldn’t be surprised if the rebels somehow stumbled upon this spot.”

Wu Yi: !!!

What in the world was a “plot-driven destruction”? How could it be so terrifying?

He scanned the surroundings warily. The Emperor, calm as ever, patted Wu Yi’s shoulder. “It’s impossible. This location is temporary. No one could—”

Before he could finish, a shout echoed from the dense forest.

“Attack!”

Out of the woods charged eight burly men with green scarves on their heads. Confusion and hesitation flashed across their faces, as if they didn’t know how they’d ended up here.

The Emperor and Wu Yi fell silent.

“Kill! The dog Emperor is here!” The rebels’ hesitation vanished as they roared like predators and charged toward the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, get back!”

Wu Yi shouted as he swung his blade, severing the right arm of a rebel. In one swift motion, he turned and drove the remaining attackers back a few steps.

As Wu Yi remained vigilant, he suddenly heard the baby’s inner cry:

“Ahhh! A venomous snake! It’s wrapped around our neck! Is this the plot-driven destruction?!”

Wu Yi roared internally, I don’t believe in fate!

His face twisted in determination as he pulled out the dagger from his waist and hurled it with all his strength.

At the same moment, the Emperor, calm and composed, drew his longsword and swung.

With several sharp hisses, the snake was pinned to a nearby tree by Wu Yi’s dagger, while the Emperor’s sword sliced through half of its body, sending it tumbling to the ground.

Meanwhile, other soldiers quickly arrived, some forming a protective shield wall in front of the Emperor, bows drawn and arrows ready. Others skillfully encircled the remaining enemies, taking them down one by one.

Yuan Ruan, unused to such a bloody scene, turned pale and asked the system:

“They’re amazing! Incredible! System, see? The deadly tribulations has been resolved!”

“Naïve. Not even twelve hours have passed yet.”

Wu Yi gripped his blade tighter, his expression somber.

Over the next twelve hours, as the system had predicted, danger followed them relentlessly.

For instance, a sudden downpour caused the tree the Emperor and Wu Yi were resting under to fall, nearly crushing them.

At another moment, while the Emperor was changing clothes, a starving leopard crouched on a nearby tree, ready to pounce.

Time and again, Wu Yi relied on the system’s hints and his own unparalleled combat skills to shield the Emperor, thwarting nine consecutive threats.

Finally, as dawn broke, Wu Yi sat guard at the Emperor’s bedside, his sword in hand, sleep-deprived but unwavering.

He suddenly heard Yuan Ruan’s jubilant thoughts:

“I made it! Twelve hours have passed! My life is safe! Male Mommy, you’re amazing!”

“You’re incredible! Round of applause for Male Mommy! Scream your lungs out!”

The Emperor, initially pleased by her inner monologue, froze for a moment. It was the first time he had heard the term Male Mommy.

In high spirits, the Emperor handed Yuan Ruan to the palace maids for a wash, then glanced at Wu Yi with a smirk.

“Thanks to you, this new title suits you quite well.”

Wu Yi’s expression remained stoic, but the tips of his ears turned red.

For the next hour, Wu Yi led the troops in clearing out the remaining rebels, ensuring that no dangers lurked nearby.

At that moment, a personal guard approached and saluted.

“General, we captured the old woman. What should we do with her?”

Wu Yi glanced at the three rebels bound to the side and coldly ordered, “Execute them.”

Just then, he heard Yuan Ruan’s curious inner voice:

“I wonder, was the map the old woman brought fake or real?”

“Of course it was fake,” the system replied. “But her family does have a genuine map that leads to Chen Kingdom. Otherwise, how could they create such a convincing forgery to deceive the Emperor of Xia?”

Wu Yi’s mind raced.

What? There’s an actual map?!

He coughed to cover his surprise and amended his order: “Wait. Detain them for now.”

The personal guard hesitated but complied. “Yes, General.”

Yuan Ruan’s thoughts surfaced again:

“Male Mommy’s orders sure are fickle!”

“A man’s heart is as unpredictable as the ocean’s depths,” the system commented. “Better stay cautious of men in the future.”

Wu Yi felt a headache coming on.

Would I be this erratic if you weren’t so cryptic all the time?!

Still, teaching Yuan Ruan to be wary of men didn’t seem like a bad idea.

At that moment, the Emperor approached, lifting Yuan Ruan into his arms.

He gently jostled the baby before announcing loudly, “This child and I have faced life and death together. There seems to be a bond between us.

Why not recognize her as my adoptive daughter and celebrate the occasion?”

Wu Yi was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped the Emperor’s intentions.

This was a plan to deepen ties with the divine child and bring her into the palace.

He wholeheartedly agreed.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on gaining a princess!” Wu Yi shouted.

His booming voice startled even the soldiers. Though confused, they quickly joined in the chorus of cheers.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on gaining a princess!”

The Emperor laughed heartily, lifting Yuan Ruan high into the air. “Today, we feast! Let us honor the warriors of Xia and celebrate this joyous occasion. Offer sacrifices to the heavens, give thanks, and let the banquet begin!”

“Long live the Emperor! Long live Xia!” the soldiers cheered fervently.

Soon, a clearing was prepared for the feast. Palace maids spread out mats and cushions, while the royal chefs sharpened their knives, preparing to slaughter cattle and sheep. Guards purchased wine and supplies from nearby villages.

Wu Yi couldn’t help but admire the Emperor’s charisma and leadership. The Emperor, catching his gaze, smiled faintly in satisfaction.

Just then, Yuan Ruan’s soft thoughts rang out:

“Oh my gosh, I survived! And now I’m about to become a princess?!”

“Ding-Host, I’ve just discovered a juicy tidbit involving you and the Emperor. Want to hear it?”

The Emperor and Wu Yi both instinctively glanced at the baby in their arms.

“Huh? Gossip about me? Wait, because of my blue eyes, I was used as bait by the enemy. Don’t tell me-I’m the Emperor’s long-lost daughter?”

The Emperor’s eyes widened in shock.

Wu Yi broke into a cold sweat.

“Not quite…”

“Then what?”

“You’re his long-lost sister.”

Sister?!

The Emperor’s punils dilated in disbelief.

The late Emperor… The late Emperor has passed on!

Wu Yi wiped away his sweat nervously.

This secret is too much! Is it too late to play dead now?

---

Hey everyone, let me know if the translation is good or not.

“Pah! The Great Dao has fifty, and the heavens follow the law of four-nine, with one step taken by mankind! I will take the handsome man with me, destined to defeat half of Heaven, ah-choo…!”

I’m not sure if the translation of this sentence is accurate since I didn’t fully understand the meaning of the original text.