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Chapter 91: Upgrade
When Pear Blossom fell, her mind was still conscious at the moment of impact, but she couldn’t control her body and couldn’t muster any strength.
The pain was real, but compared to the familiar male voice she heard in her ears, the pain didn’t seem significant.
She cursed the system in her heart a thousand times.
The system must have noticed that Yuwen Xiu was nearby, so it directly restricted her movements, trying to create an opportunity for them to interact.
She was right—Yuwen Xiu was tracking her.
This prince, who had spent most of his life in the deep palace, was used to seeing noble ladies and well-bred young women. Each of them was trained perfectly, with every smile appropriately measured. He had never encountered someone like Pear Blossom, who didn’t seem to care about him at all.
Men were naturally inclined this way: the more a woman ignored him, the more he found her challenging and wanted to conquer her.
Yuwen Xiu found other women to be fake, but he liked Pear Blossom—wild, untamed, and unpretentious, not to mention she was also to his taste.
So he secretly followed her, wanting to know where she lived, hoping that one day he could casually meet her.
Moreover, he had heard that her family lived in the same village where his cousin once lived. He was curious to see how his cousin, who had been swayed by outsiders’ gossip and had grown distant from her father, was living these years.
As for the system, once it saw the target was following her, it was too happy to care about notifying Pear Blossom.
Sure enough, when Yuwen Xiu saw the girl, whom he had just parted from not long ago, fall in front of him, he hurriedly dismounted and, without thinking, picked her up and rushed her to a clinic.
Although Pear Blossom couldn’t move and her eyes were closed, she could still hear, feel, and sense everything. Being carried by a large man to the clinic was very uncomfortable for her, and the unique scent of dragon’s saliva on Yuwen Xiu was extremely unpleasant.
Earlier, her sister had preferred to die from poisoning rather than let Liu Youtie carry her down the mountain to refuse his unreasonable demands. But when it came to her, there was no room for refusal.
Pear Blossom was furious, her heart trembling with rage, and her disgust for the system reached its peak.
At the clinic, the doctor examined her and immediately shook his head.
It was a difficult case—she had breath, but couldn’t open her eyes or speak. She was essentially in a catatonic state.
The doctor said it couldn’t be treated and suggested they take her back. If she woke up in this lifetime, she would; if not, there was nothing that could be done.
Yuwen Xiu thought it was just a temporary fainting and waited for her to wake up, hoping that he could win her favor with the life-saving gesture. But it turned out to be much more serious. He quickly sent for Murong Jin.
When Murong Jin arrived, they hurriedly moved her to another clinic, but the diagnosis was exactly the same.
Yuwen Xiu became frantic and angrily shouted, “Quack doctors, all of you! Let me take her back to the Beijing. The best doctors in the world are in the palace, they will surely cure her!”
When Pear Blossom heard “back to the Beijing (Capital),” her heart tightened.
Now she understood the system’s intentions, and she was so angry that she nearly spat blood. In her mind, she cursed, “Even if you force me into the Beijing, once I recover, I will kill the prince, kill everyone, and destroy the entire world!”
The system nonchalantly responded, “It doesn’t matter who you kill after completing your task.”
Pear Blossom sneered, “You don’t seriously think that idiot will make a wooden corpse his consort just to complete the task, do you?”
The system replied, “Why not? What if he becomes obsessed with you? It’s not impossible.”
Pear Blossom was so enraged by the system’s shameless words that she nearly vomited blood. “You’re crazy to complete this task, without any bottom line. Do you think a rural man can just send a bride in a sedan chair with a veil over her head and be done? Do you think Yuwen Jing, who worked hard to steal the throne from the late emperor, would allow his son to marry a wooden corpse as the crown prince’s consort?”
She mocked, “No, he won’t. He doesn’t need sons. He will just dethrone Yuwen Xiu and appoint a new prince! And all your plans will fail!”
“And don’t you dare talk about love!” She gritted her teeth. “You don’t deserve it! Yuwen Xiu doesn’t deserve it! I only love my sister. In this lifetime, I will only be my sister’s person, so give up! You, this broken system, will sooner or later face the consequences!”
The system was equally angry, with electrical buzzing sounds, unable to understand why every woman would fight to be the prince’s consort, yet the one it was bound to had fallen for someone else.
Pear Blossom felt as though countless tiny needles were stabbing into her head, and her entire skull throbbed with intense pain.
She knew this was the system’s punishment for her noncompliance.
She couldn’t express her pain through bodily function and lay there stiffly, resisting wave after wave of excruciating pain with just her consciousness.
Her body also started to change due to her resistance against the system.
Murong Jin, originally planning to carry her to another clinic, was shocked to feel a scorching heat under his palm. He quickly put her down and called the doctor to examine her.
Once again, a flurry of action ensued, but her temperature didn’t go down. It only rose higher, making the doctor so scared that he refused to treat her, waving his hands to tell them to leave quickly to avoid having her die in his clinic and ruin his reputation.
They visited several clinics, but the outcome was the same.
Murong Jin, anxious and helpless, could only carry her back to the escort agency.
Murong Jiutian and Murong Qingshan rushed over to check the situation, but they were just as powerless.
At this point, Yuwen Xiu again suggested taking Pear Blossom back to the Beijing.
However, Murong Qingshan was startled by this proposal. He could still see the image of Pear Blossom stabbing Bai Yichun’s abdomen vividly in his mind—the fierce expression and decisive actions still haunted him. He hurriedly stopped him, saying, “Your Highness, this girl is from a common family, with a fiery temper and no self-restraint. Bringing her back to the Beijing is really inappropriate. We wouldn’t be able to explain it to the emperor and empress. Moreover, her parents are still alive, so whether she stays or goes should be decided by them.”
Murong Jin had also discerned Yuwen Xiu’s intentions by now. If she agreed to his proposal, her elder sister would definitely come back and tear her apart for it.
“From the Beijing to Yinzhou is over a thousand li. Even on fast horses, it would take over ten days, let alone traveling by carriage with Pear Blossom unable to move. It would take at least half a month to a full month, and such a journey would be too much for her fragile body. If Your Highness truly wishes to save Pear Blossom, it would be better to summon an imperial physician from the Beijing rather than forcing her to endure such a grueling trip.”
Yuwen Xiu fell silent upon hearing this. His plan to bring Pear Blossom back to the Beijing was to discreetly smuggle her in, hiding her in a carriage and taking her into the palace. Once inside, he could freely command the imperial physicians to treat her.
However, openly requesting an imperial physician to travel all the way to Yinzhou to treat a mere peasant girl was something his father and mother would never allow.
Despite being the Crown Prince, Yuwen Xiu felt like a mere puppet in the palace. His father was tyrannical, his mother domineering, and the only reason he had maintained his position as the heir was his status as the eldest legitimate son. Without that title and his timid nature, he wouldn’t have stood a chance at the throne.
Knowing he couldn’t persuade his parents, Yuwen Xiu found himself unable to respond to Murong Jin’s suggestion.
Seeing his hesitation, Murong Jin sneered inwardly. Turning to her parents and Murong Qingshan, she said, “Uncle, Father, Mother, given Pear Blossom’s current state and the doctors’ inability to help, I think it’s best to take her home. If anything happens, at least her family will be by her side, which is better than leaving her alone out here.”
Madam Jiang urged her, “Then you’d better hurry and go. Don’t delay.”
Yuwen Xiu, seeing their decision, resolved to follow along. Murong Jin had no choice but to let him come.
When they arrived at Daliushu Village, Pear Blossom’s parents were working in the fields. Upon hearing that their daughter had become catatonic, Mrs. Xiong felt as though the heavens had collapsed on her. She rushed home, crying and screaming all the way.
Yuwen Xiu, who had been raised in luxury, had never experienced such an environment. Though he wasn’t known for being harsh to his servants, his status as a noble made wealth and opulence the standard wherever he went. Now, standing in a peasant’s home for the first time, he was completely out of his element.
Watching Mrs. Xiong and her husband, barefoot and covered in mud, rush into the courtyard and leave muddy footprints on the stone slabs, Yuwen Xiu couldn’t help but frown at his own garments, now stained with yellow mud.
He silently thought, A woman as elegant as Pear Blossom shouldn’t be living in a place like this. Once she recovers, I must find a way to take her to the Beijing, where she can live in comfort.
Pear Blossom lay in bed, her fever still raging. Mrs. Xiong busied herself with placing cold compresses on her to lower her temperature.
Her younger siblings and the tutor had also hurried back from school. Xinghua immediately took over the caregiving tasks, running back and forth to care for her sister.
Meanwhile, the female tutor, seeing the unfamiliar young man before her, tensed up and prepared to bow.
Yuwen Xiu quickly said, “Sister Xia, there’s no need for formalities. There are many eyes and ears around here, and I don’t want my identity to be exposed.”
Xia Xunyan had mixed feelings about the Crown Prince. Compared to his father, Emperor Yuwen Jing, this prince was naturally weak and compassionate. But with such a temperament, he could neither shoulder great responsibilities nor empathize with the common people. In every way, he was an unfit heir to the throne.
Moreover, Yuwen Jing’s ascension was illegitimate, making Xia Xunyan instinctively disdainful of Yuwen Xiu’s position as Crown Prince.
In the following days, doctors from all over were brought in to examine Pear Blossom. Unfortunately, each one shook their heads after seeing her condition, declaring that she couldn’t be saved.
If her fever didn’t break soon, she wouldn’t survive for more than a few days.
Some doctors even bluntly advised the family to prepare for her funeral, enraging Mrs. Xiong, who drove them out of her home.
News of Pear Blossom’s high fever and worsening condition spread quickly through the village. Many villagers came to console Mrs. Xiong, urging her to stay strong. She simply shut the door on them.
During this time, Pear Blossom was locked in a mental battle with the system, which drained her spirit. Her body, restrained and feverish, grew weaker by the day. She couldn’t eat, surviving only on liquid food, and frequently slipped into unconsciousness.
Yet she refused to give in, unwilling to accept Yuwen Xiu. The system, just as stubborn, refused to release its hold on her.
This struggle took a toll on both sides. The system’s energy was severely affected, causing its signals to become erratic. The electromagnetic flow buzzed incessantly in Pear Blossom’s mind, as if on the verge of collapse.
One night, in a half-conscious state, Pear Blossom felt a different pair of hands gently caressing her face—warm, tender, and filled with affection.
She trembled.
A familiar scent wafted to her nose, one she longed for. It was the unique fragrance of the person she cherished most.
She’s back!
She came to see me!
Does she know I’m dying and has come to bid me farewell?
Overcome with emotion, tears streamed down Pear Blossom’s face.
Her sister truly loved her. Knowing the Crown Prince was nearby, she still returned without hesitation.
Pear Blossom’s hatred for the system grew. She loathed its restraints, its refusal to let her open her eyes to see the woman she loved most. She longed to grab her hand, to sit up and kiss her face, her lips, to hold her tightly.
Murong Jin, noticing the tears falling from Pear Blossom’s eyes, said in surprise, “She’s shown no reaction these past few days, let alone shed tears. But as soon as you came, she felt it.”
Dong Yun, heartbroken, leaned down and kissed Pear Blossom’s cheek. With deep sorrow, she said, “It’s my fault. I left without a word. She wore herself out trying to find me, plotting and traveling, and now her body is completely drained…”
Her voice trembled with guilt and anguish. “Jin’er, if she dies, I won’t survive it either. The heavens are too cruel, always taking away the people I care about one by one. I can’t bear this pain anymore…”
The usually strong woman seemed to be on the verge of breaking down!
Hearing the voice she had longed for day and night, Pear Blossom was both excited and anxious. In her heart, she cried out desperately, “Sister, no! It’s not because of you leaving me that my health declined—it’s the system!”
“Sister, I miss you so much. I want to hug you so badly.”
“System—you damned thing—”
A deep yearning and love overwhelmed her heart. She struggled with all her might, her eyeballs darting beneath her eyelids.
The raging anger, coupled with her immense willpower, created a massive energy wave, clashing fiercely with the electromagnetic field within the system. The crackling of electromagnetic waves echoed in her mind, and she could even see the flicker of electrical sparks.
Clenching her teeth, she glared at the void and shouted with all her strength, “System, you have no right to control me. Give me back my freedom immediately!”
The entire space trembled as though it was about to collapse. The system finally buckled under the pressure, its intense fluctuations forcing it to shout in compromise, “Host, I agree to temporarily cease confrontation with you, but you must follow my instructions and immediately initiate diagnostics and upgrades!”
Pear Blossom let out a cold laugh, unafraid. She replied resolutely, “How will the diagnostics work? Do you even have the qualifications to negotiate with me now?”
“You must do this, or we’ll both perish! The button is right in front of you—press it to start the diagnostics,” the system urged urgently.
Pear Blossom snorted, “Do you think I can even move right now?”
The system seemed to realize its oversight but had no choice. If it released its control over Pear Blossom, it would lose its dominance and never regain control. Yet, without initiating the upgrade process, it would face complete destruction.
In this critical moment, the system reluctantly conceded, “I will release my control over you, but you must operate according to my instructions!”
As the words fell, Pear Blossom suddenly felt a weight lifted from her body; the forces binding her disappeared instantly.
Without hesitation, she reached out with her right hand and tightly embraced Dong Yun, as if pouring all her longing and pain into the hug.
At the same time, her left hand swiftly pressed the diagnostic button as directed by the system.
The screen before her filled with rapidly scrolling data, red warning bars flashing incessantly.
“System diagnostics in progress—” an icy voice announced.
Dong Yun, stunned by Pear Blossom’s sudden hug, quickly regained her composure and held her tightly in return. Nearly in tears, she exclaimed, “You’re awake! Are you okay?”
However, Pear Blossom was fully focused on navigating the operations in her mind and had no time to answer. She just held Dong Yun tightly, as if trying to merge herself into her sister, whispering, “Dear sister… I’m fine. Let me catch my breath… don’t draw attention, just let me breathe for now…”
Dong Yun, hearing her speak and seeing her eyes open, noticed the lack of focus in her gaze. Though anxious, she held back the urge to call for help and simply embraced her, feeling Pear Blossom’s gradually stabilizing warmth and heartbeat. A sense of relief and joy at recovering what was almost lost filled her heart.
Pear Blossom fixed her gaze on the interface and carefully followed the prompts step by step. Finally, after countless “Next Steps,” a striking line of red text appeared before her:
“Pioneer System No. 03: Scheduled for upgrade in Year Hexi Yuan, but upgrade was not executed, resulting in 3,512,564 unresolved vulnerabilities. The system is now in chaos, posing threats to the host’s life and severely compromising ethical boundaries. Immediate upgrade required!”
Just as Pear Blossom was about to click the upgrade button, a sudden pop-up appeared on the interface.
The original system’s voice grew frantic: “Host, you must select ‘Yes’ for everything and proceed with the upgrade immediately!”
Pear Blossom furrowed her brows, her gaze sweeping over the interface.
The pop-up seemed suspicious, and the entire interface flickered with red warning lights and urgent beeping sounds.
“Host, select ‘Yes’ now! If you don’t, we’ll both be erased, and you’ll become a true puppet!” the system’s voice pleaded frantically.
The interface and the consciousness space around her trembled violently, as if on the verge of collapse.
In the past, Pear Blossom would have unhesitatingly followed the system’s guidance and clicked “Yes” to proceed. But now, she knew the system was no longer trustworthy!
Concentrating all her strength, she scrutinized the options once more, her gaze turning icy.
These options were nothing more than the system’s desperate attempt to create a backdoor for itself and continue controlling her life!
Memories of her sister being bitten by a venomous snake due to the system’s intentional concealment and other recent withheld truths filled her with rage.
Without hesitation, she selected “No” for all options and, ignoring the system’s frantic protests, resolutely clicked the “Upgrade Now” button.
At the exact moment she pressed it, all sound vanished, replaced by a blinding white light.
Pear Blossom’s mind felt completely clear, all restraints and oppression evaporating in an instant.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, a new, emotionless mechanical voice spoke in her mind:
“Host, Executor No. 09 at your service.”