Chapter 1

“What! They’ve arranged an official position for me!”

Lin Mo was so shocked by the news her father brought home that she nearly spat blood.

She was perfectly happy staying at home—why did she have to start working? Yes, for her, going to court was the same as going to work, and she definitely didn’t want to work.

“I’m not going! I’m not going! Why isn’t my brother going? Why isn’t my sister going? Why does it have to be me?” Lin Mo clung to the doorframe, wailing like a child. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she had just lost her parents.

Lin Mo had transmigrated into this world from the womb. In her previous life, she was just an ordinary university student. One day, while she was out shopping, she encountered a robbery.

It had nothing to do with her at first, as the robber wasn’t targeting her. But as she followed the crowd to escape, she happened to glance at the robber—just one glance!

Maybe it really was a case of “love at first sight”—her eyes met the robber’s, and she became his target. In the end, the robber chased her down and killed her with one stab.

It was such an unfair death, but the robber’s technique was impressive. One swift blow, and she was gone before she could even feel pain.

After that, she found herself in this new world. At first, she thought she had transmigrated to ancient times, but later realized this world was fictional. Although it resembled ancient times, there was no record of this dynasty in history.

The most surprising part was that women in this era could hold official positions! It was said that the current emperor was exceptionally benevolent, allowing women to participate in the imperial examination and become officials.

Although female officials were still rare, the fact that they existed at all in this ancient setting was remarkable. And this was just the beginning—as time passed, more women would likely join the government.

However, for now, these female officials were mostly symbolic. In fact, there was only one left in the court; most of the others had married and resigned.

After all, this was still a patriarchal society. Once a woman married, her husband’s family typically didn’t want her to continue working in public. But having been an official, a woman’s reputation was much better than that of other women, and she was also better equipped to support her husband. So, many families were eager to marry a female official.

Yet, once married, they didn’t like her going out. Their mindset was still very contradictory, and change would take time.

The remaining female official’s main task was to assist the historiographer in recording court proceedings. In modern terms, this job was like being an assistant meeting recorder. But this female official was about to get married, so her position was becoming vacant.

As soon as the position became available, Minister Lin immediately thought of his youngest daughter.

For some reason, this youngest daughter had always been completely different from everyone else. Minister Lin had lived for many years but had never encountered anyone as shameless as her!

This girl’s greatest hobby was dragging a little chair into the middle of the old servant women and listening to them gossip about domestic affairs—every single day!

She never did any proper work, always busying herself with all sorts of nonsense, constantly causing trouble for her parents and siblings, crying, and throwing tantrums all the time.

What kind of noble lady spends her days listening to gossip and rolling around on the ground?

Minister Lin felt that if he didn’t take action, his daughter was truly doomed. With her personality, getting married was out of the question—who would want to marry someone like her? So, he thought it better to secure her an official position. That way, she would have some sort of future. After all, if she didn’t get married, she wouldn’t have to resign from the position.

When she was older and couldn’t work anymore, maybe the emperor would look kindly on her for her service, even if it wasn’t particularly distinguished.

The best part was that the job was extremely easy, with almost nothing to do. Although she was supposed to assist, the historiographer was very capable, so she could just stand there as a symbolic figure.

Minister Lin really had worried himself sick over Lin Mo’s future.

“Waaah, Dad, you’re so unfair! Why do I have to go to work?”

Lin Mo cried her heart out, tears streaming down her face. She was genuinely content with her current life: her parents were childhood sweethearts and deeply in love, there were no concubines or mistresses in the family, and her older brother and sister took great care of her—they were all siblings from the same parents.

All she wanted was to be a carefree, lazy person, living off her family. Her ideal life was eating snacks, listening to gossip, and reading storybooks. For now, she relied on her parents, later on, she’d rely on her brother and sister, and in her old age, on her nieces and nephews. It was perfect!

It could be said that when she transmigrated into this world, she had landed in her dream paradise! Even though there were no computers or smartphones, life was still carefree. Over the past decade, she had enjoyed herself immensely and planned to continue living this way.

But now her father was forcing her to work! This was like a death sentence for her!

Minister Lin looked at his daughter, who was acting shamelessly, and he closed his eyes, struggling to suppress his frustration, repeating to himself: She’s my own flesh and blood; I can’t beat her to death!

“You insolent child! Your brother is likely to pass his exams this year without any mishaps. Your sister is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—she’s already somewhat famous in the capital, and we don’t need to worry about her getting married. But what about you? Can you pass the imperial exams? Can you get married?”

“I can!” Lin Mo replied firmly. “I can get married! As long as you choose someone for me, Father, I can get married right away!”

Marriage? That was no big deal. She trusted her father’s judgment—he would pick someone with good character. Once married, she could continue her carefree life.

Minister Lin: …

You still need a suitable candidate to marry! He couldn’t bear to let this little troublemaker ruin a good man’s life, but he also couldn’t push his daughter into a bad marriage.

“Forget it. You’d better prepare to take up the official position. Do a good job and try to keep it for life. That way, you’ll be settled. When your mother and I are gone, your brother, sister, and nephews will take care of you. You won’t suffer too much in this lifetime.”

After saying that, Minister Lin shook his head and left.

Lin Mo: … It’s not that bad, is it? I’m not that hopeless, am I?

[Gossip System activated. Host, please choose to accept or decline.]

A voice suddenly echoed in Lin Mo’s mind.

Lin Mo: ??? What is this?

[Just accept it], Lin Mo thought casually.

[Understood. Gossip System activated. Hello, Host, I am the Gossip System.]

Lin Mo: …

No way! There really is a system! She always thought systems were just made-up nonsense in novels. And this system is a gossip system? It’s like it was tailor-made for her!

[Are you really a system that lets me gossip? Can I really get all the juicy details? Why did you choose me? Could it be that I’m some kind of chosen one?]

Lin Mo’s excitement grew as she thought about it. A chosen one! Like the protagonists in those overpowered novels! Could she be some kind of super protagonist?

But even if she was a chosen one, it wouldn’t be much use—she didn’t want to work. She was completely satisfied with her current life, and if she didn’t have to work, she’d be even happier.

System: …

This host, you’re really overthinking things.

[Host, you’re overthinking it. I’m just an ordinary Gossip System with no great powers. You were chosen because you’re the most gossipy and idle person around.]

Lin Mo: … What do you mean, I’m the most gossipy and idle? Don’t ruin my reputation!