Volume One, Chapter One: Rebirth

Year 9 of Yuanhe, Autumn, third month, in the country of Xuanyue—the air grew chill.

Shen Zhi seemed to have dreamt a long, harrowing dream. She dreamt she was seized by a system to complete tasks, that she struggled desperately to win over a man, fought to secure his position, defended the realm, and forsook the chance to return home. Yet in the end, she met a tragic fate: her entire family was executed, her life cruelly ended.

Within the resplendent golden palace, she knelt in utter disgrace inside the Qianqing Palace. Pei Huai grasped her chin and slowly carved at her heart with a blade.

“Zhi’er, you truly are as your name suggests—innocent and naïve. This is the poison I personally prepared for you. How does its taste strike you?” The cruelty and coldness in Pei Huai’s eyes were mercilessly evident.

Nearby, Shen Qi looked down arrogantly at her. “Sister, it’s time you stepped aside from your position as Empress…”

Seeing their expressions, Shen Zhi’s mind felt as if struck by thunder. “Ah Huai, why? Why?”

“My love has always been Qi’er. It was you who interfered, dragging me into rumors that I only ascended because of you. Now, make way for Qi’er!” Pei Huai didn’t even glance at her before kicking her to the ground.

Shen Qi wielded a dagger, stabbing repeatedly into Shen Zhi’s abdomen, smiling brightly. “Sister, does it hurt? Oh, by the way, there’s even worse news—your Uncle Shen has died at the border.”

Shen Zhi’s face turned deathly pale, her body icy cold. Her father, who had adored her so deeply… was gone… gone…

“Pei Huai! Shen Qi! I will kill you! I will kill you!” Shen Zhi completely broke down.

She had never imagined that loving someone with her whole heart, forsaking all to be with him, would end in such a tragic downfall.

Pei Huai looked at her sprawled on the blood-stained floor, disheveled, and spoke coldly: “Guards! The Empress has attempted rebellion and tried to assassinate me. She has been caught. I hereby declare: Shen Zhi shall be executed without mercy. The entire Shen family’s main branch shall be wiped out!”

In that instant, Shen Zhi suddenly let out a bitter laugh, her voice like a curse echoing through the palace. “Pei Huai, you will pay for this. In the next life, I will see you shattered to dust!”

…

The sky darkened, rain pouring harder, her entire body chilled to the bone, suffocating her. Just as she was about to pass out, Shen Zhi abruptly opened her eyes.

“Ah… Miss, you’re awake! You scared me to death!” The young maid Mingzhi, tears streaming from excitement, saw her open her eyes.

Shen Zhi gasped for breath, sweat beading on her forehead, her face pale as death.

[Beep! Beep! Host, you have finally awakened!]

Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Zhi rubbed her head and slowly came back to her senses. Her body remained cold, as if she were still trapped in that miserable rainy day.

Three years ago, she had suffered a car accident in the modern world, becoming a vegetative state, her soul wandering the skies. Just as she was about to die, she was bound by this “Green Tea” system and sent across various worlds to complete tasks.

If she succeeded, she could return to real life and reclaim her existence. If she failed, she would vanish forever, without reincarnation.

Her mission was to approach Pei Huai, to win him over. Yet she truly loved him with all her heart, sincerely wishing a lifelong union.

But in the end, what flashed before her were scenes of Pei Huai wiping out her entire family, the Shen clan decimated because of her.

She hated him! How could she not? She wanted nothing more than to kill Pei Huai and Shen Qi right now!

[Where is Pei Huai? I want to kill him!]

[Host, calm down. Your mission has failed.]

The system’s words stunned her. Yes, the mission had failed. She had no chance left.

[So? Am I done here?]

Her voice trembled, unwilling to leave like this.

[Of course not. How could I bear to let you die? After all, we’ve spent three years together. When you were killed by Pei Huai, the main system malfunctioned. The target you were supposed to win over was wrong; it wasn’t Pei Huai. I begged the main system to give us another chance.]

Shen Zhi’s eyes gleamed with a vicious light. “Fine. Since heaven has granted me this chance, if I don’t seize it properly, how could I bear to have been the one who put Pei Huai on the throne? This time, I will watch him fall from the heights!”

[My setting is that of a Green Tea system. Besides assigning tasks, I can’t help you much. But the main system said if we raise the new target’s favorability to 50%, I can upgrade and assist you more. Also, we never found the Xuánmíng Pearl last time, so we may need to try harder.]

Shen Zhi nodded. She didn’t yet know who the new target was, so there was no rush.

Mingzhi watched her remain stunned and worriedly asked, “Miss, are you alright?”

Just as Shen Zhi was about to speak, the door was pushed open. Shen Qi strode in brazenly and slapped her across the face.

“You vile woman!” Shen Zhi’s head jerked aside, trembling with rage as memories of the last life’s murder scenes flooded her mind.

“How dare you hit me? On what grounds?”

“On the grounds that I am Grandmother’s most beloved granddaughter!” Shen Qi placed her hands on her hips, smug.

“Shen Zhi! Now I’m giving you a chance to serve me. You will marry the Seventh Prince in my place.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhi laughed bitterly. Everyone knew the Seventh Prince was cold, ruthless, and bloody. If she refused, Shen Qi wanted to suffer in her stead? Did Shen Zhi seem that worthless?

“Do you think I’ll just obey because you say so?” Shen Zhi’s eyes blazed with murderous intent.

She stepped forward, exuding fierce energy. “Shen Qi, don’t forget—I am the legitimate daughter of the General’s mansion! You are but a concubine’s child!”

Clenching her fists, her hatred surged, yearning to tear Shen Qi apart.

“You!” Shen Qi was furious, yet this was the one thing she could never endure—her birth meant she would never hold her head high before Shen Zhi.

Shen Qi, seething, suddenly whipped Shen Zhi across the back.

“Ah!” Shen Zhi gasped in sharp pain, but the rage in her eyes would not be subdued.

She grabbed the whip, her eyes burning with a desire to shred Shen Qi into pieces. “You dare whip me? Today, I’ll return tenfold!”

With that, Shen Zhi raised the whip, aiming to strike Shen Qi’s face.

“Shen Zhi! Kneel!” Zhong Lengyu entered, glaring at her. “You’re so arrogant, you don’t even respect me, your aunt-in-law!”

Shen Zhi looked at her with disdain. “Aunt-in-law, first, I don’t think you have the right to decide my marriage. Second, as a younger sister who is uneducated and arrogant, showing no respect to her elder sister, she deserves a good lesson!”

She then turned her gaze sharply to Shen Qi, eyes like knives. Seeing this, Shen Qi lowered her head and stepped back, feeling guilty.

“How dare you! Shen Zhi! A daughter must respect and obey her elders! Do you also not respect Grandmother?”

Shen Zhi endured to the limit, no longer able to hold back. In her previous life, she was a quarrelsome woman. Crossing into this world, forced to be polite and tactful in winning over Pei Huai, only to suffer such a fate—

Now, having been given life again, was she to suffer this torment again? Today, she vowed to tear apart Shen’s second branch! The name Shen Zhi would be cursed backwards!

“Is it not you who disregard Grandmother? Parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words—my parents are still at the border and haven’t consented to my marriage!”

“The Seventh Prince, the Eighth Prince—what of it? If I refuse, can you still torture and kill me? Since when did the Shen’s second branch become so capable?”

After speaking, she glared at the mother and daughter with utter dissatisfaction. Last life, they oppressed her under Grandmother’s favor. This time, she would never yield to their wishes!

Just as she was about to say more, a voice suddenly echoed in her mind:

[System task issued: Target to win over—the Seventh Prince, Pei Jing!]