World's First Traitor System [Isekai Transmigration]

"Ding!"

"Fan Li has ended the video call. This call is now terminated."

The man had actually fled. Scared off by a single word from Han Yue: "Husband."

Whoever said men had to be brave?

Have you not seen the treacherous Shu Mountain paths in Yi Province?

Have you not heard of the Shu women's mastery of the magical cloak?

A man does not cry easily, only when his heart is truly broken.

A daughter of the Xiang family, grown into a woman, her River-East Lion's Roar shakes the Central Plains.

"Fan Li!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Xiang Ning tried calling again, but he persistently refused to answer.

Her shouts echoed across the rocky beach.

The hundred swordswomen remained atop Mount Danxue. Without Han Yue's permission, they wouldn't descend the mountain, not even for the most enticing gossip.

And so, the two women faced each other, and the atmosphere was weird.

Finally, Xiang Ning broke the silence.

"I don't believe it!"

"It's true."

Han Yue's tone was calm, yet brimming with confidence and composure.

Sensing her unwavering certainty, Xiang Ning's anxiety grew.

"You have no proof!"

Han Yue produced a letter and handed it to Xiang Ning.

The opening line: "Thanks to Your Majesty's intervention, I have pledged my eternal love to Han Yue. From this day forward, we shall live together in harmony, sharing both joys and sorrows."

How could Xiang Ning not recognize Fan Li's handwriting? She remembered the time Fan Li was reviewing memorials in the Chengming Palace, and she, disguised as a palace maid, had served him tea.

"I… you… he…"

Xiang Ning wanted to cry.

But she suddenly realized that crying wouldn't help. She couldn't expect Han Yue to comfort her, could she? That was Fan Li's job.

Therefore, she mustn't cry.

A man strives for honor, a god fight for a stick of incense.

A strange thought suddenly popped into Xiang Ning's head: Compete!

"Mine's bigger!" she blurted out.

What did she mean? She offered no explanation, leaving Han Yue to decipher her cryptic words.

"Not necessarily," Han Yue shook her head. Her mind was clear and her intellect was at its peak. She handled the situation with far more composure than Xiang Ning.

"Mine's bigger!" Xiang Ning insisted. "Yours… is smaller!"

Han Yue simply replied, "Before me, there was Qing Qiu."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Xiang Ning's jaw dropped so wide that she could swallow an egg whole.

"But… Master… how is that possible…?"

Han Yue remained calm and continued, "And before Qing Qiu, there was your Imperial Noble Consort, Lu Fubao."

Xiang Ning was speechless.

She looked at Han Yue, then down at the Dust Destiny Necklace around her neck.

Could it be true?

How could Fan Li dare?

"And before Lu Fubao, there was Princess Chang Le, your Empress."

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Xiang Ning couldn't hold back any longer. She burst into tears.

Five?

That was too many!

…

The night was silent.

Atop Mount Danxue, sword qi occasionally pierced the night sky as the swordswomen diligently practiced their skills.

Down on the rocky beach, Xiang Ning lay on her side with her head resting on Han Yue's lap.

She had fallen asleep, but tear stains still marked her cheeks.

Han Yue held the Dust Destiny Necklace in her hand, admiring its exquisite craftsmanship. She had tried to activate it, but without success.

"Ding!"

"Fan Li is requesting a video call. Accept or decline?"

The holographic projection startled Han Yue with its sudden appearance. Marveling at the spirit treasure's ingenuity, she accepted the call.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, please allow me to explain…"

"Fan Li, it's me."

Fan Li froze, finally realizing the woman on the screen was Han Yue.

He blushed.

"So late, and you're still awake, haha?"

He was embarrassed to find himself suddenly tongue-tied.

So incredibly late and still awake? Did Great Vehicle cultivators even need sleep?

"You're looking for the Chu Emperor? She's asleep."

As if possessing a will of its own, the Dust Destiny Necklace adjusted its angle, capturing the image of Xiang Ning sleeping peacefully with her head resting on Han Yue's lap.

So harmonious?! Fan Li could scarcely believe his eyes. It was truly a stroke of luck that they hadn't clashed.

"Um… thank you… for looking after her…" he mumbled, scratching his head awkwardly.

Han Yue gazed at him intently, then suddenly tilted her head and smiled.

"Between you and me, is there a need for such formalities?"

Damn! A head tilt?

Fan Li's heart, already bearing Han Yue's forced imprint, now pounded in his chest, and his mouth suddenly became dry.

"Ahem."

"I'm used to it. I'll change." Following her words, Fan Li realized he was becoming increasingly passive.

"So…"

"Your Majesty… her necklace… why do you have it?" He was merely trying to change the subject, nothing more.

But a flicker of envy crossed Han Yue's eyes, accentuating her loneliness.

"The Chu Emperor said she didn't want it anymore. She gave it to me."

"What?!"

Fan Li's jaw dropped in disbelief. Xiang Ning treasured the Dust Destiny Necklace, wearing it constantly. She had actually given it away? Did this mean she no longer intended to contact him?

"Pfft!"

Han Yue suddenly chuckled.

"I'm sorry. I lied."

"She cried for an entire day and must have fallen asleep from exhaustion. As for the necklace… consider it stolen."

Fan Li was speechless. Was this truly the same Han Yue he knew, the noble and arrogant swordswoman with such fierce pride? She had actually stolen something?

"Don't worry."

Seeing Fan Li staring at her, Han Yue blushed slightly.

She lowered her head and hid her shy expression from his view.

After a long moment, she added, "I'm only borrowing it. I'll return it before dawn."

"Oh…"

Fan Li had nothing more to say. He had prepared a heartfelt speech to comfort Xiang Ning. It wasn't that he didn't care about Han Yue, but past experiences had led him to believe that Xiang Ning required comforting, while Han Yue did not.

"Fan Li."

"I'm here!"

"Thank you."

"What for?" Fan Li was bewildered. Given the current situation, he would have accepted either woman seeking him out to express their grievances.

"Thank you for the letter you wrote. Otherwise, I would probably be dead. Empress Yao Guang… she wouldn't have spared me."

From the moment she re-established the Pure Land, Han Yue no longer addressed Yao Guang as "Elder Sister," but as "Empress."

Mentioning Yao Guang, Fan Li's expression turned serious.

"You're welcome. I… have a duty to protect you."

The next morning.

Xiang Ning awoke and instinctively touched her neck.

Feeling the Dust Destiny Necklace, her spirits lifted. But then, rubbing her eyes, she saw Han Yue, dressed in white, sitting beside her with their bodies almost touching.

"Ah!"

She remembered. Last night, she had actually fallen asleep with her head resting on Han Yue's lap?!

"You, you, you! Me, me, me!"

Xiang Ning leaped to her feet, backing away from Han Yue.

"Yesterday's matter isn't settled! I'm leaving. Later… later, when Fan Li is present, we'll determine whose is bigger!"

With that, she turned and ran.

She didn't truly care about their relative positions, who was the wife and who was the concubine. In reality, she was simply being competitive and hadn't seriously considered marriage.

"You're not going anywhere." With a flick of her sleeve, Han Yue summoned a gust of spiritual energy, gently pulling Xiang Ning back.

"What do you want?! I am the Emperor of Great Chu! I belong to Fan Li! No, wait, Fan Li belongs to me!" Xiang Ning's face paled, her words tumbling out incoherently.

She wanted to cry. Why was her "rival" so powerful?

Han Yue smiled.

She reached out, gently wiping a small tear from the corner of Xiang Ning's eye.

"You're not going anywhere. I promised Fan Li I would protect you, until the day he comes to rescue us both."