Chapter 15 - My Host, You Are Breaking the Rules (III)
The System was highly dissatisfied with its shameless, brutal host. She would probably turn the king’s consorts into her own!
It could easily picture Jiang Pengji in the Queen’s costume lying in the court ladies’ bosoms. She would have her legs massaged by one beauty while being fed grapes by another. The king would hide in the corner like a coward, biting a handkerchief to hide his sobbing…
The System stopped thinking further and said, “No. How can you enter the palace and get involved in court intrigue if you continue pretending to be a man?”
Jiang Pengji thought for a moment and then asked, “How important is court intrigue?”
“I am the ‘Court Intrigue Stream.’ That is the highlight of this channel! I need popularity or… all you need to know is that the consequences could be disastrous.” It then fell into silence.
The host asked, “So it is a requirement?”
“Definitely!” The computer was resolute. It found its overly independent host to be irritating.
“But me being a male will not be a stumbling block.”
“…”
What did she mean? She wanted to be a lesbian with the pretty ladies and gay with the king?
Oh no! She was breaking the rules!
Jiang Pengji frowned with impatience and loathing at the System’s boundless annoyance.
She had been born over 10,000 years after this period, and she knew how pathetic females could be during this era. There was no way the System could force her into becoming like one of those miserable creatures.
If that was the price she had to pay for an afterlife, she would rather break her own neck in a moment than play court intrigue as the System expected.
In these ancient times, even women in the highest positions had to grovel submissively to the man who possessed the court and territory. She didn’t even envy the Queen.
After contemplating, she said, “System…”
The computer trembled at her voice.
“I know nothing about your plan, but I know there is no such thing as a free lunch. You may want something from me, and I can’t do anything to change that right now. But I will not let you decide my fate.”
The System remained silent, but she continued, “I can help you gain the popularity you need, but that is all. We can be partners. However, do not tell me what to do, and do not cross my line.”
Jiang Pengji was absolutely the most thorny, willful, and obstinate host it had ever met. Moreover, she was smart and violent and had a set of values that were completely different from others. The System was thus determined to never find a similar host in the future. What it needed were local girls from the same era who would comply submissively.
“Forcing me to do something that I hate is something I abhor, in addition to offending ladies and robbing other people.” If the System ever bothered her again about court intrigue, she would give it an unforgettable lesson.
The computer went quiet as if it had never existed.
After a few moments, the electronically synthesized voice, in a tone like that of a disappointed child, said, “I… I did not mean it… Helping my host win over others in court is what I was made for… If my host does not like that, she should at least make a good livestream…”
Unmoved, she scowled and said, “Do not try to sound adorable. It just makes me sick.”
“…”
F*ck! Just let her stay single for the rest of her life!
Though Jiang Pengji was speaking to the System, in the eyes of the noble girls, it looked as though she was just resting on the main seat with her arms crossed. They bitterly held their gazes above the floor so they wouldn’t have to look at the dead bodies.
Since most of the furniture was occupied by corpses, they could not find a proper place to rest. Although the foreign habit of sitting on stools and chairs had recently become more popular in Dongqing, the stubborn nobles insisted on following the traditional practice of sitting on the ground. However, sitting on this blood-soaked floor was out of the question.
The burning oil lamps were very weak and looked as though they would go out in the next second.
Although it was the season for plants to flourish and flowers to blossom, the night could be quite chilly. The cold, in addition to the tiredness and hunger after such a fearsome day, was torture for them. They needed to find somewhere to rest.
Finally, some brave girls tried to move the corpses on the furniture to the ground, despite their goosebumps and tears. All of this was temporary, after all. Their families would find them tomorrow.
Despite their effort to minimize their noise, it was too loud for Jiang Pengji. However, she quickly regained her good mood and spirit.
“This can keep you warm. I will move the corpses outside and go find something to eat.” She handed the leather on her seat to Wei Jingxian and the other ladies. “This is not exquisitely made, so it has a strong smell and may not be soft enough. But it can be useful for now. I will also look for wood later, so we can make a fire to keep us warm.”
She was usually tender towards pretty girls when there were no conflicts. She could relieve their bitterness a bit. There was no need to torment them.
“Humph! Who needs your fake compassion!” mumbled a girl from the Wan family, who had spoken out against her earlier.
Dissolutely, Jiang Pengji shrugged. “Your houses would blame me for mistreating their precious flowers.”
“Shameless!”
Who was she trying to deceive after she had mercilessly threatened them not long ago?
“No, I am just being capricious. That is proof for us being the same gender; capriciousness is a universal female quality.” She did not mind mocking herself when it could help her retaliate.
“It is very likely that beasts, especially wolves and boars, are coming out for food. Stay here and wait for my return. I will find something to eat.”
She then dragged two bodies, one in each hand, and moved them outside. This was a night the girls would never forget; they would not forget a single detail, not even when all their hair turned gray.
Jiang Pengji re-entered the room, this time with firewood. She piled it by a wall and set up a fire. She reminded them to add wood to the fire without burning down the house.
“Wait.” Wei Jingxian noticed that all she was wearing were her undergarments and a thin coat. “Do you need something more to put on?”
Jiang Pengji chuckled. “Is Jing’er going to take off her dress in order to keep me warm?”
Wei Jingxian frowned with embarrassment as she chided, “The bears should take this rash person away. That would save us a lot of trouble.”
The reply did not satisfy Pengji, and she decided that the girls must not be pleased either. So she paused her steps at the door, turned to everyone, and gave them a grin.