Chapter 1.12 Shen Qi
When the Royal Family announced the wedding between Shen Qi and Mu Xuan, controversy immediately erupted, whispers spread that the two were siblings.
But the misunderstanding was quickly dispelled: Shen Qi was revealed to be the daughter of the previous Emperor, adopted out of kindness by the current Emperor.
With the truth laid bare, the rumors died down, and the people instead rejoiced, celebrating the union of their beloved prince and princess.
Yet not everyone shared in the joy.
One person, long forgotten in the shadows of this tale—the so‑called female lead—still burned with resentment. She remembered well the humiliation she had suffered at the hands of Shen Qi and Mu Xuan, and she vowed to take her revenge.
Her plan was the same as before: to frame Shen Qi and force the Third Prince into disgrace, making him wear a green hat. Everything was already prepared; all she needed was for Shen Qi to fall into her trap.
The day of the grand celebration, when Shen Qi and Mu Xuan would announce their engagement, was the perfect stage.
But who is Shen Qi, truly?
To the world, she seemed quiet, almost passive, no face‑slapping, no dramatic confrontations with the female lead. Yet that was only an illusion.
Shen Qi was a world‑hopper, a woman who controlled the story from behind the scenes.
Did you think her presence in the garden that night, when she first encountered the male lead and female lead, was a coincidence?
Of course not.
Every detail had been orchestrated by her, the timing, the tripping incident, even the setting itself.
Guided by the system, she knew exactly when and where the FL and ML would appear. Her scheme for the female lead's downfall had already begun long before their first meeting.
Mu Xuan's sudden involvement was the only variable she hadn't anticipated. Yet even with his unexpected appearance, everything still unfolded exactly as she intended: the female lead's anger, her humiliation, her loss of control.
Shen Qi knew just how prideful and arrogant the so‑called female lead was. To be humiliated so openly would surely send her mind spiraling, stripping away her rationality.
That was why, when Shen Qi left the castle, she deliberately arranged to encounter the FL on the streets, provoking her, needling her, pushing her pride until she made more mistakes.
That single encounter was enough to tarnish the FL's reputation in the eyes of the public. Shen Qi's plan was beginning to bear fruit.
When the FL's scheme finally moved into action, expecting Shen Qi to be caught in disgrace, the tables turned. Instead, it was Feng An who was discovered, entangled with an unknown man on the bed, the two locked in a shameless embrace.
The male lead, General Li, was livid. His fury was unmatched as he struck down the man who dared defile his fiancée, cutting him down without hesitation.
Then, with eyes full of cold disappointment, he turned to Feng An.
"Our engagement is annulled," he declared, his voice like steel.
Without another glance, he left her there, humiliated, broken, and weeping as the crowd pointed and whispered.
Feng An screamed herself hoarse, begging him to return, but General Li never looked back. Not even once.
Shattered and humiliated, her eyes burned with hatred as they fell on Shen Qi, who stood watching with quiet amusement.
Feng An knew, with chilling certainty, that all of this was Shen Qi's doing.
Her sanity snapped.
In a frenzy, she lunged at Shen Qi.
But before she could even touch her, Mu Xuan's boot struck her down. She crumpled to the floor, his gaze filled with nothing but disgust
And so, that was how the so‑called female lead fell. After the events of that night, Feng An vanished without a trace.
No one searched for her, no one asked after her—not even her own family.
General Li, who once swore to protect her, had already turned his heart toward another, finding new love without a backward glance.
The world moved on as though she had never existed.
The whispers of her disgrace faded into silence, and her name was erased from the story that once revolved around her.
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Shen Qi and Mu Xuan lived a long, blissful life together.
They stayed far from court intrigues, choosing instead to wander the world hand in hand. Only when their bodies grew frail with age did they finally settle in the quiet countryside, where they enjoyed the peace of simple days, side by side.
"Mu Xuan, you jerk... I told you we would die together. Why are you leaving first without me?"
Shen Qi's hair had long since turned white, and her frail hands beat softly against his chest—careful, as though even in her grief she feared causing him pain.
"Cici... forgive me for going first."
Mu Xuan's trembling hand rose to brush away her tears, just as he had done countless times before.
His voice was weak, but filled with love.
"In this lifetime, I was blessed... blessed to meet you, to love you. Thank you for loving me. I love you, my Shen'er."
"I love you too, Mu Xuan." Shen Qi's tears fell like rain, her heart breaking as sorrow wrapped around her.
"Cici... I will wait for you in the next life..." Mu Xuan whispered.
Slowly, his eyes lost its shine and closed, his hand went limp, and with that, he was gone.
A heartbreaking sob tore from Shen Qi's lips, a sound that carried both her fear and her sorrow—an anguished cry that echoed in the silence, louder than any shout.
"Mu Xuan... just wait for me. I'll come to you soon."
Shen Qi lay down beside him, wrapping her arms around him one last time. She pressed a final kiss to his lips, closed her eyes, and with a peaceful sigh, she breathed her last.
Together, they departed this world—just as they had lived it—side by side.
When their brothers and nephews arrived, it was already too late. As they pushed open the door to Mu Xuan and Shen Qi's room, the sight before them stole the breath from their lungs. Gasps filled the air, their eyes reddened, and tears spilled freely down their faces.
When news of the beloved prince and princess's passing spread throughout the kingdom, grief swept across the land. The people mourned them for three years and more, a testament to their endless gratitude.
For if not for the couple, the kingdom would have long since fallen to ruin, invaded, and broken. If not for them, the nation would never have risen to such heights, nor would countless citizens have been saved and uplifted.
The Royal Family knew well the depth of their love.
Not once in his lifetime did Mu Xuan ever think of taking another consort, nor did his eyes wander to any woman besides his princess.
Even in old age, his gaze never faltered. He looked at Shen Qi with the same devotion as the very first day he saw her. To him, she was always the most beautiful woman in the world, and nothing could ever change that.
The two were laid to rest side by side, never to be parted—just as they had promised.
Their love story became a Legend among Legends, passed down through generations as the tale of true, unwavering devotion.
And so, when lovers wished to bind themselves together forever, they would stand beneath the tree Shen Qi herself had planted before their home.
There, they would declare their vows aloud, from the depths of their hearts, invoking the eternal love of Shen Qi and Mu Xuan as witnesses to their promise.
[ ARC 1 Princess Marry the God of War, Please! ]
END
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[Ohoho... glad that you're back, Host!] Clear's System greeted her with such enthusiasm that it immediately made Clear narrow her eyes in suspicion.
Still, she only shrugged.
"Alright, where are my rewards?"
Clear looked impatient, watching as the System bounced around like an overexcited child, more like a debtor.
[Then, let's calculate Host's rewards now!] the System chimed, its voice brimming with energy.]
A glowing panel appeared before Clear, numbers and symbols flickering rapidly across it as though the System was tallying up every action she had taken. The air seemed to hum with anticipation, and even Clear, who usually prided herself on her calm, felt her heartbeat quicken.
"What's taking so long?" she muttered, tapping her foot.
[Patience, Host, patience... great rewards take time to count!] The system teased, its tone almost smug.
Clear folded her arms, lips twitching.
"This better be worth it."
[Mission World 1
Main Mission
Do not let Qi Mu Xuan die
Mission Rewards: 5000 SP
Status: Complete
Side Mission
Avenge Shen Qi's wrongful death
Mission Rewards: 1000 SP
Status: Complete
Side Mission
Do not let Feng An and Li Fengxian usurp the throne
Mission Rewards: 1000 SP
Status: Complete ]
[Host has completed all missions, earning 7,000 SP. Congratulations, Host!]
"Not bad for my first mission." Clear smiled with satisfaction.
[Then, what would Host like to do next?]
"Let me see the System store."
A glowing panel unfolded before her eyes, rows upon rows of items shimmering with enticing descriptions.
But as Clear scanned the list, her smile faltered. The prices were astronomical; her meager 7,000 SP couldn't even buy some of the so‑called "cheap" life‑saving items.
[Is Host done choosing?] the System asked, bouncing with anticipation.
Clear let out a long sigh, her heart aching as though she were parting with her very soul. "Sigh... give me the Mask of a Hundred Faces."
[Purchase confirmed! Deducting 7,000 SP!]
The panel flashed, and a sleek, mysterious mask materialized in her hands. Its surface shimmered faintly, as though countless identities were hidden within its depths.
Clear held it up, her lips twitching.
"This better be worth every single point..."
[Ohoho, Host will not regret it!]
The System chuckled mischievously.
[Thank you for your purchase, Host! 5,000 SP points have already been deducted by the System. Please continue to patronize our items in the future!]
Shen Qi held the Mask of a Hundred Faces in her hands before placing it over her own. The skin‑like mask seamlessly merged with her face, concealing her true emotions. With it on, no one could tell what she was truly thinking—they could only see what she wished them to see.
[Now, please choose the next skill you would like to acquire!]
[FREE SKILLS FOR A USELESS HOST:
1. Cooking
2. Acting
3. Singing
4. Dancing
5. The Four Arts
6. Art of Seduction
.
.
.
10. Computer Skills ]
"I choose the Four Arts."
[Then, have a safe trip! Ta‑ta!]
~ 50 years later ~
[Host, finally you're back!] The black orb of light bounced up and down excitedly when it saw its Host.
"I'm back."
[Then, is the Host ready for the next world?]
"I'm ready."
[Then... before Host goes, can System ask Host something?] The System's tone suddenly turned serious.
"What is it?"
Clear narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Ever since she arrived, her System had been acting strangely.
It hadn't been replaced, had it?
[Ehem... Can this System borrow money?] the orb asked shamelessly. [You see, this System lost some SP points to... well, some of my System friends. I need money urgently. Just 1,000 SP will do.]
Clear's lips twitched.
"...You're supposed to be my golden finger, not a gambling addict."
[Host, please! It's just a small loan! I'll even pay you back... with interest!] the System pleaded shamelessly, bouncing pitifully.
Clear's mouth twitched. So that was why her System had looked so joyful when it greeted her—it only wanted to borrow money from her all along!
"No." Clear immediately rejected it.
[What?! Come on, it's just a few points! Don't be stingy! I'll return it when I earn some back, alright? Please?]
"I said no. I won't just hand over the SP I worked so hard to earn... unless—" Clear's lips curved into a smirk. "Do you really need SP urgently right now?"
[Yes.] For some reason, the System felt a chill run down its invisible spine at the sight of her smirk.
"I can lend it to you. I can even lend you 2,000 SP. But what will you give me in return for this favor?"
[Hmph! You evil woman, robbing an already sinking boat! Fine! Here, take this. It's useless to me anyway!]
The System conjured a thin red string out of thin air and handed it to Clear.
"What is this... a thread?" Clear asked, narrowing her eyes at the crimson strand in her palm.
The string pulsed faintly, as though it carried a hidden power.
[You uneducated woman, can't you see that this is the Red String of Fate! If you tie one end to your finger and the other to your lover's, you'll never need to blindly search for him again. The string will guide you straight to him. But remember, you must first tie him with this string before it can work. Once bound, the Red String of Fate will follow you through all your lifetimes. Beware, though: once tied, it cannot be undone. From that moment on, your souls will be connected. Even if you tie it to your pinky, it is not your finger that binds, but your very soul. Use this string at your own risk, for it will be too late to regret once you realize you do not wish to be tied to him. Enough of that, now I'll be taking the 2,000 SP as promised. Have fun in your next world!]
Clear was once again hurled into the next world by her scummy System without so much as a warning. Yet this time, her heart was light and her steps carried a quiet excitement.
After all, she had all but confirmed from her System's own words that her husband would be with her, not just in this life, but in every lifetime yet to come.