TFSRITA Chapter 3

“Mm.” Yan Qing mimicked the emperor’s reserved expression, nodded, and waved her hand.

Jiang Wende left quickly, and Ziyun finally revealed a slightly joyful smile. “Miss, shall we apply the medicine now?”

Yan Qing nodded, took a few more bites of the food, and then went to freshen up. Afterward, she returned to her room and lay on the bed, letting Ziyun apply the medicine.

The cool ointment was spread onto her body, soothing the previously bruised and slightly warm areas. The cooling sensation brought much comfort, and even the pain gradually disappeared.

It seems that this ointment is quite powerful, isn’t it?

She closed her eyes, recalling the details of this mission.

Yan Qing was unexpectedly chosen by the Quick-Transmigration System. Perhaps it was because she found her life too boring—her family was well-off, her brother was good to her, her sister-in-law was nice, her parents were kind, and even her little nephew was adorable. Besides her reluctance to go out, Yan Qing didn’t have any worries.

But it was all too boring.

Then she was chosen by the system and signed up to become a member of the Quick-Transmigration team. This is her first quick transmigration mission.

The mission target was also named Yan Qing, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Yan of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The original owner’s mother was the Prime Minister’s first wife, but she died early and didn’t get to enjoy much of life.

She had been living in a small village with the original owner. It wasn’t until the Prime Minister started his official duties in the capital that they moved to the city. However, because of the stark difference between her and the aristocratic ladies of the time, and because Prime Minister Yan was a handsome young man with notable talents, she was constantly mocked and soon became depressed and withdrawn, passing away within two years.

As a result, the original owner developed a delicate and weak personality. However, she was very beautiful, and after moving to the capital, she became acquainted with Song Yu, the eldest son of the Song family, who was an outsider prince. The two of them grew up together as childhood sweethearts.

But unfortunately, they did not end up together. The previous emperor harbored a grudge against the outsider prince. The founding emperor had bestowed the title upon the Song family in gratitude for their help, and since then, the Song family has remained powerful, holding military authority and significant influence in the court. The sons and grandsons they raised were all exceptionally talented, becoming the objects of admiration for many young noblewomen.

However, the previous emperor only had two children. The eldest was born to a noble concubine, and he was the emperor’s hope as the crown prince. The second was born to a palace maid and was overlooked by the emperor until the crown prince’s potential proved disappointing, and the emperor’s health began to decline. Only then did he also start educating the second son, often remarking, “Look at Song Yu—he’s so much more capable than you two!”

As the emperor’s days became numbered, he became even more stringent in the education of his sons, continuously praising Song Yu in a way that fostered resentment.

In truth, the emperor hoped that after his death, his son would carry out his wish to eliminate the outsider prince’s family, the Song clan, who posed a threat to the throne.

His plan worked, but it succeeded with the second son. When the emperor fell gravely ill, he ultimately passed the throne to his eldest son, intending for the second son to assist him. However, the second son, Ji Yichen, sealed off the palace upon the emperor’s death, altered the imperial edict, killed the eldest son, and ascended the throne.

The court officials understood what had happened. Initially, many opposed him, but Ji Yichen, who had been bullied in his youth and later became a prince with a twisted mind due to the emperor’s harsh upbringing, paid no heed and executed his opposition.

It was estimated that in the three months following Ji Yichen’s ascension, hundreds of people died. Yet he had already taken control of the Imperial Guard, and aside from the Song family, no one in the capital dared to oppose him. The Song family, however, was cautious and never sought the spotlight, so they allowed Ji Yichen to do as he pleased.

Now, Ji Yichen had been emperor for over a year. Although he showed some tyrannical tendencies, he didn’t make any significant missteps, and life had been relatively stable. Consequently, some court officials began to consider the emperor’s marital affairs.

With this reminder, Ji Yichen promptly decreed that Yan Qing, the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter, be brought into the palace.

He did this to make Song Yu, whom he despised, suffer. Originally, he planned to give her a low-ranking concubine title, but because the Prime Minister was highly respected and powerful, all the officials knelt and requested a higher rank for her. He couldn’t just execute everyone, so in a fit of anger, Ji Yichen made her a noble consort.

The position was too high, as no family would dare send their daughter into the palace with such a title, except as the empress. But when they tried to protest, Ji Yichen silenced them immediately. They had no choice but to accept it, though they were now more eager to persuade the emperor to hold a selection process for more consorts. If their daughters could attain such a rank, even if it wasn’t as a noble consort, a lesser consort title would suffice.

Meanwhile, the original owner tearfully entered the palace. The Prime Minister couldn’t resist due to the urgency of the situation and had to agree, even though he couldn’t prepare much of a dowry. His daughter was only sixteen! He had planned to marry her off at seventeen!

But it was too late to regret it now.

The original owner was in love with Song Yu, who came from a military family and was exceptionally skilled. Despite his military background, he often wore white, had a handsome appearance, and at the age of fourteen, secretly took the imperial exams, winning first place in all three rounds and astonishing the entire capital. However, because he was too young, he voluntarily stayed in the Hanlin Academy for three years before being appointed as a magistrate.

This story appeared to be about a devoted couple torn apart by a tyrant.

But this was a world from a novel.

……

The female protagonist was Yan Jing, Yan Qing’s younger half-sister. Originally, she was an invisible figure in the family. When she was thirteen, due to the conflicts between concubines, she fell ill and was sent to a rural estate to recover.

The female protagonist was a transmigrator. After arriving, she was dissatisfied with Prime Minister Yan and looked down on Yan Qing, believing that Yan Qing had bullied the original owner. She was determined to seek revenge for the original owner.

Coincidentally, Yan Qing entered the palace, leaving fewer children in the Yan family. This prompted their father to remember her and summon her back. On her way back, she rescued Song Yu, who had been ambushed while returning to the capital with evidence of a corrupt official.

Yan Jing fell in love with Song Yu at first sight. Song Yu also had a good impression of her, but at that time, his heart still belonged to Yan Qing, who had already entered the palace—she was his first love.

Yan Jing soon learned of this through various channels. Initially, she wanted to give up, but when she heard that the noble consort was so favored by the emperor that she was too weak to leave her chambers for three days, she became furious. She thought Song Yu’s love had been wasted on Yan Qing, who she saw as a two-faced person, stringing along both men. She became determined to expose Yan Qing’s true nature.