The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 1: Conspiracy

Chapter 1:  Conspiracy

“Neither father nor brothers can be relied upon.”

In the thirtieth year of Pingkang reign, summer birds restlessly flapped their wings, rustling as they leaped from branches.

Xu Ying had consumed neither water nor food for two consecutive days. Listlessly curled up in bed, she buried her head beneath the sweltering brocade quilt, attempting to conserve energy through sleep. However, her pleasant dreams were interrupted by something calling itself the “Nation-Dooming System.”

“You’re saying that as long as I kill the designated next emperor Xu Long, then get killed by someone else to trigger chaos, you can send me back to the modern era?” Xu Ying excitedly sat up.

Having transmigrated here seventeen years ago, Xu Ying had long abandoned any hope of returning. Suddenly hearing that familiar cold, emotionless electronic voice from the depths of her memory, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Correct. After hundreds of millions of simulations, it has been verified that Xu Long’s governance enabled the Jin Dynasty to survive and centralized power to its peak. However, this also caused it to miss the global exchange, leaving enormous hidden dangers for China’s future. According to calculations, once Xu Long dies, the Jin Dynasty won’t last thirty years. Killing Xu Long and then being killed is the optimal solution for triggering chaos as precisely calculated by big data. Please rest assured, host.”

Xu Ying worried: “But what if both Xu Long and I die, yet chaos doesn’t ensue? Would that still count as mission completion?”

“According to supplementary clauses, if the host fulfills the first two conditions but fails to achieve the ideal effect of chaos, the host will be reset with data uploaded for optimization of the nation-dooming plan.”

Hearing this, Xu Ying felt largely relieved. If the judgment standard was the dynasty’s collapse, she could basically take it easy.

Before transmigrating, she was just an ordinary corporate drone. After transmigrating, under her sister’s protection, she grew up without any turbulence.

If not for three consecutive years of drought, if she weren’t exactly the right age and unmarried – making her the perfect sacrificial offering to pray for rain – she would have certainly lived out her life uneventfully. Asking her to become someone who stirs up storms was simply impossible.

The system proposed two conditions: kill Xu Long, then get killed.

The latter was easy to accomplish – after killing Xu Long, she just needed not to resist when his subordinates sought revenge. The key was how to kill Xu Long.

Currently under house arrest without water or food, surviving another day was questionable, let alone making it to the sacrifice four days later.

As Xu Ying was troubled over a way out and considered asking the system for help, she noticed a column on the system panel labeled “Hatred Value,” though it only showed a lonely number nine. Puzzled, she asked: “What is this?”

“This indicates others’ hatred toward you. Hatred value can be used to purchase needed materials from the database.”

“Database?” Curious, Xu Ying commanded: “Open database,” hoping to find solutions to her current crisis.

“Opening database for you…” The system interface switched, but after waiting, it remained stuck on a blank page. After a long while, the electronic voice leisurely sounded: “Loading failed. Please check network settings and reload.”

Xu Ying’s eyes nearly popped out. Suspecting she misheard, she nearly gritted her teeth: “What did you say? Network settings?”

“Host, please remain calm. Monitoring indicates heavy rain in four days. The system can connect to the space-time network interface through lightning. Host need not worry.”

Suddenly encountering the modern term “internet,” Xu Ying was utterly astonished. What unsettled her even more was the heavy rain forecast in four dayscoinciding precisely with the sacrificial ceremony.

As Xu Ying contemplated how to kill Xu Long, the ground suddenly grew heavy with faint footsteps. The sound, initially indistinct, gradually clarified as if approaching her.

Alert, Xu Ying propped herself up, pressed a hand against her hollow stomach, slipped off the bed, and shuffled in her peach-blossom embroidered slippers to a corner.

Before long, the wooden door that hadn’t been opened in two days creaked ajar, revealing a slender woman. Her eyes were clear as ink on paper, her entire demeanor resembling a willow branch greening in springethereal and unmoored, delicate and pitiable.

“Fourth Sister?” Xu Ying widened her eyes, emerging from the shadowy corner while leaning against the wall. She stumbled toward her fourth sister, Xu Lang.

They shared the same mother, but their mother had died young. Survival in the deep palace was arduousthey suffered from lack of clothing and food, without even a palace maid to attend them closely. Throughout it all, Xu Lang had been her protector.

Years ago, Xu Lang was enfeoffed as the Princess of Huaiyang, married, and left the palace. Their meetings became troublesome and far less frequent.

Meeting so abruptly under these circumstances, Xu Ying urgently grasped Xu Lang’s hands. “Fourth Sister, how did you get in?”

“I heard the Crown Prince proposed using you for the sacrifice. I urgently submitted a request to see Father Emperor, but there was no response. Growing desperate, I pulled strings to finally get in. I’m sorry I came so late, Ying’er. You must be starving.” Xu Lang lowered her head and produced a watery blue silk handkerchief from her sleeve.

The handkerchief’s corners were tied tightly together in a knot, bulging with contents.

With slender, onion-root-like fingers, Xu Lang carefully pulled the silk open. Soon the cloth unfolded, revealing layered stacks of snow-white square cakes.

Brushing off crumbs, she picked up a piece and offered it to Xu Ying. “I know you dislike sweetness, so I specifically told the kitchen to reduce the sugar. It’s not cloyingtry it quickly.”

Starved to the point of dizziness, Xu Ying was in no position to be picky. Even if she disliked it, she could have gulped down spoiled food without hesitation.

Xu Ying shoved two pieces into her mouth at once. The texture was fine but slightly dry, some bits sticking to her palate. She paid no mind, cramming more cakes into her mouth and forcing them down her throat.

With each swallow, her listless stomach abruptly awakened, screaming and twisting like mad. A faint ache expanded in her abdomen, craving more nourishment.

Xu Lang’s eyes brimmed with tenderness. She raised a hand to smooth Xu Ying’s disheveled hair, subtly turning to cast a wary glance at the eunuch guarding the doorway, alert to any outside attention.

After wolfing down all the cakes, Xu Ying remembered urgent matters. She gently tugged the moon-white palace tassel at Xu Lang’s waist.

Meeting her sister’s puzzled gaze, Xu Ying leaned close to Xu Lang’s thin shoulder and whispered in her ear, “Sister, during these days under house arrest, I’ve seen clearly that neither father nor brothers are reliable. In this critical situation, we can only rely on ourselves to survive.”

Xu Lang’s dark pupils shifted, astonishment flashing across her face. But it didn’t last long. Replacing the surprise, her delicate brows furrowed as she flicked a meaningful glance toward the door. Her voice dropped to a grave whisper: “But there are heavy guards both inside and outside the palace. Escape is impossible.”

“No, I’m not running away,” Xu Ying stated.

Xu Lang’s brows furrowed more deeply, the confusion in his eyes intensifying as he stared unblinkingly at Xu Ying, clearly waiting to hear what she would say next.

Xu Ying seized Xu Lang’s wrist, unfolded his fingers, and traced the outline of the character “rebel” in his palm.

When the final stroke was completed, Xu Lang’s expression shifted slightly. He abruptly clenched his palm and turned his back.

Observing his glossy black hair, Xu Ying took a deep breath, her heart in turmoil. It would be extremely difficult to kill Xu Long aloneshe desperately needed Xu Lang’s assistance.

Xu Lang remained silent for a long while. Xu Ying understood that for an ancient woman raised with strict ethical codes of heaven-earth and ruler-subject relationships, this was too shocking to comprehend immediately. But time was limitedshe had to secure this external aid.

Xu Ying quickly gathered a basket of righteous justifications to persuade him.

Yet before she could speak, Xu Lang had already turned back, interlocking his fingers tightly with hers. Xu Ying heard his gentle but resolute voice: “Before her passing, Mother Consort instructed me to protect you. Since they dare to target you, they leave me no choice but to abandon righteousness!”

“A-Ying, whatever decision you make, your elder brother will support you.” Xu Lang reached out to gently stroke Xu Ying’s head, his gaze determined.

Xu Ying was momentarily stunned, not expecting to gain her brother’s support so easily. An inexplicable emotion swelled in her chest. The system seemed to detect her emotional fluctuation and proactively announced: “After mission completion, historical alterations will cause temporal disturbances. The system can exploit this loophole to transport Princess Huaiyang to a safe location.”

Xu Ying thanked the system, then immediately seized the moment to discuss specific strategies with Xu Lang.

The system had detailed Xu Long’s path to the throne: On the sacrifice day, Prince Qi would poison Fifth Prince Xu Long and Seventh Prince’s breakfast in advance, while setting ambushes to assassinate the Emperor and Crown Prince.

Unknown to Prince Qi, one of his subordinates who had received favors from Xu Long secretly warned him. Xu Long turned the scheme to his advantageafter Prince Qi shot the Emperor and Crown Prince, Xu Long played the “mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind” strategy. Disguised among the sacrificial procession, he delivered a surprise arrow to Prince Qi, ascending the throne as the sole remaining prince.

In a way, Xu Ying and Prince Qi shared a common objective. She merely needed to go with the flow and provide covert assistance.

Xu Ying whispered a few words into Xu Lang’s ear. Though baffled, seeing Xu Ying’s confident demeanor, he responded: “Very well, I will certainly accomplish this.”

Xu Lang enjoyed good connections within the palace, with various departments owing him favors to varying degrees, making tasks convenient and efficient. With his assistance, Xu Ying’s prior anxiety instantly vanished.

Time flowed like water, and soon it was the sacrifice day. When Prince Qi sent someone to poison Xu Long’s red bean porridge, Xu Lang bribed personnel to add poison to other dishes as well. Still unsatisfied and fearing Xu Long might avoid the morning meal, he prepared additional poisoned pastries and found an excuse to return to the palace to meet Xu Long.

The sacrificial ceremony was scheduled at Qingxuan Mountain, several li from the imperial city. Xu Ying followed the procedures step by step, having been awakened before dawn to join the procession accompanying the Emperor and Crown Prince.

This sacrificial journey included all notable court officials, creating a grand spectacle. The entourage arrived at Qingxuan Mountain early while morning mist still lingered. Piercing through the haze, they could vaguely discern the bluish-purple hue of the sky. Everyone quickened their pace into the mountains.

After walking for a while, the mist thinned, revealing the mountain ridge’s true form. Yet beneath this seemingly tranquil and peaceful mountain forest, hidden dangers had long been lurking.

To prevent Xu Ying from escaping, the emperor specially assigned agile imperial guards to accompany her, along with eunuchs carrying white silk and poisoned wine who followed closely at every step.

As Xu Ying passed before the emperor, he remained silent, his expression cold and stern. There had never been much father-daughter affection between them, and now there was even less to say. A cold glint flickered in Xu Ying’s eyes as she lowered her head and walked toward the high platform.

An official stood on the white jade steps and began reciting the prepared sacrificial texta long, drawn-out passage that was difficult to understand. The only discernible quality was its harmonious rhythm and steady cadence.

The ceremony began. Success or failure hinged on this moment.

Xu Ying clenched her sleeves, her palms slick with sweat, her ears filled with the frantic thumping of her own heartbeat.

Suddenly, two arrows sliced through the air, thudding into the chests of the emperor and the crown prince. The incident happened too quickly; caught off guard, the emperor and crown prince collapsed to the ground before they could even react.

“Protect His Majesty! Protect His Majesty!” a eunuch shrieked, his shrill voice echoing through the mountains, turning the solemn atmosphere into one of horror and dread.

With the emperor and crown prince dead, the ambushers revealed themselves. The crowd’s faces paled as they realized they were completely surrounded. The eunuch closest to the emperor on the altar was the first to panic, scrambling frantically into a corner.

It was the Prince of Qi!

Xu Ying’s eyes lit up, but before her joy could fully formbefore the corners of her mouth could even curl into a smilethe appearance of Xu Long instantly froze the expression on her face.

Author’s Note:

Starting this story! Usually updating at 6 PM or 9 PM.

Heads-up: This is a chaotic mix of dynasties. The female protagonist only uses the royal “We” (I) on very formal occasions and in written documents; otherwise, she uses “I” (I).

【Important】The female protagonist is selfish. Readers with strong moral sensibilities, proceed with caution! This is an irrational wish-fulfillment romp where she bulldozes everyoneconsider yourself warned!!!

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