The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 6: Covetousness

Chapter 6: Covetousness

“You’re practically inviting me to covet your position.”

Xu Ying fumed, swiping away the system’s control panel.

Detecting her emotional fluctuation, the system broke precedent by saying: “Hostility points can be converted to currency at a 100:1 ratio, using individual copper coins as the base unit.”

Xu Ying nearly laughed in frustration. “What can a single coin accomplish? How can any system be this stingy!”

The system replied: “This system’s version is Doomed Country System 3.23, equipped with a universal converter. Large-scale currency conversion could cause abnormal increases in circulating currency and inflation in this world. To maintain ecological balance, the current conversion ratio is the optimal setting after debugging.”

“With such a low conversion rate, even dogs wouldn’t bother.”

Eventually, Xu Ying fell silent staring at the ten copper coins in her account.

The system said she could spend money to draw mystery boxes.

One coin per draw.

Suddenly, a new world opened before her.

Excitedly, Xu Ying clicked to draw ten times, skipping the animations while anticipating good rewards.

With jingling coins and flashes of golden light, the system demonstrated through concrete results that cheap goods bring no quality. A long list of item fragments stung her eyes: Marching Essentials Pack Fragment4, Large Orange3, Large Apple2, Cotton Coat1.

“If I die someday, it’ll be from your exasperation,” Xu Ying gritted her teeth, chest tight with anger.

Despite her words, her hands kept moving. Thanks to the hostility points contributed by Liu Xu, she drew once more and got more fragments – just enough to complete both the Marching Essentials Pack and the cotton coat.

“Please designate a delivery location. The system will dispatch your items shortly. Note: Due to large item sizes, please ensure adequate space at the receiving location.”

Seeing how stingy the system appeared, Xu Ying muttered about how big things could possibly be. Checking the inventory, she found the marching pack contained dry rations, bottled water, medicine, and various weapons – each category marked with astonishing quantities reaching tens of thousands.

“Did you draw these, or are you fencing stolen goods?”

Such abundance completely contradicted the system’s usual character.

After a brief silence, as if rendered speechless, the system finally responded: “All items were procured in this world by Spacetime Bureau staff through completely legitimate means. Transaction records can be verified on the Spacetime Bureau’s official website or public account.”

“Fully documented procedures – you’re quite sophisticated,” Xu Ying murmured sarcastically. Swiping through the inventory, she added: “I have no use for these things. Deliver them to Xia Chenglie.”

The system calculated Xia Chenglie’s marching speed and located a suitable spot for Xu Ying. She dispatched a messenger to inform Xia Chenglie that arranged supplies had arrived early, so he needn’t worry about food shortages and could focus fully on teaching the Northern Barbarians a lesson.

As bitter winds swept the north, a horse carrying imperial orders galloped into Xia Chenglie’s command tent, interrupting his strategy discussion with other generals about combating the Northern Barbarians.

Upon receiving the message, Xia Chenglie ordered Old Hou to retrieve supply provisions from a cave several miles away.

With battlefields changing rapidly and speed being essential in warfare, Old Hou visibly disliked being reassigned as a supply officer but reluctantly accepted the mission.

When departing, Old Hou’s entire demeanor screamed refusal. Yet surprisingly soon, he burst red-faced back into Xia Chenglie’s tent, waving his arms excitedly while repeating: “The Emperor is wise! The Emperor is wise!”

“Old Hou, how did you return so quickly?”

Old Hou was so overwhelmed with emotion that all the words he wanted to say rushed forth at once, as if he wished to speak them all simultaneously. His sentences tumbled out in fragments, broken and disjointed: “So many… so many…”

Before his eyes, that astonishing scene reappeared.

A cave filled to the brim with provisions and fodder! He reached out and touched the neatly bundled cotton-padded jackets, his hand trembling uncontrollably.

The jackets were incredibly soft; even the gentlest touch left an impression, and he could feel the warmth trapped within. The sensation lingered on his fingertips, the residual heat in his palm burning straight into his heart.

“What’s wrong?” Xia Chenglie handed Old Hou a water flask. “Speak slowly. What is there so many of?”

“So many, so many… provisions and fodder, so many! Such a huge cave, completely full! Enough to last us through next year!” Old Hou didn’t even drink the water, his lips quivering as he spread his arms wide, excitedly sharing the good news with Xia Chenglie.

Xia Chenglie had originally planned to follow the order for a swift resolution, intending to withdraw his troops after two months of fighting. Hearing Old Hou’s words, he was momentarily startled, but upon reflection, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of shame. “Her Majesty has only just ascended the throne, her foundation is still unstable. I fear those provisions represent everything she has, and she’s given them all to us.”

“With such profound trust placed in us, we must give our all slay the enemy and repay our sovereign, ensuring the Northern Barbarians dare not invade our borders or harass our people again!” Xia Chenglie lifted his head, his gaze firm as he looked toward the direction of the Northern Barbarians’ royal tent.

“Indeed, Her Majesty truly has courage and resolve,” the other generals echoed in admiration.

The Northern Barbarians’ harassment of the people had been a chronic affliction for years. No previous emperor had shown such decisiveness, nor had they refrained from interference while granting absolute trust, emptying their own reserves to offer full support. Compared to the late emperor, she was far, far better.

Even generals who had previously doubted the notion of a “Heaven-ordained daughter” were gradually beginning to believe. The thought that they might very well participate in the founding of a prosperous era under her leadership set their blood boiling with fervor.

“Those old dogs in Chang’an are surely plotting to force Her Majesty to abdicate. We must not lose this battle we must make them open their dog eyes wide and see just how correct Her Majesty’s decisions are!”

Everyone’s passion ignited. Some busied themselves transporting provisions, others took the opportunity to rest and recuperate.

Xia Chenglie secretly dispatched three thousand elite troops while the remainder set up camp on the spot, maintaining normal operations to create the illusion that he was still there.

Youzhou lived up to its reputation as a place of exile. A bitter cold wave swept in with relentless force, the temperature dropping continuously, cold enough to freeze a person to death. No one could step outside without clutching a hand warmer.

Xu Lang dug out thick clothing for her to wear not only were the inner sleeves tight and narrow, but the outer wide sleeves were also shortened significantly. That wasn’t enough; she also had to wear a furry scarf, and her shoes and socks were replaced with warmer materials.

“We still don’t have enough hands. We brought too few palace maids when they go to do the laundry, there’s no one left in the room,” Xu Lang complained to Xu Ying as she stirred the charcoal in the brazier.

Xu Ying smiled and wrapped her arms around Xu Lang’s soft waist. “It’s all right. When we were young, we had no one to attend to us either we did everything ourselves. It’s much better now than it was back then.”

“You’re the emperor now. There’s a distinction between ruler and subject we can’t continue like this,” Xu Lang said, untangling Xu Ying’s hands and freeing herself from her embrace.

“We are ruler and subject, but we are also sisters,” Xu Ying retorted dismissively. She sat down beside Xu Ying, took her hand, and held it tightly. With a solemn and earnest gaze, Xu Ying said seriously, “Out there, we are clearly defined as sovereign and subject. But within these walls, you are the sister who has always cared for me and protected me, and I will always be the little sister who wishes you a lifetime of peace, joy, and success in all things.”

Xu Lang’s pupils trembled slightly, so startled that she tried to turn away to avoid Xu Ying’s gaze, but her wrist was held firmly in Xu Ying’s grasp. She had only shifted a small degree before being pulled back to her original position.

Xu Ying said, “Just because I’ve become emperor, must we sever our sisterly bond?”

Xu Lang subconsciously felt they should maintain the distinction between superior and subordinate, yet Xu Ying’s words weren’t without reason. These two conflicting perspectives suddenly collided within her, leaving her speechless. After a long pause, she stammered, “You… you’ll easily make me develop ambitions…”

Xu Ying wasn’t afraid of her developing ambitions she was afraid she wouldn’t.

If things really reached that point, it would be quite good. Her wish to return home would be fulfilled, and she wouldn’t have to worry about Xu Lang’s future either a happy outcome for all.

A sudden idea occurred to Xu Ying.

Although this would damage their sisterly relationship and cause temporary pain, compared to both having better outcomes, she would rather push Xu Lang to the opposite side.

“If I die, this position should go to you, sister. You’re family and understand me best. Rather than letting the throne fall into outsiders’ hands who might reform everything, it’s better to entrust it to you.” Suppressing her guilt, Xu Ying curved her eyes into a smile as she spoke to Xu Lang.

“Don’t say such unlucky words! You won’t die, even if…” Xu Lang couldn’t bring herself to say the word, finding it inauspicious, and awkwardly substituted: “Even if you ascend to the heavens, you have your daughter. I’m just born to work hard after taking care of you, I’ll have to take care of your daughter too.”

Noticing that Xu Lang had dropped formalities and was deliberately teasing her, Xu Ying played along: “Sorry about that, but who made you my sister?”

Xu Lang lowered her head, pursing her lips in a smile.

“By the way, Your Majesty, after you issued the decree prohibiting soldiers from visiting prostitutes, General Xia sent all the camp prostitutes from the military camp to the provincial governor. The governor didn’t know how to arrange for them, so he submitted the registry, asking how Your Majesty wishes to dispose of these prostitutes.” Xu Lang suddenly remembered official business and rose to fetch several thick memorials from the desk, handing them to Xu Ying. Having been born and raised deep within the palace, she had never even interacted with singing girls or dancers, and now she was quite curious about these prostitutes. She asked, “Should they be sent to nearby brothels?”

She had heard that many commoners kept private prostitutes in brothels, making brothels synonymous with prostitution quarters.

Xu Ying was surprised by Xia Chenglie’s speed. She leaned forward to take the memorials, opened one, and focused her gaze.

Dense lines of small characters leaped before her eyes names, places of origin, registration dates, sources: whether purchased by generals or confiscated due to crimes all information was clearly recorded.

After skimming through generally, Xu Ying noted that most of these camp prostitutes were female relatives of convicted officials. The governor had thoughtfully listed separately those camp prostitutes purchased by He Chongguang, placing them at the top. A small annotation beside them noted that a prostitute named Jia Zhenzhen was particularly favored by He Chongguang, who had built her a separate small residence where ordinary people couldn’t even see her.

“Jia Zhenzhen…”

The name sounded somewhat strange when read aloud.

Hearing this, Xu Lang speculated, “Probably not her original name. She likely changed it after becoming a prostitute. Many women from respectable families abandon their original names to avoid bringing shame upon their families.”

“Fourth Sister, how do you know so much about this?” Xu Ying cast a probing look at Xu Lang.

Xu Lang blushed with embarrassment. “Two years ago, I attended Old Madame Ding’an’s birthday banquet.” Her family had a scandal the young master of the household insisted on marrying a brothel prostitute. Everyone was discussing the matter, so I overheard some things.”

This was clearly more than just “overhearing some things” it required both ears to achieve this level of knowledge.

Xu Ying shook her head, closed the memorial, and set it aside, unable to hold back her disdain as she remarked, “I recall He Chongguang is in his sixties or seventies old enough to be Jia Zhenzhen’s grandfather. How could he have the nerve to make a move on her?”

“Since we’re short on staff here, let’s ask these camp prostitutes if they’re willing to come work as cleaning maids in my service.”

Xu Ying anticipated that sending them to a brothel wouldn’t improve their circumstances much. As she happened to need personnel, it was better to assign them to her side.

She had once considered abolishing brothels, but that would require considerable time and effort a massive undertaking. It would involve consolidating imperial authority to ensure the entire nation obeyed the emperor’s decrees, as well as figuring out how to make society accept these women. Prejudice was a deadly burden, not easily eradicated.

Most importantly, if she were to die and her policies reversed, even greater despair would rebound onto these women.

Xu Ying believed she lacked the power to reshape societal structures and could only do what was within her capacity to help those around her. As for the rest, it was beyond her control.

Author’s Note:

Updates usually around 6 p.m. or 9 p.m.