Chapter 1986: Investigate All the Women in the Inner Palace

“Yes,” the Daoist priest said as he bowed.

“Have the dead body cremated. I’d like to see how any wandering ghosts, demons, or spirits can possess this body again once it turns into ash.” Zhao Xu flicked his sleeves and left.

Zhao Xu was quite annoyed at having gained nothing from the interrogation. He knew that a ‘system’ was involved but what kind of fucking demon was this ‘system’ supposed to be?

Zhao Xu asked the Daoist priest, “Does Daoist possibly know what a ‘system’ is?”

The Daoist flicked his horsetail whisk. “This inadequate Daoist guesses that it must be an object from beyond the heavens.”

“Heh. I won’t allow such inexplicable happenings to occur in my imperial palace. This ‘favored concubine system’… Investigate all the women in the inner palace. See if any among them host demons and ghouls-if so, spare not a single one.”

Zhao Xu’s expression turned grim. “For someone to meddle in my nation’s affairs… I won’t let them get away with this.”

Since dawn, Ning Shu waited in the Palace of Prolonged Autumn for word from Zhao Xu. But he had no information to share and had decided to attend court, acting as though nothing had happened.

“Let the imperial concubines know there’s no need to pay their respects,” Ning Shu told Qiu Ling.

Ning Shu tilted her somewhat stiff neck. As she did, a cold mechanical voice sounded in her mind. “Binding Host to the ‘virtuous empress’ system. Uploading data…”

“Data upload complete. Hello, Host. This is the virtuous empress system. This system’s goal is to help you become an empress that will be remembered throughout the ages. You will enjoy the emperor’s favor, as well as obtain the recognition and appreciation of civil and military officials.” The voice of the virtuous empress system was very mechanical.

Perhaps the system’s energy was dwindling. It spoke in a halting, slow manner.

Ning Shu: … What’s this!?

What ‘virtuous empress’ system-this was the favored concubine system, wasn’t it? How come it feigned being some virtuous empress system now?

Could it change its name based on the characteristics of the host?

Had the favored concubine system abandoned Noble Lady Zhou to bind itself to her?

Ning Shu: Ha ha ha…

Ning Shu laughed and asked the ‘virtuous empress’ system, “You want to help me become an empress remembered throughout the ages? What do I need to do?”

“All you need to do is act precisely in accordance with the tasks released by this system. There’ll be rewards for their completion. These rewards will make you devastatingly beautiful and grant you a wealth of knowledge. You’ll become a true winner in life.”

Ning Shu spread her hands out, helplessly. “Why did you choose me? You must know I’m not favored by His Majesty at all.”

“It’s exactly because you aren’t favored. With this system’s help, you can obtain the emperor’s favor,” the virtuous empress system said, its tone as mechanical as always.

Ning Shu: …

Ning Shu had tried to come up with a way to see Noble Lady Zhou before but she never expected the system to look for her once it abandoned its last host.

“You could become an empress whose name is remembered throughout the ages. A golden light of merit and virtue emanates from your soul. You are truly a person blessed by the heavens.” When it mentioned the golden light of merit and virtue, its previously stable mechanical tone fluctuated.

Her soul? A golden light of merit and virtue?

She had used merit points on her soul in order to cope with that assassin in that task back then, and this favored concubine system had noticed it.

Ning Shu rolled her eyes and considered it before cursing inwardly. This system not only messed with the laws of fate by stealing the fate of the nation, but it also was fucking absorbing its hosts’ souls.

Dang. This system was an expert in exploitation. After it had finished exploiting the host for energy, even their soul wouldn’t be spared.

Even if those bound hosts became winners in life, their souls would eventually be consumed. They’d lose not just their soul energy, but the very origin of their being.

Damn. Even task-takers merely collected soul energy. After a successful counterattack, the entrustor could come back to life.

Even though there was no way to tell what someone would reincarnate into, the fact that a soul could return was well known. But without a soul origin, it would be impossible to reincarnate.

Translator: Kiara