8 Better to Flay Than to Meet
[Beep—!]
[Check-in Successful]
[You have successfully received 1 voucher]
At the break of dawn, Pan Yulian’s first action upon opening her eyes was to check in.
Glancing at the neatly arranged eight vouchers in the game's inventory, her gaze then shifted to the recharge section on the game interface.
She touched the box beneath her pillow, restraining the urge to top up.
She no longer regarded the system as merely a trap to drain money. After all, a selection contest, absent in the original story, had suddenly appeared, and she had even secured a position to participate... there had to be a reason for this.
Yet Pan Yulian could not fully trust the system, mainly because she couldn’t see the items within it herself.
To be cautious, she even showed the outfit from the system to her maidservants—yet, neither Qingyu nor Qingyue saw anything.
After fiddling back and forth for a while, just as she was about to close the system, a prompt flashed on the screen—
[Congratulations, you have successfully unlocked the status of a contestant. Please confirm at the "Lingyun Pavilion."]
Her status changed?!
Since her father’s approval until today, Pan Yulian had been restless with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Suddenly, the game stirred with new developments?!
Holding her breath, just as she was about to click confirm, a sound came from the room.
“Miss, the appointed time has arrived, please get up.”
Since three days ago, Pan Yulian had been attending lessons at the Yuanxiang Courtyard alongside her legitimate elder sister to learn the proper etiquette. Each day, a maid would remind her when the time came.
‘The system’s here; no running away.’
‘Not yet entered the palace; angering the female lead won’t end well.’
Forcing herself calm with such thoughts, Pan Yulian suppressed her excitement, didn’t delay, and after dressing and washing, went to the Yuanxiang Courtyard.
...
“Second Sister.”
Seeing Pan Yulian lowering her head in a proper bow, Pan Wenjun’s expression softened. She nodded gently, “Fourth sister, you understand the rules best, but among sisters, such formality isn’t necessary.”
Pan Yulian listened obediently but still bowed properly next time.
In the original story, Pan Wenjun had even scolded Pan Yulian for ‘breaking etiquette’ out of jealousy over the male lead.
Whether she was shameless, weak-willed, or cowardly, Pan Yulian accepted it all.
Now, she only wished to live peacefully, to successfully enter the palace to escape the deadly plague. Before that, she did not want any mistakes.
Soon, the maids served fragrant tea.
Only when Pan Wenjun reached for her cup did Pan Yulian dare to take hers.
Seeing this, Pan Wenjun nodded slightly. After sipping, she put down her cup, gently wiped her lips, and sighed softly as she looked at Pan Yulian.
“Now that we sisters are registered with the Ministry of Household Records, in a few days, we must go to the palace for the selection.”
!
Pan Yulian gripped her teacup tightly.
So it was here that her status changed.
Dazed, a faint golden frame appeared before her eyes.
---
To outsiders, this ‘wealthy patron’ was invisible, but Pan Wenjun noticed Pan Yulian’s stunned expression without the slightest surprise.
She studied Pan Yulian’s face.
No matter how many times she saw it, it was dazzling beyond measure.
However, since half a year ago, after taking some sort of ‘celebrity beauty’ quick pill, Pan Yulian had mostly kept her head lowered in front of Pan Wenjun, somewhat tempering her overwhelming allure.
In the Great Jin Dynasty, women were valued for gentleness and grace, favoring modest beauty.
Who in a respectable family would marry a woman like Pan Yulian—so strikingly seductive, obviously restless?
It was clear she would only stir turmoil, a femme fatale bringing ruin.
Now that she was entering the palace...
One only needed to see Lady Lin’s eagerness for Pan Yulian to be covered and hidden away to understand.
Pan Wenjun withdrew her gaze and said lightly, “Fourth sister.”
Hearing this, Pan Yulian hastily closed the system and lowered her eyes, replying meekly, “Second sister.”
“Though the imperial family is formidable, you need not keep your head bowed every day. It looks petty when outsiders see it and reflects poorly on the household.”
You’re the female lead; better not provoke you.
Pan Yulian obediently raised her head and nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Second sister.”
Seeing Pan Yulian’s good attitude, Pan Wenjun nodded.
After glancing into Pan Yulian’s eyes again, she continued, “Also, this time entering the palace for the selection, you probably won’t be placed with me.”
“Among the younger sisters in this household, you are the least capable, but thankfully, you understand your place. Unless you must speak, don’t say a word.”
“The palace is the most prestigious place in the world. You have little experience; once inside, don’t make a fool of yourself.”
“During your time waiting to be selected, you must listen to the palace matron in charge.”
“Observe more; speak less.”
“Furthermore, whether the matter is big or small, don’t quarrel with others.”
“If you—”
Pan Yulian looked at Pan Wenjun’s cold yet incessant instructions.
Indeed, the original story described the female lead as sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.
Having that sharp tongue aimed at her was truly painful.
Honestly, Pan Yulian found herself preferring the two sisters who spoke so pleasantly in these past days compared to her elder sister.
No wonder they all loved flattery.
Flattering words were indeed sweet to hear.
At this moment, while reminiscing about the other two from the ‘Clown Troupe,’ Pan Yulian nodded earnestly, feigning attention to the female lead.
.......
Yanzhou
Residence of Prince Xin
Carved beams and painted rafters, winding corridors, artificial hills and green stones—a scene of earthly luxury.
---
The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the freshly tidied courtyard.
The golden light filtered through the elaborately carved “Five Blessings and Auspiciousness” window onto the figure reclining on the couch.
Unlike the pale-skinned young masters of the capital, the hand resting on the brocade cover was sun-kissed, even bearing intersecting scratches now scabbed over.
Above was a sharply defined, strikingly handsome face—long black lashes, a high nose bridge, thin pale lips. The only flaw was that his legs were tightly bound.
Incense burned in the room, but the man on the couch furrowed his brows tightly—
[“Blind in your dog’s eyes, where did you come from, you rustic lowlife!”
“Hey, you brat, have you lost your mind? Dare to come here and cause trouble?”
“Don’t you dare look at yourself in the mirror! What white daydream are you having?”
“Still stubborn? Come on, brothers, teach him a lesson!”]
...
The Pan Residence—too high to reach.
Turned hostile and merciless petty people.
Servants’ cruel insults, fists and kicks raining down like raindrops... the humiliation and helplessness of being beaten until his leg was broken...
The deep, piercing, dark shame clung to Murong Ye. At that moment, he silently vowed he would make them suffer worse than death!
Burning with hatred, Murong Ye suddenly clenched his fist and jolted awake.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, you’re awake!”
Maids clad in colorful silk rushed excitedly to the couch.
“Your Highness is awake! Quick, inform the prince!”
Suddenly, the entire Xin Prince’s residence burst into lively commotion.
“Ye’er, how are you?”
The hurriedly arrived old prince looked at Murong Ye with deep concern.
No wonder he was the male lead; despite Murong Ye’s intermittent waking and sleeping these days, it didn’t diminish the old prince’s heart full of filial piety and affection.
Doctors were summoned, and both cared for each other’s health until the two, grandfather and grandson, tearfully felt indebted to each other.
Being old and mindful of Murong Ye’s need for rest, the old prince eventually returned to rest.
Before leaving, he reminded Murong Ye to heal well. Once back in the capital, they would have to enter the palace to pay respects to the sovereign.
After seeing off the old prince, Murong Ye propped himself up on the couch. His eyes were dark and gloomy.
After a moment, touching his broken leg, he slowly revealed a sinister, terrifying smile.
“Returning to the capital?”
He murmured lowly to himself, “...That’s very good indeed.”
.......