Oops! My Inner Thoughts Are Ruining The Plot

Chapter 173: Chapter

Yueqing closed her eyes, trying to rest her sore body. But with nothing to do and her mind racing, she decided to call out to her internal system.

[System 009, are you there?] she called out in her mind. [Give me an update on our distance from the capital.]

Instead of the usual instant chime, there was a strange, static buzz that echoed inside her head, followed by a dry, robotic tone.

[System 009: Warning! System update required. System 009 will be undergoing a mandatory software upgrade and server maintenance starting now.]

Yueqing frowned in her mind. [An update? Right now?]

[System 009: Yes, Host! During this time, all functions, point tracking, and plot detection will be completely paused. I will be fully unresponsive for the next 48 hours. Please take extra care of your own safety during this period! See you in two days!]

Yueqing’s mind rolled its eyes so hard it practically did a full flip inside her head.

[Oh, fantastic timing as always,] Yueqing replied with thick sarcasm, snorting softly in real life. [Thank you so much, System 009. You are truly the most reliable, high-tech useless assistant I could have ever asked for. Go take your 48-hour nap while I do all the actual work.]

[System 009: System entering sleep mode in 3... 2... 1... BZZZT]

The faint hum inside her head completely vanished, leaving her in absolute silence.

Yueqing let out a small, quiet sigh, leaning her head back against the soft carriage cushion.

[Well, fine,] she thought, looking out the small window as the snowy trees passed by. [It’s not like anything crazy is going to happen in the next two days anyway. I’m just sitting in a carriage heading straight back to the capital.]

She pulled her fur blanket higher over her shoulders, completely unaware of just how wrong she was.

Hours passed slowly as the carriage traveled down from the mountains and crossed into the warm, bustling streets of the capital.

Finally, the carriage pulled up to the front gates of the General’s estate. News of Yueqing’s arrival had already reached the household hours in advance, so the main doors were thrown wide open, with guards and servants lined up to greet her.

Stepping into the inner courtyard, Yueqing was immediately met with the rustle of fine silk and a chorus of eager voices.

Lanyin, Qianqian, and their cousin Gu Yue were already hurrying down the covered walkway to greet her. Standing just behind them was little Anran, looking up with wide, excited eyes.

"Sister-in-law!" Qianqian called out first, her lively face lit up as she reached Yueqing and gently took her arm. "You are finally back! We were so worried when the news reached the estate!"

"We heard your carriage was attacked by assassins and that you slipped during the chaos," Lanyin added softly, her graceful eyes filled with quiet relief as she adjusted Yueqing’s heavy fur cloak. "We have all missed you so much. Are your injuries truly healing well?"

Gu Yue gave a playful, elegant smile, tilting her head. "The household has been far too quiet without you here, Cousin-in-law. We were counting the days until your return."

Anran squeezed right past her older sisters, tugging eagerly at Yueqing’s sleeve. "Sister-in-law! Did you bring back any stories from the camp? Did Eldest Brother fight off all those bad guys?"

Up on the terrace overlooking the courtyard, Duchess Lin Meiyun stood watching the reunion, her sister-in-law Xi Ronghua standing right beside her.

As Yueqing smiled at the girls, her internal voice suddenly echoed clearly in the minds of everyone present, the sisters, Gu Yue, little Anran, and the two women watching from the terrace.

[Though my ribs are still sore as hell,] Yueqing’s voice rang in their heads, dramatic and unbothered as ever. [And that stubborn block of wood Wenzhe didn’t even say goodbye before riding off to fight! He probably just wanted to escape my sight so he could act like a cool, brooding general in peace!]

Up on the terrace, Duchess Lin Meiyun let out a long, quiet breath of genuine relief, a fond smile touching her lips as she exchanged a glance with Ronghua. Down in the courtyard, Lanyin and Qianqian’s eyes brightened. They were all secretly relieved to discover that despite the attack and the distance, they could still hear Yueqing’s inner thoughts just as clearly as before.

[Look at them all looking at me so tenderly,] Yueqing’s thoughts continued to broadcast to the entire family. [They must think I’m deeply heartbroken because Wenzhe left without a word. If only they knew I’m mostly just annoyed he didn’t leave behind any of those nice honey pastries!]

Lanyin’s lips twitched as she tried desperately to maintain her dignified expression. Qianqian bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling with held-back laughter as she exchanged a knowing look with Gu Yue, while Anran giggled softly into her sleeve.

Up on the terrace, Aunt Ronghua let out a sharp, amused laugh, snapping her fan open.

"Well, sister-in-law," Ronghua remarked to the Duchess, her eyes gleaming with humor as she looked down at Yueqing. "It seems our Eldest Daughter-in-law hasn’t changed one bit! She’s still as lively as ever."

Duchess Lin Meiyun nodded with a gentle laugh, calling down from the terrace. "Come inside quickly girls. Bring Yueqing in before she catches a chill out in the wind."

Yueqing blinked, wondering why everyone looked so unusually bright and amused, but she simply smiled and allowed the crowd of sisters to usher her into the warm house.

As they walked further inside the warm estate, stepping through the grand grand hall toward the inner reception room, Yueqing looked around the unusually quiet hallways.

"Where are Yunhao and Yunchen?" Yueqing asked, turning her head toward Lanyin. "I thought those two trouble-makers would be the first ones running out to make fun of me."

Qianqian let out a bright, giggling laugh beside her. "Oh, you missed the grand order, Sister-in-law! Father doubled all their daily duties the moment you left for the camp. Right now, Yunhao and Yunchen are out at the archery range, practicing their shooting until sunset."

"Not just archery," Gu Yue added with a playful, knowing smile as she walked alongside them. "Uncle was so strict this time. After archery practice, they have to spend three full hours in the study room reviewing military texts and history scrolls. He said their reading and fighting practices were slacking."

[Three hours of reading scrolls after shooting arrows all morning?!] Yueqing’s internal voice exploded into everyone’s minds, full of theatrical horror. [Father-in-law is practically running a military boot camp in his own backyard! Those poor twins must be weeping tears over their inkstones right now! Thank goodness I’m injured, or he’d probably have me doing sword drills in the snow!]

Up on the terrace steps, Duchess Lin Meiyun had to cover her mouth with her silk handkerchief to hide her quiet laughter, while Aunt Ronghua fanned herself furiously, her shoulders shaking with pure amusement.

Down below, Lanyin pressed her hands against her skirt, trying her absolute best not to burst out laughing in front of the servants.

[She really hasn’t changed at all,] Lanyin thought warmly, looking at her sister-in-law with affectionate relief.

"Father is just making sure they stay out of trouble while Eldest Brother is away," Lanyin explained aloud, her voice smooth despite her twitching lips. "Yunchen tried to complain yesterday, and Father added an extra hour of book review to his schedule."

[Note to self: Never complain around the Grand Duke,] Yueqing’s thoughts broadcasted instantly to the entire family. [That man gives out extra homework like it’s candy!]

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