She Was Written to Die, So She Seized the Throne Instead

CLICK.

A slender, fair hand gently opened a long, rectangular box. Inside lay a sheepskin scroll. She reached for it and slowly unfurled it.

A network of lines, like veins, was clearly visible upon its surface, depicting intersecting routes, rolling hills, and winding rivers.

It was a map of the vast lands of the Longsheng Country.

Under current law, possession of such a map was grounds for the execution of one’s entire family.

A pale, slender fingertip traced the undulating lines, starting from the Capital City and moving eastward, finally stopping on a bustling prefectural city—Dongling.

The Lu Family’s stronghold.

Lu Yanzhi was buried here.

The Lu Family was immensely powerful. In Dongling, they weren’t just a household, but the Lu Family as a whole. Nearly every official, high and low, hailed from their ranks. There, the Lu Family was akin to a local emperor.

Even a single unfamiliar face in that city would be noticed, to say nothing of the Lu Family’s ancestral tombs, which were guarded with absolute strictness.

Even someone like Xiao Li wouldn’t dare to be careless, especially since the Lu Family now hated her to the bone. If she were recognized, she feared even her considerable skills wouldn’t be enough to secure an escape.

If she were unfortunate enough to fall into the Lu Family’s hands, her fate would undoubtedly be grim.

So she wasn’t in a rush. Instead, she focused on preparing weapons and personnel. Once everything was in place, she would go and pay her ex-husband a "visit."

’But now, it seems that won’t be necessary.’

’Before, she couldn’t find Liu Xueyin, so her only option was to go after Lu Yanzhi, who was lying in his grave and couldn’t run away. But now that Liu Xueyin had delivered herself to my doorstep, Lu Yanzhi’s life or death was no longer so important.’

’I divorced Lu Yanzhi and killed him once, wiping the slate clean on our past. Now, my only interest is the power protecting Liu Xueyin. I want to leave this godforsaken place, and that power is my only way out.’

’Of course, this is all on the condition that Lu Yanzhi is truly dead and will never show his face before me again. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind killing him a second time.’

KNOCK, KNOCK!

A knock came at the door. It was Hong Yue. "Princess, someone from the palace is here."

Xiao Li calmly rolled up the map and put it away. Wrapping a heavy cloak around herself, she walked out. She couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of her visitor. "What could be so important as to trouble the Lord Seal Master to make a personal visit?"

In the center of the room stood Lou Yan. Still clad in his signature purple robes, he now wore a black cloak over them, and the ornate crown in his hair had been replaced with a hat. The change made him appear taller and more imposing, but it did nothing to conceal his sinister, murderous aura. His eyes, in particular, held a demonic, wicked glint, as if he had just come from a killing.

Hearing Xiao Li’s teasing tone, he turned to face her and immediately bowed. "Your servant greets the Princess."

Xiao Li gave a lazy wave of her hand. "Rise."

Lou Yan had entered alone. At a signal from Xiao Li, Hong Yue and Lan Yue moved to stand guard at the doorway.

With only the two of them left in the room, Lou Yan removed his hat, unfastened his cloak, and strode toward Xiao Li.

Then, he pulled a small, furry creature from within his robes and presented it to her.

His long, somber face now held a trace of warmth, and his eyes were filled with anticipation. "Your servant found a little wolf pup in the snow. I wonder if the Princess would be willing to raise it?"

Xiao Li wasn’t particularly fond of keeping pets. Her own survival demanded meticulous planning and cautious steps, leaving her with little energy to spare for another living creature.

But... "This is a wolf?"

Lou Yan lifted the pup’s head. "It’s a wolf pup. The mother wolf froze to death. It was right beside her."

Xiao Li’s interest was piqued. "I don’t like pets, but I can make an exception for a wolf. It’s just a bit small."

She preferred a majestic Wolf King, not a little cub that looked like it hadn’t even been weaned.

Her gaze shifted to Lou Yan. "You raise it. I’ll visit it when I have time."

Hearing this, Lou Yan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "As the Princess commands."

With that, he casually set the little wolf pup on a nearby cushion, not sparing it a second glance.

The little wolf pup, which had been cradled so carefully the entire journey, thought, ’Huh? Is... is the love gone already?’

Lou Yan wiped his hands with a handkerchief, then knelt on one knee before Xiao Li. He naturally took her hand and, bowing his head, pressed a kiss to it.

"Failing to visit you these past days was my error, Princess. I beg for your forgiveness."

But his hoarse voice, thick with an unreadable emotion, didn’t sound at all like someone begging for forgiveness.

Xiao Li was no longer flustered by a simple kiss from him. With a turn of her wrist, she gripped his chin, her eyes looking down at him, filled with playful mockery. "Somehow I get the feeling it wasn’t the wolf pup that the Lord Seal Master truly wished to offer me."

Far from retreating, Lou Yan pressed his chin further into her hand, surrendering control to her. He raised his gaze slightly to meet hers, his eyes burning with a desire he was struggling to restrain.

"Then... would the Princess be willing to grant me her favor?"

Lou Yan’s expression was naturally fierce; years of being expressionless seemed to have made his facial muscles forget how to smile. And yet, the slight arch of his brow and the curve of his lips betrayed his delight.

’This man is truly a pervert,’ Xiao Li thought. ’He always gives me the urge to strike him, but I’m afraid he’d just lick my hand if I did.’

"Lou Yan, it’s broad daylight. Stop being so provocative."

"Heh..." Lou Yan let out a low sneer, as if mocking her for her lack of courage.

’It was obvious she liked him, yet even when he provoked her like this, she didn’t dare unfasten his robes—nor, of course, did she let him unfasten hers.’

He lowered his head, burying his face in her hand.

"Does the Princess wish to kill Prince Yanping?"

Xiao Li wasn’t particularly planning to kill anyone. "He insisted on provoking me. It couldn’t be helped. It was just a matter of convenience."

’If I didn’t have to consider the repercussions, killing anyone I pleased would be child’s play for me right now.’

’The overwhelming advantage of firearms over cold steel was no mere exaggeration. And besides, when it came to conventional weapons, I have no shortage of skilled people.’

Lou Yan, however, had no doubt about the Princess’s capabilities. The Emperor might trust the evidence and believe Prince Yanping was spouting nonsense, but Lou Yan was certain it was the Princess’s handiwork.

’She had the audacity for such an arrogant act and the skill to get away clean. She was so wicked it was mesmerizing.’

He sighed. "It seems the Princess has no use for me. It makes me feel quite useless."

’She doesn’t even give me a chance to earn a reward. How cruel.’

Xiao Li raised a single finger, pressing it against his forehead to stop him from getting any closer. She propped her head up with her other hand, looking with exasperation at the pervert. ’Where does he think he’s nuzzling?’

"What did you really come here for?"

’He only got to see her every few days. He wanted to do *everything*.’

"To see you, and to bring you a wolf pup." He added, as if it were an afterthought, "And to relay a message: The Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet and requires your attendance, Princess."

’His priorities were certainly in order.’

Xiao Li laughed in spite of herself. ’This man doesn’t even try to hide his ambition to be a corrupt official, does he?’

’But that’s what I like about him.’

"I understand. You should go now, Lord Seal Master."

Lou Yan was reluctant, but he knew it was time to leave. He stood, stepped back, and picked up the little wolf pup. "Princess, why don’t you give it a name?"

Xiao Li glanced from the pitiful-looking pup to Lou Yan. Though they were different species, she was struck by the strange sense that she was looking at a father and son.

She recalled Lou Yan’s self-introduction: "Misanthropic as a wraith, the single Nightmare among nine demons."

"Let’s call it Mo Jiang. It sounds just like the name of a majestic Wolf King."

Little Mo Jiang let out a miserable "AWOO-WOO-WOO" from Lou Yan’s hands, looking the very picture of weak and pitiful.

Lou Yan once again wrapped himself in his cloak and put on his hat. No one would have been able to tell he was cradling a living creature within his robes.

He didn’t hurry back to the palace. Instead, he went to a private residence he owned. Taking out the little wolf pup, he also produced a handkerchief and held it out. "Memorize this scent," he told it. "She is your true master."

Little Mo Jiang sniffed at it twice and tried to get closer, but Lou Yan snatched the handkerchief away, stuffing it back into the front of his robes. His face was cold and merciless. "If you can’t remember it, I’ll stew you. She doesn’t like you much anyway. Even if I replaced you, she wouldn’t even notice."

Little Mo Jiang: ’?’

’I don’t understand what you’re saying, but you’re a real piece of work!’

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