3: Be her husband

“If I stopped just because you told me to, wouldn’t that be a huge loss of face?”

Meng Yun took off running.

[Your mind was greatly shaken, and you immediately fled. A silver light descended, and armored guards captured you alive. You struggled fiercely, but alas, you had no innate divine strength, and were locked down in one round.]

[You were captured alive and pressed down before the Princess’s retinue.]

Meng Yun was utterly despairing.

At this moment, he finally understood that Xia Yao was actually the current Princess Wu Yinyao!

He realized belatedly why Wu Yinyao had wanted to kill him in the previous simulation!

He was the leader of the rebels, a villain who had come to seize her country!

Wu Yinyao had actually put herself into the situation, offering herself to the tiger… waiting until he had pacified the four seas and was about to encompass the entire world, then striking him down with a thunderous blow!

What a sinister and meticulous plan! In the previous simulation, he had been too foolish; his death was not unjust!

But this time, why? Was he going to be captured just for looking?

Was it because… looking one more time would cause an explosion?

He looked with a strange expression at the mini Wu Yinyao on the carriage.

The little girl was also looking at him with a complex expression.

“Princess, your blessings are boundless, and your life is eternal! Your humble subject, bows to Your Royal Highness!” Meng Yun felt sorrow in his heart, but he had no choice but to kneel down.

If he died so insignificantly, the lifespan feedback from the simulation might not be enough to last until the simulation count refreshed.

He could not die so easily.

Absolutely not.

“Your Royal Highness, please show mercy! Meng Yun is just a fool, please don’t stoop to his level…”

From the crowd, another young man wailed and prostrated himself on the ground.

Meng Yun was startled and looked; it was Luo Mian.

[Luo Mian pleaded for you.]

[Luo Mian’s plea failed.]

[Luo Mian and you knelt together.]

…

Unaware that Wu Yinyao’s heart was currently in turmoil, Meng Yun only thought she was contemplating how to torture him.

He couldn’t just sit there and wait for death!

[You used Qimen Dunjia! Due to using it twice in a short period, you feel very weak, as if you are about to fall ill.]

[Qimen Dunjia activated, and you sensed hidden murderous intent in the crowd, as if there were assassins lying in wait, prepared to assassinate the current Princess!]

He had it.

Wu Yinyao’s path of death was Meng Yun’s path of life.

But he wasn’t going to wait for Wu Yinyao to be assassinated; instead, he would save her publicly.

The reason was simple: if the current Princess was assassinated in Huangsha Town, no matter who the culprit was, the emperor, who doted on his daughter, would surely make everyone present pay with their entire clans!

And saving Wu Yinyao would undoubtedly gain him a huge wave of favor!

Wu Yinyao, in her gratitude, might even release him on the spot!

No sooner said than done, countless hidden arrows were fired.

[You activated Qimen Dunjia’s Open Life Gate, and a mysterious fortune enveloped Wu Yinyao, helping her avoid mortal danger. You fell ill, and a cold invaded your body.]

Under the influence of Qimen Dunjia, the path of life, in the unseen, opened for Wu Yinyao.

Countless hidden arrows almost killed all the armored guards, but Wu Yinyao was unharmed.

In her panic, the young girl fell from the high phoenix carriage and was caught by Meng Yun’s arm.

The two exchanged glances. In her dark eyes, Meng Yun could only see his own pale but incredibly handsome face, nothing else.

“Luo Mian, provide cover! Little Hei and Da Shi, create chaos! Er Zhu, go to the town for reinforcements…”

After saying this, the three fled, disappearing into the vast sea of the crowd.

[Your “A Bowl to Start With” took effect, and vagrants and drifters responded to your call, fighting back alongside the palace guards, finally suppressing an ambush.]

“Whew~” Meng Yun squatted in the corner, letting out a long breath. Behind him was the small Wu Yinyao, her hand still tightly held by Meng Yun…

No, it was she who was tightly holding Meng Yun’s hand, afraid that if she wasn’t careful, he would run away again and disappear from the world.

Before, with adrenaline coursing through him, Meng Yun hadn’t noticed his body. Now that he had a moment to breathe, he felt cold all over and his vision was blurry.

A cold had entered his body.

Luo Mian walked over with a stick, ducking into the corner and squatting down: “It should be fine now. To be safe, let’s hide for another hour… Hey, hey, hey? Meng Yun, Meng Yun?”

Seeing Luo Mian, Meng Yun’s mind relaxed, and he tilted his head and fell.

Wu Yinyao turned pale with fright, hastily tugging with her small hand and pulling him into her embrace.

Luo Mian: “…”

He saw nothing, nothing at all!

This was the current Princess, the Princess!

[You put aside your inner prejudices and bravely stepped forward to save the Princess, gaining her favor.]

[You are held in Wu Yinyao’s arms.]

[You are very comfortable.]

[You caught a cold and were unconscious for three days. Wu Yinyao stayed by your side the entire time.]

[You woke up. You were lying in a carriage and realized you were being taken to the capital.]

[One month later, you successfully arrived in the capital and were received by the emperor along with Luo Mian. Due to your extraordinary demeanor, you were granted permission to study at the Royal Academy, while Luo Mian was trained by a peak Post-Heaven realm master to hone his martial arts.]

[You often went out, and with the effect of “A Bowl to Start With,” you quickly befriended the beggars in the capital.]

[A year passed in a flash. Your unparalleled wisdom activated, and you became a Xiucai.]

[Three years passed in a flash. Your unparalleled wisdom activated, and you became a Juren.]

[You became the undisputed leader of the capital’s underworld, known as the Godfather of the Sewers.]

[Three years passed in a flash. Your unparalleled wisdom activated, and you passed the imperial examination as the top scholar, riding high with success, seeing all the flowers of Chang’an in a single day. The Dragon’s countenance was greatly pleased, appointing you as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, concurrently serving as the Crown Prince’s tutor.]

[Your influence among the common people had expanded to the entire capital region.]

Time flew like an arrow. The once naive youth had grown into a sixteen-year-old top scholar, attracting worldwide attention.

When the news reached Huangsha Town, everyone was proud of you.

Time flew, but the experiences remained. For these past few years, Meng Yun had lived in a residence in the capital, and Wu Yinyao had become a frequent visitor.

Every moment spent with her was etched into Meng Yun’s heart.

In this simulation, Wu Yinyao was far more cheerful and lively than in the last one.

Of course, she also loved to pester Meng Yun with questions even more.

Using the pretense of seeking academic guidance, she was actually flirting.

Conflicts arose, and only three years remained until the world descended into chaos.

That day.

Meng Yun sat in his residence, organizing the summary of his experiences from the previous simulation, in case of need.

“Teacher!” A bell-like voice came from outside the door.

“Greetings, Princess.” Meng Yun put down his brush, stood up, and bowed.

The fourteen-year-old Wu Yinyao had blossomed into a great beauty, and with the royal demeanor, she was even more awe-inspiring.

But this was only for others.

Meng Yun didn’t know why, but Wu Yinyao, who was so imperious in front of others, became like a chirping nightingale in front of him.

All her charms blossomed only for him.

“How many times have I told you, why call me teacher?” Meng Yun was helpless.

Wu Yinyao smiled, unconsciously grasping Meng Yun’s wrist: “My Crown Prince brother’s teacher is my teacher.”

Meng Yun’s expression remained unchanged as he pulled his hand free from her delicate skin: “A tutor is not a teacher.”

“It’s the same.” Wu Yinyao’s hand was released, but she didn’t mind. She sat down directly and skillfully began to grind ink for Meng Yun.

To have a princess as a companion, adding fragrance to the study – how many people in the world could achieve this?

Meng Yun, however, patted her hand away: “You must not, you must not! You humble your subject…”

Wu Yinyao caught Meng Yun’s other hand, her phoenix eyes opening and closing, a faint smile playing on her lips:

“Teacher, you burrowed into my arms when you were nine, and I touched your entire body for those three days. I even know your measurements, so by that logic, am I the one humbling you?”

“You are… reckless, so reckless!” Meng Yun’s voice faltered. He coughed lightly, a speechless expression on his face.

How could a proper princess be like this!

It was a disgrace to scholars, a disgrace to scholars!

Meng Yun was startled for a moment, and couldn’t help but think of the glorious years after marrying Wu Yinyao in the first simulation, with nights of revelry and warm spring nights in the hibiscus tent.

He regretted not choosing that blank perk back then…

Alas!

“When I came in, I saw Teacher sighing. Why is that?” Wu Yinyao changed the subject.

“Look at this…” Meng Yun silently handed the small booklet he was writing to Wu Yinyao.

With the aid of unparalleled wisdom, his intelligence had increased unprecedentedly. Unlike the five-year development plan he had painstakingly written in the previous simulation, this time he had completed the three-five plan in one go.

“The Martial Country’s First Five-Year Plan?” Wu Yinyao murmured, and in a blind spot where Meng Yun’s gaze couldn’t reach, her eyes reddened.

She thought of the Xia Country.

That country, with the character ‘Xia’ in its name, that belonged only to her.

That Xia Country, which she had personally ended with a single stroke.

Although this version of Meng Yun was not as brave and strong as the one in her dream, even if he was just a frail scholar, Meng Yun’s core remained unchanged.

Meng Yun was still that Meng Yun.

In this life, she still wanted him to be her husband.

Definitely.

Gathering her thoughts, she concentrated and looked.

The first five-year plan was naturally to expel the barbarians.

But the current problem was that even with a lifetime of simulation experience, Meng Yun still didn’t know who the mastermind behind it all was.

“Is Teacher troubled by the rebel leader?” Wu Yinyao’s expression was serious: “I happen to have a theory…”

Wu Yinyao’s low voice sounded in Meng Yun’s ear, making his ears tingle, while countless inspirations surged in his mind.

“The rebel leader, perhaps, is my paternal uncle, Zhenyang Prince Martial Universe Qiankun…”