As a transmigrator still learning the ropes, I was on my 179th execution at the hands of the male lead, Xiao Jincheng, when the villain, Xiao Ruiyuan, finally snapped.
"Song Qingjia! You idiot!" Xiao Ruiyuan roared, his hand around my neck. "After 180 rebirths, this prince has died with you 180 times!"
"If you fail again this time, I'll personally send you back for another life!" He tossed me a book titled A Crash Course in Conquering Xiao Jincheng.
Lesson One: Recite poetry like my half-sister, the man’s unattainable ideal.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant has just come up with a line: Two orioles sing among the emerald willows, while a red apricot branch reaches over the garden wall?"
The male lead's face darkened. "Drag her out!"
Lesson Two: Stage a heroic rescue.
I shoved the male lead into a lotus pond, then jumped in and splashed around. "Your Majesty, don't be afraid! I'll save you!"
The guards hauled out the drenched male lead. "This woman tried to murder His Majesty!"
Lesson Three was even more outrageous: "Once the deed is done, there's no going back! I've prepared the drug."
But the drug ended up in a soup pot in the imperial kitchen, giving the entire court diarrhea for three days.
Xiao Ruiyuan was so furious he pinched his own philtrum. "To hell with it! I'll just rebel! Be empress if you want, or don't!"
