"What are you doing?"
The young eunuchs turned around and looked at the little girl before them. "You are...?"
Ye Tangtang had lived in the Cold Palace from birth until now, so she could hardly blame the palace servants for not recognizing her. They had no idea there was a Ninth Princess, and Ye Yubei had never publicly announced her identity, either.
Ye Tangtang planted her little hands on her hips and raised her head haughtily. "I'm the Ninth Princess, Ye Tangtang."
She finally got to act like a princess for once. How could she not throw her weight around?
"The Ninth Princess? Hahahaha! What did she say? She said she's the Ninth Princess! Everyone in the palace knows we only have a Third Princess and a Seventh Princess. If she's going to impersonate someone, she could at least pick someone who exists!"
"Hahahaha! That's hilarious! Since when did our palace have a Ninth Princess?"
"The Ninth Princess? Then let's see what you're capable of! Get her! Grab her and throw her into the river, too!"
With her fiery temper, Ye Tangtang could not stand another second of this. She was always the one bullying others! She raised her foot and sent all three young eunuchs flying into the lake, one kick apiece. They began struggling desperately in the water.
"H-help!"
"Murder!"
Ye Linmo pointed happily at the people in the water and clapped his hands gleefully. "Flying! Flying so high!"
Is he really a fool? He's pretty handsome, too. How come there's something wrong with his brain?
Ye Linmo said, "Momo's smart! Momo..."
"Sixth Brother, I'm Ye Tangtang, your ninth little sister."
"Little sister! Momo's smart! Momo likes little sister..."
Ye Linmo scooped Ye Tangtang up and hugged her so tightly that she could barely breathe. She struggled desperately.
"S-Sixth Brother, put me down first."
Ye Tangtang's two short legs finally touched the ground, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The villainous second male lead had nearly squeezed her to death.
The Sixth Prince had hit his head when he was little, leaving him with some mental difficulties. He should recover in a year. For her beautiful mommy's sake, she had better get on his good side.
"Sixth Brother, these are my favorite lollipops. Here, have one. This lollipop is really yummy."
Ye Tangtang painfully parted with a lollipop. She was sacrificing so much for her beautiful mommy. Boo-hoo!
"Little sister's nice... Momo likes little sister."
Ye Linmo took the lollipop from Ye Tangtang's hand and held it against his chest like a precious treasure, his dark eyes fixed unblinkingly on her.
"Sixth Prince, where did you run off to? You had me worried to death! Please don't wander off again."
"Please come back with us."
Just then, two maids arrived. Looking anxious, they led Ye Linmo away. Ye Linmo turned to look at Ye Tangtang, as though he still had something to say to her.
"Little sister..."
"Your Highness, let's hurry back. Don't wander off again next time."
"Not going back... Not going..."
Ye Tangtang's heart bled. There went her last lollipop.
[Tang Tang, it's just one lollipop. Find the male lead, talk to him, and snuggle up to him while you're at it. You'll get loads of points! You can even exchange them for your favorite ice cream.]
Ye Tangtang instantly found her motivation, her eyes lighting up.
Little Useless System, you told me to find the male lead, but where's his palace? I've gone the wrong way eight times already! It's almost dark!
Ye Tangtang had never walked so far in her life. Exhausted, she plopped down in a corner by a wall.
[Well... I'm not too sure about the route, either. He's in the Profound Heaven Hall. You... could ask someone for directions.]
Ask for directions?! You want someone with severe social anxiety like me to ask for directions?! No way! Absolutely not!
Ye Tangtang was simply too tired. She curled up in the corner and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, it was already dark, and she was a little hungry.
Time to go home and eat. I'll try again tomorrow.
Ye Tangtang stretched. Doing missions really was too exhausting. It did not suit her.
Little Useless System, I'm going back for foodies and sleepies. Let's do this tomorrow.
The system: [...]
I never expected you to finish the mission, but you can't even find the male lead's palace! What a useless lump!
Still, he did not dare say that outright. This host needed to be coaxed.
Ye Tangtang took several wrong turns before finally returning to the Palace of Gathered Elegance.
The imperial palace was enormous, like a maze. She needed to get a map next time.
Ye Tangtang looked around the vast palace. It was empty, without a soul in sight.
Where's my beautiful mommy? Why is Mommy gone?
"Mommy..."
No one answered.
"Mommy!"
Ye Tangtang: Little Useless System, where's my mom?
[Would you like to activate the search function? It costs points, though. I can let you buy on credit first. One search costs 1,000 points.]
Ye Tangtang: What the hell?! Why don't you just rob me outright? One search costs 1,000 points?!
[Tang Tang, finding an exact location requires a very powerful ability, so the point cost is relatively high. I can lend you 1,000 points first. You just need to pay them back within three days.]
Ye Tangtang: Fine. Hurry up and search for her.
She was sacrificing so much for her mommy. A thousand points! She got 100 points a day for enjoying gossip, plus whatever she earned from talking to the male lead... How was she supposed to repay 1,000 points in three days?
[Search complete. Just take ten steps forward, and you'll see your mommy.]
Ye Tangtang took ten steps. Just as she stepped out of the room, she bumped into someone and fell into a warm embrace.
"Tang Tang, where did you run off to? Do you know how worried Mommy was?"
Shen Qingqing held her daughter tightly in her arms. She had nothing. Her daughter was all she had left.
"I..."
Ye Tangtang bit her lip and said nothing.
Did you think she was upset?
No, you were wrong.
Damn it, I really got fleeced this time!
If I'd known Mommy was coming back, I wouldn't have used the search! That cheating Little Useless System!
Now she did not have a single point, and she owed another 1,000 on top of that.
Ugh, I miscalculated.
"As long as you're back. Tang Tang, you must be hungry. Let's eat. Don't run off again, all right? The palace isn't safe."
Shen Qingqing wiped the tears from her face and led Ye Tangtang into the room by the hand.
The food was already laid out on the table. Ye Tangtang was just about to launch into a feast when that annoying voice rang out outside again.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Ye Tangtang: "..."
Why the hell is my scumbag dad here again? Well, I won't get to see him much longer anyway. Every meeting is one fewer we have left.
Ye Yubei, who had just entered: "..."
The other princes were all so respectful when they saw him. Only this little girl... Forget it. He would not stoop to arguing with her. He had come today to hear whether she had any useful information.
What does she mean, every meeting is one fewer we have left? Is my kingdom about to fall?
Ye Yubei would have been lying if he said he was not panicking. After observing her for the past day, he had discovered that ninety-nine percent of what this little girl said came true!
So he really would be beheaded, his head hung on the city wall, and his eyes pecked blind by crows...
Before you continue