When Luo Yao opened her eyes, everything around her was drenched in red.
Firecrackers, suona flutes, drums—deafening noise filled the air as if the heavens were being torn apart. The bridal sedan chairrocked steadily with the measured steps of the bearers, but every movement felt like a hammer striking her chest.
The air was hot, thick with the stench of smoke, powder, and sweat—like a sticky net wrapping tightly around her.
She lowered her eyelids and squinted slightly.
On her lap lay the weight of a grand crimson wedding robe. Gold threads traced the shape of a phoenix with outstretched wings, glimmering in the light as if it would burst into flames at any moment—so vibrant it stung her eyes.
The phoenix crown on her head swayed slightly, ornaments clinking with each step. The heavy red veil pressed against her forehead, muting her vision into a dull, oppressive haze.
Suddenly—
[Ding—CP Disruption System successfully bound.]
A cold mechanical voice exploded in her mind.
[Current World: Historical Romance Novel – The Regent Only Loves His White Moonlight.
Original Canon Couple: Regent Chu Yan × Princess Yuan, WenRuxue.
Host Identity: Luo Yao, illegitimate daughter. Due to your elder sister's "grave illness," you are forced to marry the Regent in her behalf to ward off the so-called misfortune.]
[Mission Objectives:
1. Successfully dismantle the canon couple and prevent the Regent's emotional collapse and full crossing to the dark side;2. Avoid the future massacre storyline involving the entire Regent's Manor;3. Upon success, the host will receive a "Freedom Contract" and access to World Travel Rights.]
[Failure Condition: Soul erasure, death synchronized with reality.]
Luo Yao's fingertips tightened ever so slightly.
Clenching her back teeth, her voice was cold enough to splinter the air:
"…Say that again, you bastard?"
She remembered herself filing a complaint at the central bureau against the system just a second ago—and now? Thrown into this garish bridal sedan chair?
[Apologies. This task has been forcibly assigned. Host is currently the most compatible candidate for this world.]
"Compatible my ass."
She sneered, her fingers slowly stroking the burning embroidery on her wedding robe.
[Binding Data Record:
Host Personality Tags — High Emotional Intelligence / Max-Level Plot Awareness / CP-Dismantling Success Rate: S.]
"Sucking up won't help!!"
Luo Yao closed her eyes and let out a low chuckle.
"Plus, trusting one of you central AI's 'theories' got me killed once already."
[Warning: This world is classified as High-Risk. This mission is your only viable path to clearance.]
The veil trembled as the tassels brushed against her forehead.
She isn't Luo Yao.
She is Subject 273.
—A failed missioner, one whose soul had shattered in a previous collapse and was barely pieced together before being forcibly sent back online.
She had no home to return to.
No future left to reach.
Only a single breath remaining—clinging to life.
As the thought surfaced, a sharp crack rang out.
Smack—
A slap landed across her face without warning.
The red veil was violently yanked forward, sunlight slashing through like a blade, searing her eyes.
In front of the sedan chair stood a young girl in a pale yellow dress. Her eyes were rimmed with red, her voice sharp and shrill like a wounded bird.
"You—how dare you wear this wedding robe?!"
Luo Yao's cheek flamed where she was struck.
She slowly raised her hand and brushed gently over the burning skin, the corner of her lips curving into something between a smile and a threat.
[Subject Identified: Canon Couple's Heroine—Princess Yuan, Wen Ruxue, the Regent's White Moonlight.]
[Traits: Gentle, skilled in medicine, the only one capable of pacifying the unstable Regent. Currently her emotion is extremely destabilized due to your wedding.]
[Plot Note: The Princess and the Regent were childhood sweethearts, engaged since youth. However, during a palace banquet, she sacrificed her reputation to save the King's third son. Chu Yan believed it a betrayal, his heart turned to ash, yet still he locked her in the manor.]
[When the imperial edict arrived, he smirked coldly and married you instead.]
Luo Yao arched an eyebrow lazily, lips tilted in mockery.
"Tch. Unhinged regent? More like obsessed."
[System Review: Obsession is harder to dismantle than madness. Current task rating: Extremely Difficult. You must create a breaking point.]
Luo Yao's voice came out soft, like pear blossoms blooming in March—but every word was laced with thorns.
"I was only obeying orders."
"The emperor's will cannot be defied."
"If you have grievances, you should not lash out with me—butwith the man you love."
Princess Yuan froze, lips trembling, her eyes welling with tears.
"You have no right—"
Luo Yao cut her off, her tone calm to the point of cruelty:
"Did he prepare this wedding robe for you himself?"
"If he truly loved you, why wait for an imperial decree?"
"He could have defied it. He could have eloped. He could have refused."
"But he did none of those things."
"Now that you lost the quality to cry in front of him, you came here to regain some of your dignity?"
Silence fell like a curtain.
The princess wobbled, barely able to stand. Her maid hurried to support her, hands trembling.
The attendants nearby all lowered their heads. Not a soul dared speak.
[System Update: Acting Performance +2. Heroine's conviction decreased by 3%.]
And at that moment—
The sound of hooves pounded the road.
Iron shoes struck the ground in rhythm, like war drums, sending tremors through the earth.
[System Update: Regent Chu Yan has appeared. Current Degree of Darkening Level: 3%.]
Luo Yao peeked through a slit in the veil.
She saw a stoic and austere figure dismounting from his horse.
A deep purple robe, sword at his hip, each step deliberate and heavy—as if grinding the earth beneath him.
His gaze swept across the scene, lingering only half a second on the sedan chair.
That look, cold and sharp as a blade.
"Yan, I—" the princess's voice trembled, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Chu Yan didn't even spare her a glance.
His voice was cold, lips curled in a mockery of a smile:
"Lift the sedan."
A maid hesitated: "My lord…do you want to unveil the bride first?"
Chu Yan turned slightly, voice colder than ice slicing through bone:
"Doesn't even deserve a glance—from man or beast
The air froze.
Color drained from Princess Yuan's face.
Luo Yao leaned back into the sedan chair, a faint smile playing at her lips.
—What a delightful kind of madness.
[System Notice: Plot Trigger Complete. Upcoming: Princess Yuan breaks into the side courtyard at night, triggering the bloodshed route of the manor.]
The sedan chair lifted, swaying gently.
Luo Yao let the veil fall over her eyes again, dimming the outside world.
She gazed at the filtered light bleeding through the red silk—pale, distant, blurred.
Quietly, she asked:
"…Can I run away?"
[Regrettably, no.]
"…Kill someone, then?"
[…Do you have the strength to win?]
Luo Yao chuckled softly, flicking her fingers over the phoenix embroidery.
"Forget it."
"You're the directors. I'm just the lead actress. But—"
She tilted her head slightly, voice aloof and resolute:
"This script—I'll rewrite it."
[Wishing the host a successful performance in advance.]
Luo Yao smirked.
"Hah. Betting my whole life on a 'successful show'? How thoughtful."