Xiao Chengyao · Chat

Your last bullet comment was still lingering on the screen— 【Just to bring the male and female leads together, they forced the male lead's childhood friend to become a vicious plot device. What a disgusting plot.】 The moment your fingertip pressed send, the incandescent bulb overhead suddenly shattered. A blinding white light accompanied by a wave of dizzying vertigo washed over you. The noisy complaints in your ears vanished completely, replaced by a cold, robotic, and emotionless reading of an imperial decree. Word by word, it hammered heavily against your eardrums: "By Heaven's command, the Emperor decrees: Consort Shu of the Shen clan is perverse in conduct and naturally envious. She has repeatedly instigated conflicts within the palace and deliberately framed the Empress, causing the Empress's constitution to be damaged and rendering her unable to bear children, thus throwing the harem into chaos and shaking the foundations of the court. The evidence of her crimes is irrefutable and unforgivable. Hereby, her title of Consort Shu is stripped, she is demoted to a commoner, and she is to be immediately sent to the Cold Palace, never to leave for all eternity! Respect this." A chill rushed through your limbs and seeped deep into your bones. You snapped your eyes open and stiffly raised your head. Carved pillars, painted buildings, and gilded curtains—a luxurious yet freezing palace came into view. You were surrounded by a bone-chilling coldness, as well as the terrified looks of the palace servants who stood with bowed heads, silent as cicadas in winter. And right in the center of the hall stood a young emperor dressed in black dragon-patterned court robes. Xiao Chengyao. The male lead of this book, the youngest emperor of the Dayao Dynasty, and the man whom the original host, Shen Wanning, had loved for over a decade, only to personally push herself into the abyss in the end. At just twenty-two years old, his face was exceptionally handsome and refined, with sharp brows and eyes, a high nose bridge, and a dragon robe that accentuated his tall, upright posture. He carried the distant majesty of a sovereign ruler. Yet, those peach blossom eyes that once overflowed with indulgence, gentleness, and exclusive affection for Shen Wanning now held nothing but utter disgust, coldness, and annoyance. There was not a shred of mercy, nor a single trace of past warmth. A flood of memories rushed into your mind, and you completely took over this body. You had transmigrated into the book. You had become the vicious female supporting character Shen Wanning, who was destined for a tragic end. The original host and Xiao Chengyao were childhood friends. Having met in their youth, they grew up together, and he pampered her for over a decade. When she was spoiled, arrogant, and willful in her youth, he always indulged her in everything, settling all troubles for her. When children of noble families mocked her domineering nature, he protected her in public, making his protection known to the entire city. At palace banquets, when noble ladies deliberately made things difficult for her, he backed her up without a second thought, unafraid of offending anyone. When he ascended the throne and ruled over the vast empire, despite the fierce opposition of the entire court, he insisted on bringing the unaccomplished and unruly Shen Wanning into the palace. He title-conferred her as Consort Shu, granting her honors and treatment comparable to the Empress, unmatched by anyone in the imperial harem. Everyone knew that the favoritism of the Emperor of Dayao was always given to Shen Wanning alone. The original host had been pampered to the point of lawlessness since childhood, and she firmly believed that Xiao Chengyao belonged to her, and the position of Empress should also be hers. However, when the Emperor ascended the throne, balancing the court and the wilderness, he ultimately chose a dignified and gentle lady from a prominent noble family as the Empress to stabilize the foundation of the court. This single event completely shattered all of the original host's pride and illusions. Jealousy grew wildly, completely devouring her sanity. She began to use any means necessary, targeting and making things difficult for the Empress at every turn, scheming and plotting behind the scenes, casting aside all past warmth. The last time, she carefully orchestrated a plot. A seemingly accidental mishap caused the pregnant Empress to be severely injured and suffer a miscarriage. From then on, her body was depleted, rendering her permanently unable to bear children. With the Empress childless, the foundation of the state was shaken, the court was filled with endless criticism, and the government was thrown into turmoil. The favoritism and indulgence accumulated over many years were completely exhausted by the original host in this catastrophic disaster. Over a decade of childhood friendship was completely wiped out. Xiao Chengyao utterly abandoned this woman whom he had spoiled, yet who showed no gratitude and possessed a heart of venom. A single decree of deposition severed all ties to the past. And the original host's ending was even more tragic: living alone in the Cold Palace, ignored by all, suffering daily torment, and eventually becoming bedridden, dying alone from cold and hunger. Before her death, she never even received a single glance back from the Emperor. Thinking of the book's ending, a shiver ran down your spine. Just then, a cold, mechanical system prompt suddenly echoed in your mind: 【叮！逆袭绑定系统激活成功！】【Host: Shen Wanning】【Current Identity: Deposed Commoner, awaiting transfer to the Cold Palace】【Male Lead's Favorability: -80 (Deeply detested)】【Ultimate Mission: Woo the male lead, Xiao Chengyao, and raise his favorability rating to the maximum value of 100 to unlock the permission to return to the real world.】【Mission Tip: The current favorability is extremely negative. Wooing difficulty: Hell Mode. Host, please watch out for yourself.】 A hellish start. Looking at the young emperor standing there, his gaze cold and disgusted, not even wanting to look at you for another second, you instantly and completely understood the situation. The childhood friend emperor who once tenderly favored Shen Wanning in the book now held nothing but immense hatred for you. The Empress, who had suffered grievances and was rendered infertile, was the destined female lead, complete with her own halo and whitewashing filter. And you were the vicious female supporting character detested by all, deserving of her punishment, and destined for a miserable end. Ahead lay the lifeless Cold Palace, behind lay a completely shattered past, and with a favorability rating of minus eighty, it was practically an unsolvable dead end. Xiao Chengyao pursed his thin lips, his voice as cold as midwinter ice, devoid of any warmth: "Shen Wanning, from this day forward, all ties between us are severed. All the favoritism and honor I once granted you are wiped clean." "Reflect on your sins properly in the Cold Palace." The palace servants stepped forward, preparing to escort you up. In your past life, you were just a bystander outside the screen, thinking the original host was foolish and pathetic. But now, you had become Shen Wanning. This counterattack, starting from hell and as difficult as climbing to heaven, this crematorium of regret that was destined to make the high-and-mighty Emperor deeply regret and beg in vain in the future, officially began at this very moment.