I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 23

Mangkai had never felt that a month could be so long.

During this time, she bought many things she had wanted but couldn’t afford before, yet once purchased, they failed to make her happy.

Mangkai had already photographed and printed several copies of Xun Fangwen’s portrait from the file folder. She didn’t know why she constantly struggled to remember her appearance and could only use this method to forcibly recall Xun Fangwen.

However, the fading of memory was much faster than she had anticipated…

That’s why Mangkai had never looked forward to the ringing of the telephone so much, even though it had been a month.

“Hello there, Miss Mangkai.”

The voice on the other end of the line was still somewhat unfamiliar, but after hearing it for the third time, she was beginning to get used to his tone.

“The new contract has been sent over. You’ve rested for a month. Are you ready to start a new journey?”

Mangkai thought this person spoke like a video game NPC. She couldn’t help but ask in return, “I say, could it be that our world is also a book?”

“Haha, Miss Mangkai, you are truly amusing. Let’s keep the jokes brief. Now, please complete this next mission.”

“Where am I going this time? Will I be able to see Xun Fangwen again?”

“You will meet if fate permits.”

“If fate… permits?”

The bustling city of Chang’an.

The clouds were thick, and flakes of white snow drifted down from the sky.

Mangkai tentatively exhaled a breath. The plume of air turned snowy white the moment it hit the cold air, then dissipated.

She could hear the sound of the snow falling, and she could also hear the cheerful cheers from outside the palace walls of red and green tiles.

Wave after wave of sound.

It was accompanied by the sound of wind instruments and singing from people dancing and chanting.

This place was the prosperous Chang’an.

And Mangkai was an Empress who had been deposed and sent to the Cold Palace.

“Your Highness, it’s cold. Please come inside to warm up.”

The young girl behind her, who looked about sixteen or seventeen, held a lamp and stood behind Mangkai, worriedly saying, “Even if you stand in the courtyard for a long time, His Majesty won’t come to see you.”

Mangkai turned back to look at her, cupped her hands to her mouth, and breathed warm air onto them. She asked, “His Majesty… who is that?”

“Your Highness…”

“Little girl, I’m asking you.” Mangkai turned back to her and said, “Have you heard of a woman named Xun Fangwen here? She’s very beautiful, has very black hair, big eyes, and is around twenty years old.”

“Your Highness, what is wrong?” The little maid said worriedly, “This servant does not know the person you speak of, nor have I heard that name. It’s snowing outside; let’s hurry back.”

Mangkai’s expectant heart suddenly sank.

It seemed Xun Fangwen wasn’t here…

She ran her hand through her hair and said to the little maid, “Alright. It’s too cold outside. Let’s go in first.”

Although she was a deposed Empress, she was still an Empress once. Mangkai’s daily life was not as terrible as one might imagine; it was just desolate, and there were fewer servants.

The little maid bolted the door, then helped brush the snow from Mangkai’s body, and assisted her in changing into a clean, soft outer garment.

A charcoal brazier burned in the small bedroom, warming the room considerably.

Because the window was open for ventilation, Mangkai could still hear the sound of instruments playing outside, which sounded exceptionally festive.

“What’s happening outside?” Mangkai sat on the edge of the bed and asked the little maid. “Why is it so lively so late at night?”

“Your Highness…”

The little maid wrung her handkerchief and knelt on the ground with a ‘thud,’ startling Mangkai.

“Your Highness, please don’t frighten Xiao Lu like this again. Xiao Lu is so scared…” The little maid covered her face and wept, crying brokenly. “His Majesty is marrying a new concubine. Xiao Lu knows you are upset, but a person can’t just live for others. Your Highness, please look at Xiao Lu, look at the people around you.”

Xiao Lu’s eyes were red from crying. “Your Highness, you are a good person. You shouldn’t torment yourself… Wuwuwuwu…”

With that, she started crying again.

Mangkai: “…”

What? I got cheated on (green hat) right after I arrived???

His Majesty… should be the Female Emperor in the text.

That woman and the original body were childhood sweethearts, betrothed at fourteen, married at sixteen, and lived together for eight years as if walking on thin ice.

Mangkai’s character in this book was an abandoned Empress who, after flirting back and forth with that big pig trotter of a Female Emperor, eventually got together for a happy ending.

Counting on her fingers, now was precisely the time when the Female Emperor was marrying a new concubine.

“Alright, Xiao Lu, stop crying.” Mangkai quickly walked over and squatted in front of her, patting the little girl’s head. “You don’t look pretty when you cry. You advised me the same, so don’t cry so sadly yourself.”

Xiao Lu wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffled, “His Majesty is a bad woman! Since she didn’t like Your Highness, why did she marry Your Highness? She is a bad woman, wuwuwuwu…”

Mangkai watched Xiao Lu cry and curse at the same time, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Aren’t you afraid of being heard if you curse your Emperor like that?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lu immediately covered her mouth, cautiously looking around. Her small, red eyes made her look like a little rabbit.

Mangkai found the girl truly adorable—innocent and pure. She couldn’t help but tease, “Come on, tell me, what is your Emperor’s official name?”

Xiao Lu shook her head like a rattle-drum. “Xiao Lu can’t say it. Saying it is disrespectful and will lead to beheading…”

Mangkai pouted. “But you were cursing quite fiercely just now. Weren’t you afraid of being beheaded then?”

“Th-That was because I was worried about Your Highness, wuwuwuwu… Your Highness, please don’t tell anyone. Xiao Lu is so scared, wuwuwuwu…”

“Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Why are you really crying?”

Mangkai patted Xiao Lu’s head, chuckling. “I won’t say anything. Don’t cry anymore. Hurry up and poke the coals in the brazier. It’s time for us to sleep~”

Xiao Lu quickly got up, rubbing her eyes. “Oh… Xiao Lu understands. Your Highness, wait for me. I’ll go warm the bed for you.”

Mangkai: “…”

It’s good to be an Empress. I even have a pretty, obedient little maid to warm my bed.

Mangkai was inwardly delighted. It looked like she made a good profit this time.

At the same time.

Inside the Palace of the Emerald Phoenix, the lights were bright, and people were dancing and singing.

Xun Fangwen supported her head with one hand on the dragon throne, her dark expression revealing no sign that today was her wedding day.

“Your Majesty.”

At this moment, a woman wearing a thin red gauze dress jumped down from the red drum in the center of the stage. She playfully and sweetly ran over and threw herself into Xun Fangwen’s arms, even rubbing against her chest.

Wuwuwuwu, Sister’s chest is so soft. It feels so comfortable to rub against!

Xun Fangwen unhappily pushed her head away and said coldly, “Sit down next to me.”

The woman blushed but didn’t get angry. She giggled and sat down next to Xun Fangwen. When she sat down, she picked up a grape from in front of Xun Fangwen and popped it into her mouth, her eyes crinkling into a joyful slit.

Xun Fangwen looked at her expression and couldn’t help but think of Mangkai.

However, in the vast sea of people, where could she find another Mangkai…?

Besides…

Xun Fangwen looked up at the large goose-feather snow falling outside the palace. She couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

The snow was so heavy.

So heavy that it made her lose her direction.

Eight years had passed since she regained consciousness. Could she truly still wait for Mangkai…?