Stealing the Alluring Heroine from the Battlefield [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 3

“How is Awu? Is she behaving well at the Princess Manor? Has she adapted?”

In the imperial study, Rong Teng eagerly set aside the memorials he was reviewing and turned to the guard who had come to report.

“Your Majesty, Miss Awu is well. As you commanded, the Eldest Princess is treating her as an honored guest, providing her with the finest accommodations and all her needs are met.”

A hint of satisfaction crossed Rong Teng’s face.

“My Eldest Sister naturally knows what’s best.”

“Continue. What does Awu do at the manor? Given her mischievous nature, she must resent me, right?”

The guard recalled the scene he had witnessed, his old face flushing inwardly. Your Majesty, you worry too much. She hasn’t even thought of you.

In the Eldest Princess’s garden, intermittent, short shrieks of surprise mingled with laughter. The clear, lively voices were so infectious that passersby couldn’t help but smile along.

A group of young maids scattered in various corners, covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Fanghua was crouching behind a cluster of flowers, her hair disheveled, completely lacking the usual composure of the Princess Manor’s steward.

Awu stood in the center, her eyes blindfolded with a cloth. Her jade-like ears twitched slightly.

The maids, who were intently watching her every move, instinctively held their breath.

Miss Awu seemed to have a supernatural sense of hearing and position. Even with her eyes blindfolded, one careless slip could lead to her catching you. Once she caught someone, Awu would beam like a little fox that had just devoured a roasted chicken, proudly baring her two pearly white teeth. Her voice, soft and full of triumph, would coo, “Got you!”

The captured maidens’ hearts fluttered wildly at being caught, while the person herself remained blissfully unaware, triumphantly declaring, “Caught another one! The biggest loser tonight has to perform a show for everyone later.”

The maids: !

How to balance being caught by Miss Awu with avoiding having to perform a show.

One of the younger maids’ toes twitched with temptation. Even though she knew she’d have to perform if caught again, she really wanted to feel Miss Awu’s soft arms embrace her once more.

Her face flushed crimson as she edged away.

However, the “sound-locating” Awu’s target this time wasn’t her.

Tongtong, help me find Fanghua.

She hadn’t managed to catch the cautious Fanghua even once. This time, she absolutely had to.

The System watched helplessly as Awu treated it like a cheat code. [ Move forward, left, then keep going. ]

The Host showed no desire to complete missions, explore the map, or actively pursue the Target Character. She spent her days confined to the manor, and within days, her group of cautious and proper maids had been dragged into her schemes, successfully falling prey to become her playthings.

System: …

What else could it do? In consideration of the Host’s lack of prior experience with companions, it would endure a few more days.

You’ve crossed Tongtong’s line? Go ahead and cross it. At worst, I’ll just move.

[ Tongtong, more! Hurry up! ] Awu urged.

[ To your right, behind the flower bushes. Be careful, she’s about to emerge. ] The System retreated into its consciousness space, silently flipping through a parenting book it had somehow unearthed.

Fanghua, squatting behind the bushes, naturally noticed Awu’s target this time. To prevent Awu from pricking herself on the thorns, she stepped out from behind the bushes, ready to surrender.

But when she looked up, she saw Rong Yu had appeared in the garden at some point.

Fanghua reflexively straightened and began to bow, just as Awu’s tiny claws reached for the bushes.

Startled.

A hand shot out before Awu, shielding her and using the momentum to pull her back.

Rong Yu held her in a full embrace, about to help her stand, when her waist stiffened as a pair of soft, boneless little hands gently wrapped around her.

“Caught you!” Awu exclaimed, excitedly removing her blindfold. “The biggest one in the whole manor!”

The maids watching tried to stifle their laughter, afraid of incurring their mistress’s wrath.

Rong Yu frowned slightly, but as Awu opened her eyes, she instinctively raised her hand to shield her from the sudden light.

Just as she’d thought, those eyes were full of life. The moment she opened them, her perfect form seemed to gain a soul.

“How did you know it was me?” Rong Yu asked, genuinely curious.

“They all smell so sweet, but you have no scent,” Awu tilted her head. “Your waist is stiff, but it’s very comfortable.”

Rong Yu smiled. “You’re a very observant young lady.”

Having trained in martial arts for years, she disliked sweating and never used perfume, so her body carried no scent. Yet now, after Awu’s pounce, a faint, warm fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose—not the cloying scent of cosmetics, but something utterly intoxicating.

“Call me Awu,” she said, tossing the blindfold to Fanghua and standing up from Rong Yu’s embrace. She walked toward the nearby pavilion, complaining as she went. “Why don’t you ever play with me?”

Rong Yu followed behind her. “I have things to do. Are you happy here at the manor, Awu?”

Awu gave her a satisfied look, showing she was still being reasonable.

“I wasn’t happy at first, but the people in the manor are very kind. They keep me company, so it’s bearable.”

She settled into a cushioned chair, propped her chin in her hand, and gazed up at Rong Yu with her large, bright eyes.

“Good. You’ve served me well. Each of you will receive two months’ salary as a reward.”

In any era, bonuses are the greatest joy for working people. The maids’ eyes lit up with delight. Remembering the Princess Manor’s strict training, they thanked her in unison.

“Thank you, Miss Awu. Thank you, Master.”

Awu was also pleased.

“You’re quite kind. I’ll have the Emperor reimburse you for this later.” She saw nothing wrong with this statement. The Emperor was her Target Character—his was hers, and hers remained hers.

Rong Yu chuckled softly. “No need.”

Awu didn’t argue. Her gaze fell longingly on the still-chilled cherry ice cream on the table, and she reached for a small spoon.

Another reason she liked the Princess Manor was the abundance of delicious food. The demon realm didn’t have such delights (though Awu might not have known this).

A familiar hand reached out from the side, silently placing itself between her and the bowl of ice cream.

Awu glared at her in displeasure.

Rong Yu patiently explained, “You were running around in the garden just now and haven’t calmed down yet. It’s not suitable to eat ice right now. How about later, okay?”

Host, she’s right.

Awu knew she was right, but she was still a little unhappy.

Rong Yu called out to Fanghua, “Bring Miss Awu a bowl of drink.”

“Would you prefer hawthorn or cherry?”

Awu pouted. “Lychee.”

“Alright. Go ahead.”

Fanghua quickly bowed and hurried off to make the arrangements. She felt a pang of anxiety. If only I’d known Miss Awu was so fond of cold things, I shouldn’t have brought the ice cream so early. This was truly my oversight.

Awu sensed the unusual atmosphere and asked directly, “What’s wrong with them?”

“It’s nothing. They’re worried they haven’t taken good care of your health.” Rong Yu picked up a handkerchief nearby and gently wiped Awu’s palm. Her hair was loosely tied up with a hairpin today, giving her a softer aura. When she lowered her head, her gaze could fall from her lowered eyelids, glide across her high-bridged nose and soft lips, creating a serene, picturesque scene that disarmed all defenses.

Yet this was different from how Fanghua and the others served her.

When she smiled, Fanghua and the others received rewards and rejoiced. When she frowned, they grew restless.

Could Rong Yu also be a universally adored figure?

No, Host, this is power. The System answered her unspoken question.

Power?

Yes, power. It surpasses wealth, beauty, and even human emotions.

If it’s so wonderful, I want it too.

The System rejoiced inwardly, silently encouraging her, You will get it. By winning the favor of the most powerful person, you can gain all his power.

Can’t I get it myself? Awu retorted.

The System: …

Theoretically, yes.

Awu no longer wanted to argue with it. She withdrew her hand from Rong Yu’s.

“If they care for me, they’re my people now, aren’t they?”

Rong Yu watched her with keen interest, anticipating her next words. “Yes,” he nodded.

“If they make me happy, I want to reward them. Can you give me money?”

Rong Yu was intrigued by her. Based on her beauty alone, court officials would surely label her a femme fatale who could get anything she wanted with ease. Yet she remained endearingly straightforward, her thoughts as transparent as a child’s, utterly devoid of the grime of desire.

Rong Yu thought Awu was truly vibrant and a shame to be paired with someone like Rong Teng.

“Of course, I can. I’ll give you five thousand taels, Miss, prepared in silver notes, ingots, and small coins.”

Yun Qi, who had been standing by like an invisible shadow, stepped forward and replied, “Yes, my lord.”

She inwardly marveled, Such a massive sum! Miss Awu is a golden thigh indeed. Can I still cling to her? What a loss! I should have traded with Fanghua instead.

Awu, alerted by the System, was aware that this amount held extraordinary purchasing power in this era, but she found nothing amiss with it.

“Are you treating me so well because of the Emperor?” she asked.

“Not at all,” Rong Yu replied. “It’s my honor to make Miss Awu happy.”

Awu was delighted. “You have excellent taste. I like that.”

Rong Yu smiled faintly without speaking, pushing the lychee drink Fanghua had just brought over toward her and watching her enjoy it.

When Yun Qi returned, she noticed the faint smile on her master’s brow. Instantly, Awu’s status as a golden thigh in her mind rose even higher.

Holding a large tray of silver notes, ingots, and small coins, she respectfully bowed before Awu.

“Your Highness, Miss Awu, the silver notes have been exchanged. The remaining silver and ingots have been counted from the treasury and placed in Miss Awu’s courtyard.”

Awu looked at the “paper” before her. The silver notes, exchanged for 100 and 50 tael denominations, didn’t appear to be a thick stack.

Awu felt indifferent, but she knew the women in the garden would love this.

Yun Qi watched Awu stand up, her toes lingering in front of her, her heart screaming, Could I get a share when Miss Awu starts handing out money later?

She was cunning. The lowest value in the silver ingot tray was five taels, and even the silver fragments were two taels. No matter which one Miss Awu casually handed out, they’d be getting a good deal.

Awu paused before her for a moment, then reached for the stack of 100 tael notes on the far left.

A minute later, Yun Qi announced, “Miss Awu is a celestial fairy, incomparable to any other!”

She had actually distributed those stacks of 100 tael notes to them! Even Yun Qi herself got some!

Yun Qi laughed wildly in her heart. She knew the master would never ask for the money back; no matter how much Miss Awu gave out, they could keep it all.

No more worrying about the master docking her monthly salary for gossiping! Hahahaha!

When she saw the secret guards sent by the Emperor sneak away, she was even more ecstatic. We can even fleece the Emperor! He’ll definitely reimburse this!

What should I do if I want to defect to Miss Awu right now?!

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