Ch1 - What are you looking at?

Ye Yang transmigrated into a novel about palace intrigues.

When he opened his eyes again after a serious illness, he became Yun Yang shijun, who had been pushed into a lake and drowned by the female protagonist of the original book, and was inexplicably bound to a Favor System. Whenever the favorability score of the main characters changed, he could easily see each increase and decrease due to the numbers popping up above their heads. 

Like at this moment.

Ye Yang, who had just been fished out of the lake in the imperial garden, was lying on the bed. His nose got a whiff of a faint smell of incense, prompting him to turn his head and gaze at the tyrant Feng Luan, who had arrived late. Afterwards, his eyes drifted to the favorability score above his head, which displayed 71, absorbed in his thoughts.

He recalled the instructions for using the System that had first appeared at that time.

If the tyrant’s favorability score reached past 100, then he’d surely fall in love with him. 

If the tyrant’s score was below 0, he’d probably get killed.

Either way, Ye Yang wouldn’t wish to experience this kind of future.

He had to keep Feng Luan’s favorability within a range that was neither too low nor too high, to preserve his humble life and chastity, and to avoid all the fights in the palace.

71 was just too high. The number had to be lowered.

And so, Ye Yang settled on feigning his amnesia.

The novel mentioned that Feng Luan was cruel, heartless and vicious, being especially fond of frail beauties such as a willow branch trembling in the wind, whilst Yun Yang was the elegant and quiet young master of the Prime Minister Yun’s family, with a gracefulness comparable to that of an immortal—precisely much the same as Feng Luan’s type.

Yet, Ye Yang was different.

He was an upright man from Northeast China, had been a permanent member of an athletic team since elementary school and was a champion at snowball fights. On the other hand, Yun Yang was a willow branch trembling in the wind—whereas he could pull weeping willows upside down. It just so happened his mother came from Northeastern China, and he could use this to his advantage. 

Feng Luan appeared frosty before him, with a solemn demeanor. It gave the impression of him being utterly apathetic even if Ye Yang were to drown in the palace that day. Looking down at him coldly, he inquired, “Yun shijun, what’s the matter?”

Ye Yang winked at him.

Not understanding the meaning behind his action, Feng Luan furrowed his brows, thinking the other had blinked subconsciously.

His face was gloomy and grave; such an expression on his face caused Ye Yang to curl his lips into a smile. Before he could open his mouth to speak, he caught the sight of a number popping up above Feng Luan’s head. 

「Feng Luan’s favorability score has been increased by 1, current favorability score is 72」

Ye Yang, “……”

What? What’s going on? How did a smile make you feel better?!

Ye Yang was momentarily flustered and blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

“Who are you ah?” Ye Yang, the foremost beauty of the imperial harem, asked in a deep, gruff voice. “What are you looking at? Trying to get chopped?”

Mfcu Oejc, “……”

Feng Luan concluded it would be best to invite a Mama to teach Ye Yang court etiquette again.

…… 

Mfcu Oejc, ktb tjv yffc yers klat atf ubnfgcwfca joojlgr bo atf qgfnlber vscjras, vlvc’a kjca ab ilcufg tfgf obg ibcufg; tf tjv jigfjvs glrfc jcv ifoa. Rffvifrr ab rjs, tf kjr lcvloofgfca ab Tec Tjcu’r ojii lcab atf kjafg. Tf Tjcu kjlafv obg j ktlif, lc j vjhf. Zjwj Ol, atf lcragemabg jrrlucfv ys Mfcu Oejc, jgglnfv.

Mama Li, who looked to be in her forties, was carrying a bulging little bag on her back, and as she gazed upon Ye Yang, she hurried to part her lips and utter, “Yun shijun, at this place, when there are many people, conversation flows freely. If you wish to practice court etiquette, I’m afraid it is not convenient to do so.”

Ye Yang, “……”

He believed Mama Li had something she needed to tell privately. Therefore, he ordered for all the servants to leave the chamber. Once everyone stepped out, Mama Li inhaled deeply and fixed her teary eyes on Ye Yang. 

“Young Master, you have suffered!” Mama Li brought out her handkerchief and wiped her tears. “I told Yun daren before that this palace is a den of man-eating monsters. How can there be people dying peacefully here?”

Ye Yang, “…ey?”

Wait a minute, what’s going on? Is Mama Li related to the Yun family in some way?

Mama Li had heard of Yun Yang’s sudden memory loss after falling into water, however she was not in a hurry. It wouldn’t take long until he’d recollect everything he had forgotten. The most important thing at present was to maintain Yun Yang’s imperial favor. 

Considering she was already familiar with Yun Yang, she changed the lesson’s subject and spoke quickly, “Young Master, you probably don’t even remember what your slave had taught you in the past.”

Ye Yang’s mind was so sluggish; he couldn’t comprehend the current situation, but still managed to nod his head.

“It doesn’t matter!” exclaimed Mama Li. “Prime Minister Yun is enjoying the support of those higher-ranking. This slave will certainly help the Young Master gain the imperial favor!”

Taking in the words ‘imperial favor’, Ye Yang couldn’t help but freeze on the spot, feeling awfully mortified. But, Mama Li grinned at him, took off her satchel and lifted it in the air. Her voice rose in intensity as she cried: 

“Take——the——rare treasure of the harem!”

Ye Yang, “……”

Ye Yang froze stiff.

Wasn’t this a court etiquette lesson? 

Let me go! This is not a court etiquette class!

Mama Li lowered her voice and added, “the Emperor works tirelessly when it comes to political affairs, and lacks □□ skills… According to this slave, this matter still needs some careful planning.”

Ye Yang hastily refused, “you don’t have to say any more…”

“Don’t be shy, Young Master. This kind of thing also requires exercise!” said Mama Li. 

Mama Li turned her head to bring out ‘the rare treasure of the harem’ from the satchel on the table. She opened the cloth bag, took something out of it, and stated, “Young Master, look—”

Ye Yang didn’t look.

He blocked his sight with one hand, his cheeks reddening a bit. He was about to decline, when unexpectedly, he heard the loud announcement of the manservant standing outside the door of his chamber.

“This servant kowtows before His Imperial Majesty and Imperial Concubine Chu!” 

Ye Yang shook all over in fear.

Imperial Concubine Chu was the original female protagonist of the novel, Chu Lian, who had also caused Yun Yang to go headlong into the water. And didn’t the tyrant return to the palace? Why was he back!

He also came with Chu Lian!

Chu Lian was definitely not a fuel-efficient lamp, and currently, Yun Yang was a thorn in her side. If she had glimpsed what was in Mama Li’s hand, it would have been tantamount to handing a knife to her, and she would brand Yun Yang as an unequivocal disaster to the harem. 

He reached out to grab the thing in Mama Li’s hand. Surprisingly, this motion startled Mama Li and the object had slipped from her hand, rolling around until it stopped at Ye Yang’s feet.

The chamber’s door had been pushed from the outside.

Ye Yang lost no time to declare, “……Mama, really. Why did you bring the rolling pin if you have nothing better to do? Don’t we have an imperial kitchen—”

He jumped out of the bed nimbly, and being light-footed, he did not hesitate to kick the jade stick under the bed. However, he couldn’t have imagined that Mama Li had no tacit understanding. She had also stretched her leg to push the jade stick with him. 

The stick was made of the finest jade, smooth and gentle to the touch. Ye Yang struck hard with his foot the jade stick, which so happened to be actually booted to Feng Luan’s feet when he stepped inside.

Ye Yang stood there rigidly and barely managed to squeeze out some words to finish the second half of his sentence, abashed. “If Mama really wishes to taste my food, unfortunately we…… we can’t roll noodles in the bedroom.”

Ye Yang, “……”

Imperial Concubine Chu, “……” 

Feng Luan, “……”

Chu Lian trod lightly inside and was dignified as she posed a question. “What kind of rolling pin?”

She fell a few steps behind Feng Luan and was unaware of everything that had just occurred, but Ye Yang died on the spot. He lowered his eyes and hung his head, deciding to admit defeat.

However, Feng Luan tramped on the jade stick; due to his intricate clothing, which almost touched the ground, if one did not look carefully, it was indubitably difficult to discern that he was still stepping on something indecorous. Ye Yang saw it clearly and was taken aback. He could not fathom why Feng Luan did this. 

He could only spot the numbers leaping wildly around Feng Luan.

Feng Luan’s favorability score -1 -1 -1 -1……

「Feng Luan’s current favorability score is 50」

Ye Yang, “……” 

Ye Yang’s heart was like dead ashes.

What the hell was this ultimate social death scene…… and how could he get his dignity back?!

Chu Lian didn’t glance at Feng Luan’s feet at all. She merely smiled sweetly and uttered, “so you know how to cook.”

Ye Yang looked shamefaced, “……you’re too polite. I can cook a little.” 

He was at a loss as to what to do and Mama Li was scared silly. He could only summon up his courage and peek at Feng Luan.

He had no idea why Feng Luan was helping him to cover up this matter, but since he was already doing so, he could only watch and do nothing as to not court death. Feng Luan, who had raised his eyes a bit, looked the same. He lightly called out, “Imperial Concubine Chu, aren’t you going to play chess with Imperial Concubine Shen?”

Chu Lian was stunned. Naturally, she didn’t know why Feng Luan had suddenly mentioned such a thing. Nevertheless, she replied respectfully, “yes.”

Feng Luan, “what are you still doing here?” 

Chu Lian, “I……”

Feng Luan, “Kang Ning, send Imperial Concubine Chu back.”

Chu Lian, “……”

Eunuch Kang Ning took Chu Lian and poor, empty-headed Mama Li away. As soon as the door was shut, only Feng Luan and Ye Yang were left within the chamber. 

Not good, Ye Yang thought the situation was terribly bad.

He was brimming with anxiety, but he didn’t know what to do. He could only beam awkwardly at Feng Luan, and before he had the chance to speak, he heard Feng Luan say slowly, “the Yun family is learned and cultured. Did Prime Minister Yun teach you these things?”

Ye Yang bit the bullet and responded, “……it has nothing to do with my father.”

Feng Luan just pretended not to have heard. 

His facial expression was frosty, and his pair of eyes were like two terribly dark, cold pools, lacking even half of the pity and love for the remarkably favored shijun, as it was rumored. Noticing Ye Yang staring at him nervously, he slightly raised his chin, his attitude bitterly aloof.

“Kneel down,” he commanded coldly. “Pick it up yourself.”