Weird, my gaming life

On this day, Lin Yuan had just finished practicing the "Dragon Elephant Rock Technique," his body steaming with vapor, and was preparing to enter the medicine barrel.

"Bang bang bang!"

A rapid, almost frantic knocking shattered the tranquility of the library.

Lin Yuan frowned and scanned the area with his spiritual power. Outside the door was a young palace maid he didn't recognize, her breathing disordered and her face full of anxiety.

He casually threw on a coat and opened the door.

"Young Master Qin... Young Master Qin!"

When the young palace maid saw him, she seemed to have found her pillar of support, her voice trembling with tears, "Please go and see! Something has happened to Her Highness the Princess!"

A glint of purple light flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes, and his voice became extremely gentle.

"Don't panic, tell me what happened slowly!"

The anxious palace maid calmed down the next moment, as if she had met someone who made her feel incredibly at ease.

"This morning, the eldest princess suddenly led a group of imperial guards, claiming to be acting on the Empress's orders, to search the princess's palace. However, they found a wooden figure under the princess's bed with the Empress's birth date and time engraved on it, and it was covered in silver needles!"

Even with Lin Yuan's Purple Illusion Demon Eyes providing mental reassurance, the little girl's body still trembled slightly as she spoke.

"The princess is now confined to her palace. The Empress is furious, accusing the princess of using witchcraft to harm her, and wants to demote her to a commoner and banish her to the Cold Palace!"

Lin Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

The art of witchcraft may have been merely an ancient superstition on Earth in the past, but in this world with its advanced martial arts, it truly exists.

Even in the past, on Earth, where there was no factual basis for such a situation, if this happened in the palace in ancient times, not to mention a princess, even a prince would hardly escape death. Let alone in this world where witchcraft truly exists.

He knew Zhu Wanying's personality well; she was proud but not pretentious, and possessed a rare compassion in the royal family. Lin Yuan would never believe that she would use such despicable means to harm people.

Thinking of that generous girl and every little thing he did with her, Lin Yuan couldn't help but feel a faint murderous intent rising in his heart. She was going to ruin his career!

"The princess sent me out secretly to find you. She said... she said only you can save her now!"

The palace maid sobbed as she pulled a token from her bosom.

Although she didn't understand why the princess would ask her to find a young page at this point, she still meticulously completed the task Zhu Wanying had assigned her.

"This is the princess's personal token. With it, you can move around the palace temporarily."

Lin Yuan solemnly accepted the token and nodded seriously.

"Don't worry! She'll be fine."

After finishing speaking, Lin Yuan straightened his clothes and walked towards the door. Upon seeing this, the palace maid quickly led the way for him.

.......

On the palace path leading to Zhu Wanying's palace, Lin Yuan's steps were quick but not chaotic, and the little palace maid beside him almost had to jog to keep up.

In the depths of winter, the palace's red walls and glazed tiles were covered with a thin layer of snow, the somber atmosphere even more intense than the cold wind. The palace lanterns along the way swayed in the wind, casting the shadows of the two people on the long palace walls, sometimes long and sometimes short.

"Young Master Qin, there are patrolling guards ahead... we're afraid we can't get through!"

The little palace maid's voice trembled with a hint of despair, clearly indicating that the Empress had come prepared. She clung tightly to Lin Yuan's clothes.

Around the corner ahead, a group of heavily armored guards, each wielding a long halberd, were slowly approaching. The clatter of their armor was particularly jarring in the quiet night.

Lin Yuan kept his eyes straight ahead and his feet never stopped.

Just as he was about to collide head-on with the guards, a faint hint of purple flickered deep within his dark eyes.

The head of the guards and the group of guards suddenly looked dazed, as if they were seeing some kind of illusion, and they subconsciously stopped in their tracks.

The captain of the guards rubbed his eyes, and when he looked again, there was nothing in front of him except for the wind and snow swirling with fallen leaves.

"That's strange, am I seeing things?"

He muttered something and led his team to continue their patrol, completely unaware that someone had just walked right under their noses.

The young palace maid covered her mouth, looking at the seemingly young boy beside her in fear. He had led her through an uninhabited place as if it were none of his own. What kind of skill was this?

After passing through several corridors, the Yuhua Palace, where Zhu Wanying lived, came into view in the distance.

The once warm and elegant palace was now completely surrounded by guards holding torches, the firelight reflecting an ominous red hue on the snow.

Inside the palace, the lights were on.

The Empress, dressed in a phoenix robe, sat upright in the main seat, her face ashen.

Beside her, the eldest princess, Zhu Lingyun, had a faint hint of smugness on her lips. She had long disliked her third sister.

She was clearly the eldest princess of the Ming Dynasty, yet her father, the emperor, did not love her the most.

On the ground, Zhu Wanying, dressed in a thin nightgown, knelt alone on the cold bluestone bricks, her face pale, stubbornly biting her lower lip, without uttering a word.

On the black lacquered tray in front of her lay a grotesque wooden figure, covered with countless silver needles.

"Mother, the evidence is irrefutable! My third sister harbored resentment and committed this heinous act of witchcraft. If she is not severely punished, what will become of the royal family's reputation, and what will become of the laws and regulations of the palace!"

Zhu Lingyun's voice was sharp and righteous.

An elderly nanny chimed in, "Your Highness, this evil object was found under the princess's bed. The perpetrator has been caught red-handed; there's no way they can deny it!"

Zhu Wanying suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with stubbornness, but her voice was unusually clear, "I didn't! I've never seen this thing before!"

Zhu Lingyun sneered.

"So, my sister means someone's framing you? What kind of skills does it take to sneak into your palace undetected and plant a wooden doll to frame you? What a ridiculous joke!"

The Empress looked at Zhu Wanying kneeling on the ground, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. This daughter, born to the Emperor's most favored concubine, had always been a major concern for her.

Back then, she was the Empress, but the entire harem revolved around that vile woman Yang Guifei, leaving her, the Empress, aside.

If it weren't for her father's powerful position, it's questionable whether she could have kept her position as empress.

Fortunately, that wretched woman died early, and her life became a little easier. However, her only daughter, who was favored by the emperor every day, was still a thorn in her side.

"Zhu Wanying, what else do you have to say?"

The empress's voice was devoid of any warmth.

Just as Zhu Wanying was about to retort, a deep voice came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing again!"

Zhu Hongyuan's voice boomed like thunder throughout the Yuhua Palace.

He strode in, the hem of his dragon robe billowing in the cold wind, each step seeming to pound on everyone's hearts.

The Empress and Princess Zhu Lingyun's expressions changed, and they quickly stood up and curtsied.

"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects."

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Hongyuan didn't look at them; his gaze was fixed on Zhu Wanying, who was kneeling on the ground. Seeing his daughter, whom he held in the palm of his hand, with her thin figure and pale face, the anger in his eyes almost solidified.

"Empress!" His voice was filled with suppressed rage.

The Empress slowly straightened up, her face regaining its usual composure, but her tone remained devoid of warmth.

"Your Majesty, what I'm doing should be asked of your beloved daughter, Princess Changping."

She extended her well-maintained hand and pointed to the wooden figure on the tray.

"Caught red-handed, accused of using witchcraft to curse me. Your Majesty, what should I do?"

Zhu Hongyuan stared intently at the grotesque wooden figure, his chest heaving violently.

He certainly didn't believe that his most beloved daughter would do such a thing, but the evidence was right in front of him, and it was found by the Empress herself. He couldn't find any reason to refute it for a moment.

The Empress's family has deep-rooted influence, with half of the officials in the court having connections to her family. In addition, the Crown Prince is her son. If not handled properly, it could lead to turmoil in the court.

For a moment, this supreme ruler felt a sense of powerlessness. He could protect his daughter for a time, but he could not protect her for a lifetime.

Yes!

He had neglected the Empress back then, but if it weren't for the Empress's insistence on marrying him and her use of her father's power as the Prime Minister to coerce him...

How could she possibly marry such a woman and become empress? He had clearly told her before that he loved Consort Yang, the woman who had shared his hardships when he was down on his luck.

However, the Prime Minister's Mansion completely ignored him. This prince, who had just been recognized from the streets, kept telling him that he was the emperor's only son, but if he didn't marry the Prime Minister's daughter as empress, he wouldn't be able to secure the throne.

If the throne falls to a collateral branch, it's uncertain whether he and Consort Yang will be able to live a good life.

Threatened in this way, in order to protect Yu Huan, he, who did not understand the true nature of the royal family, had no choice but to marry Lady Ye and make her empress, thus stabilizing the court.

It was originally an exchange of interests, with everyone getting what they wanted. Since he still harbored a hidden anger at being deceived, it was impossible for him to treat Empress Ye very well.

But this woman, who neither threatened his position as empress nor had any intention of changing the crown prince, was still not satisfied. Now she even wanted to harm his most beloved daughter.

Zhu Hongyuan was so angry he was almost gritting his teeth.

"I didn't! Father, I really didn't!"

Zhu Wanying finally couldn't hold back her tears and rushed towards Zhu Hongyuan, crying out, but was stopped by the guards.

"Father, my third sister is young and doesn't know any better, but she has made such a big mistake, so she must be punished." The eldest princess, Zhu Lingyun, kindly advised from the side, but she could hardly hide the pleasure in her eyes.

Just as Zhu Hongyuan was about to explode, a clear and youthful voice suddenly rang out from the palace entrance.

"Your Majesty, this item is fake. Princess Changping has been framed."

All eyes turned to the doorway.

Suddenly, a young boy dressed in a blue robe appeared at the doorway.

Behind him stood the little palace maid who had brought the news, trembling with fear.