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Lu Hua stumbled back, her heart skipping a beat as a translucent screen appeared before her eyes, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. She blinked, trying to steady herself and make sense of the ethereal words that seemed to float in the air, suspended by some unseen force.

Hello Liu Lu Hua. We regret to inform you that you have failed your first mission. 300 points have been transferred to your system for your hard work. This is your second mission. If you fail this mission, you will no longer be our agent, and all your points will be deducted. You will be sent back, and your existence will be wiped out.

Lu Hua's brow furrowed in disbelief, the gravity of the message sending a chill down her spine. Wipe her out? The idea was both absurd and terrifying. Who was orchestrating this shadowy manipulation of her fate, and what authority did they claim over her life?

A new prompt materialized at the bottom of the screen:

Do you want to use your points? [Yes] [No]

Driven by a curious mix of fear and intrigue, Lu Hua hesitated only for a moment before pressing "Yes," eager to explore the possibilities that lay before her. As she did, another screen unfurled, revealing a list of purchasable items. Her heart sank upon seeing most of the options locked, leaving only two available:

Analyzing System - 150 Super Hearing - 300

"Good lord, why is it so expensive?" she muttered to herself, weighing the implications of each choice.

The concept of super hearing was both alluring and intimidating. The ability to hear every whisper, every murmur, seemed more a curse than a gift, threatening to overwhelm her senses. With a decisive tap, she chose the Analyzing System, hoping it would serve her well.

Analyzing System has been purchased for 150 points.

The screen disappeared, leaving her in a momentary void of blinding white light before her surroundings returned to normal. Lu Hua blinked, and suddenly, her vision sharpened, details leaping into focus with astonishing clarity. Her eyes fell upon a chair, and with a mere glance, the system provided her with its age and origin, as if unlocking the secrets of time itself.

"What year is it?" she murmured, her curiosity piqued by the newfound power.

Xuan Dynasty Year 1050

A grin spread across Lu Hua's face, the novelty of her new ability filling her with a sense of wonder and excitement. She felt a surge of empowerment, eager to see how this gift would aid her in navigating this strange era. Hours later, the maid and the effeminate young man from before re-entered her room, their expressions attentive and concerned. The girl carried a tray with a steaming bowl of soup, her demeanor gentle and solicitous.

"My lady, are you feeling alright now?" she asked, her voice a soft caress.

Lu Hua's eyes, now a tool of precision and insight, immediately began to analyze the girl.

Name: Li Beihe Age: 15 Years Old Height: 163 cm Weight: 46 kg

"Li Beihe," Lu Hua stated, her tone measured and calm.

Beihe's eyes widened with apprehension, her heart skipping a beat. The only time her lady used her full name was in anger, and she braced herself for a reprimand. But to her surprise, Lu Hua merely nodded, her demeanor surprisingly composed.

"Is that your name?" Lu Hua inquired, her voice devoid of malice or accusation.

"Y-yes?" Beihe stammered, momentarily forgetting her lady's memory loss in her nervousness.

Lu Hua's gaze shifted to the handsome, yet effeminate young man, her eyes taking in the details of his persona.

Name: Hong Fuquan Age: 17 Years Old Height: 176 cm Weight: 58 kg

"And you are Hong Fuquan," Lu Hua observed, pointing at him with a newfound confidence.

Fuquan responded with a gentle smile, his voice dripping with melodramatic flair. "Lady Lu Hua has finally regained her memories? What a good news~" he exclaimed, covering his mouth with delicate fingers, his theatrical mannerisms on full display.

Lu Hua stifled a laugh, charmed by Fuquan's flamboyance. She couldn't help but wonder if he was indeed as vibrant as he seemed. The idea of having a friend with such a colorful personality was oddly comforting in this bewildering world.

"Are you gay?" Lu Hua asked bluntly, her curiosity getting the better of her. Beihe and Fuquan exchanged a look, the latter raising an eyebrow in amused confusion. "Ah? My name is not gay, my lady," he replied, his bewilderment genuine.

Lu Hua rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips as she shook her head. "Nevermind," she said, the tension of the moment dissipating into a shared moment of levity.

---

Meanwhile, chaos reigned in the brothel as imperial guards stormed the establishment, their presence a shock to the debauched revelry. The drunken Second Prince was roused from his stupor with rough hands, the woman beside him unceremoniously shoved aside as he was dragged back to the Imperial Palace. There, he lay in his bed, bleary and disoriented, under the furious gaze of the emperor.

"Why are you like this?" the emperor demanded, his voice a thunderous growl that reverberated through the chamber.

"Like what?" Xuan Dexiu replied, his tone insolent, a smirk curling his lips.

The emperor's fists clenched in anger, his patience worn thin. "You! You are becoming like your mother!" he bellowed, his voice raw with frustration.

"My mother loves money; I love whores," Xuan Dexiu retorted, his words dripping with defiance and contempt.

The Empress, standing beside her husband, placed a calming hand on his arm, her voice gentle yet firm. "Prince, this marriage brought good fortune to our family. You are 18 years old; you should understand this," she admonished, her tone laced with disappointment.

Dexiu remained silent, his gaze defiantly fixed on the ornate ceiling, his father's words rolling off him like water off a duck's back. The emperor's anger reached a boiling point, his voice rising to a crescendo. "You are a prince, for God's sake! Act like one!" he shouted, the echo of his words a testament to his fury. "You should be studying, learning the ways of a prince, not squandering your time with whores!"

The Empress intervened once more, her voice a balm to her husband's ire. "Your majesty, please, calm down." Her words seemed to have an effect, and the emperor took a breath, though his gaze remained stern and unyielding.

"If you don't change, I will strip you of your title and give it to your twin brother!" he warned, his voice laced with finality and a father's disappointment.

"Give it to him, then. What do I care?" Dexiu replied, his tone dismissive as he lounged on his bed, the picture of indifference.

The servants exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the room palpable, a silent testament to the drama unfolding before them.

"What kind of man are you? You are a prince, son of an emperor. I'm ashamed to call you my son. I would have rid you if I knew you'd turn out like this!" the emperor shouted, his voice cracking with emotion, the weight of his words a heavy burden.

"Shut up, old man!" Dexiu snapped, his words a dagger aimed at his father's heart, the room falling into a stunned silence.

----

Elsewhere in the palace, two young maids walked briskly through the opulent halls, their voices hushed with intrigue and scandal. "The Second Prince screamed at the emperor to shut up yesterday. Honestly, he is very brave. If it were his grandfather, he would have lost his head," the first maid said, her voice filled with awe and disbelief.

The second maid covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "He's brave, way too brave. If I were him, I would just shut my mouth," she replied, her tone incredulous and tinged with fear.

"He's raised by his mother, the late Second Empress. I heard she came from a brothel and caught the emperor's eye. She climbed the ranks as soon as she entered the palace," the first maid continued, her voice laced with scandalous excitement, the thrill of gossip a potent lure.

"If the emperor fell in love with a whore, then what makes him different from his second son?" the second maid mused, her words tinged with skepticism, a challenge to the sanctity of royal blood.

"Nothing. They are royals; what did you expect?" the first maid replied matter-of-factly, her words a cynical reflection of the world they served.

"Anyway, I heard from a rumor that the Second Prince's wife is ugly. That's why he didn't even bother going to the bride's room," the second maid added, her voice a conspiratorial whisper, the power of rumor a potent force.

Unbeknownst to them, Li Beihe had been hiding behind a pillar, her ears burning with indignation at the overheard gossip. She glared at the oblivious maids, her heart pounding with righteous anger, before hurrying back to her lady's room, determined to share what she had heard, the sting of their words a goad to action.