What? Song Juyao was stunned. Under the female prison guard's urging, she quickly washed up and changed into new clothes.
"You'll get to meet the King! My goodness, you'll have a chance to speak with His Majesty, a chance to no longer participate in this show, to have the King's review panel reinvestigate your case..." The female prison guard was even more excited than her, clearly also believing that Song Juyao had been wrongly accused.
These clothes clearly weren't prepared by the prison guard - the fabric felt soft and comfortable, the cut was excellent, and the style was elegant yet understated with subtle luxury. One look and you could tell they were expensive. If not from the guard, they must have been sent by someone from the palace.
Of course, they couldn't let her meet the ruler of this land, the country's most noble sovereign, wearing prison clothes.
But why did the King want to see her? She had performed exceptionally well in several episodes, perhaps catching the palace's attention early and prompting the King to take notice of her case, sending an investigation team ahead of schedule to uncover the truth. This was one of the possibilities she had considered before, one that could only benefit her.
Yet why, now that this day had actually arrived, did she feel no joy at all, but rather an inexplicable unease?
Meanwhile, when the major shareholders behind the Judgment Show received word from the palace, they grew nervous. The palace was looking for Song Juyao?! Why? Had her outstanding performance caught the King's attention? That seemed too far-fetched! No matter how excellent she was, it was just a variety show - how could it catch the King's attention?!
The chamberlain who came to pick up Song Juyao was a very young man with a sunny disposition and a smile that bloomed like spring flowers.
"Hello, Miss Song. I am Duke Murphy's chamberlain, here to invite you to attend his dinner at the palace."
The Duke's chamberlain, not the King's.
Song Juyao's heart suddenly relaxed, and she couldn't help but smile. She must have been obsessing - how could she have been thinking of something so absurd?
If Jiang Baiqi in the virtual world was the King, and she was his destined person, how could he bear to watch her suffer without taking any action, knowing she was enduring hardship?
If she was his destined person and he truly wanted to find her, how could he fail? If he was her little dust, he would dig open the gates of hell itself to find her if she were there.
That's exactly why she couldn't accept it, wasn't it?
Therefore, Ah-Qi couldn't possibly be the King.
The major shareholders who received their answer also breathed sighs of relief - so it wasn't the King's chamberlain after all. They knew it - the King already disliked this show, and his temper hadn't been good in recent years. How could he watch a show he despised? Palace staff wouldn't risk irritating him with such matters either.
Thank goodness - they'd worried their money tree might disappear.
The car had no license plate, only bearing the symbol of the land's ruler - anyone would recognize it as a palace vehicle. It used special designated lanes, and if they encountered traffic lights, smart sensors would immediately trigger warnings and change signals to ensure uninterrupted passage.
As Song Juyao watched the scenery fly past outside the window, her mind began to wander again.
Many people lived in the palace, but only one person could host banquets there and invite a criminal to attend - Duke Murphy.
Duke Murphy didn't have the ruler's bloodline. He was an exceptionally brilliant scientist who had once been the King's assistant, helping create the virtual world system. His numerous contributions earned him his title and privileges others didn't have.
Song Juyao didn't know much about this Duke, only vaguely remembering reports describing him as an unremarkable-looking, taciturn man... Hm?
Song Juyao paused as a thought suddenly struck her - could Jiang Baiqi be him?
Living in the palace with access to the virtual world's main system, unremarkable appearance, rare intelligence that earned him fame and status - it all matched how she imagined Jiang Baiqi would be in reality. As for why he hadn't helped her in the real world, perhaps he had some difficulty he couldn't speak of?
In any case, if she met Jiang Baiqi, she would surely sense it. She would recognize him at first glance.
She began to look forward to this palace visit.
……
The Palace.
The King breathed heavily, raising his hand to his forehead and feeling intense heat.
His mood was terrible. After driving away the cabinet elders and chamberlains who tried to make him submit to destiny, he developed a high fever.
The discomfort had changed. Before, he only felt alternating hot and cold, and could at least expel the heat and chill from his body. The discomfort had been superficial. Now it was different - he was sick, like a human.
Like a human...
He opened his eyes, filled with piercing killing intent.
Happy for your happiness, pained for your pain, all emotions controlled by one person - was this a blessing? It was clearly a curse. Surely cunning humans had seduced the first land ruler, creating this so-called destiny that brought them no benefit at all.
He had never felt anything until 22 years ago when Song Juyao was born into this world. In that instant, it was as if something had fallen into his calm, stable, mechanical world, creating strange, disconcerting chemical reactions.
He hated things beyond his control and disliked having mysterious emotions disrupt his experiments. He knew how previous kings had fallen. So before long, he ruthlessly abandoned that heart that kept calling him to find her. But he didn't expect that even after discarding that heart, he would still be affected by Song Juyao.
This only made him angrier, as if he were being coerced. Even so, he had no intention of searching for that person. He wouldn't submit to so-called destiny by giving himself to a fickle human.
He hadn't expected that the heart he'd discarded would stubbornly find her on its own.
Jiang Baiqi didn't believe she would love him, because he knew he was just a heart, an accessory. What could a heart do? When that human learned she was the King's destined person, wouldn't her choice between the King and a mere heart be obvious?
But Jiang Baiqi worried needlessly - he would absolutely never submit to destiny and accept any destined person.
……
The cabinet elders waited eagerly in the palace.
After staying up late watching the first two seasons and the newly released first video of the third season, they had set aside their prejudices against Song Juyao. Destiny surely wouldn't humiliate the King so - Song Juyao's performance in the virtual world was outstanding, showing noble character, wisdom, kindness, courage, and intelligence. She must have been wrongly accused.
Unfortunately, their stubborn King still refused to accept his destined person, and they dared not act on their own to order the review panel to help Song Juyao, challenging the King's authority and bad temper.
They could only find a chance to invite Song Juyao into the palace and see if destiny would guide them to meet. Additionally, news of Song Juyao being invited to the palace couldn't be hidden - many would know, and those planning to harm her in secret would have to carefully weigh whether they dared take such risks.
Finally, they saw the car returning with Song Juyao.
"Quick, quick..."
"Wait! Wouldn't rushing out to greet her seem too eager?"
"Y-yes, it would..."
The old men and women who had rushed out hurriedly ran back to hide, secretly peeking out.
"...She's so beautiful, just too thin."
"Indeed, too thin..."
"The prison food must be terrible. She's suffered so much, no wonder His Majesty is so distressed."
"..."
Song Juyao's steps faltered and she looked back, but the heads quickly withdrew - she saw nothing.
She didn't pursue it further. There were many surprised gazes falling on her from all directions - people attending the banquet who perhaps recognized her from the show and were shocked to see a criminal in the palace.
The sky grew increasingly dark, the wind howling, without a trace of sunlight - it seemed like night already.
But even in such darkness, it was still morning, not the usual time for banquets. Song Juyao had been somewhat confused before, and after following the chamberlain into the venue, she felt even more that this banquet seemed hastily arranged. Overall it appeared fine, but many details gave it away.
For instance, some petals on the decorative flowers had wilted.
Had Duke Murphy hurriedly prepared this banquet and invited her because he wanted to meet her?
Song Juyao grew even more eager to meet Duke Murphy.
"Miss Song, I didn't expect to see you here." A male voice rang out. Song Juyao turned to see a young man in a burgundy wool suit with shoulder-length wavy black hair. His smiling expression seemed somewhat flirtatious yet charming, with a hint of wild abandon.
"You are?"
"I'm Yun Yang. You might not know, but I helped you in the second episode. I'm the one who had the show release the childhood videos of you and Jiang Mi early." Yun Yang said with a smile, his phoenix eyes fixed on her with an almost mesmerizing gaze.
So he was one of the major shareholders of the Judgment Show. Song Juyao said, "Hello."
"Come, it's rare to get out and breathe fresh air. Don't waste this wonderful time - have a drink." Yun Yang smiled and clinked glasses with her.
"Thank you, but given my sensitive status, returning drunk wouldn't be appropriate," Song Juyao said with a smile.
Many people wondered why Song Juyao was invited, but they did not show it on their faces and only inquired secretly.
Song Juyao had been waiting for Duke Murphy for almost an hour. Her feet were tired from wearing high heels, but there was no sign of him.
"Isn't Duke Murphy coming out?" Song Juyao asked Yun Yang.
Yun Yang said, "Hmm... I doubt it. He's eccentric, changes his mind on a whim, holds banquets whenever he wants, but he's also very busy. It's normal for him to not come out if something happens."
"Then how can I meet him?"
Yun Yang raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled why Song Juyao wanted to see Murphy work. Had she set her sights on this golden thigh? He unconsciously glanced at his own legs.
"If you want to see him, you'd probably need to go to the Science Academy. Turn left after leaving the hall and go straight - it's behind Cangwu Courtyard," Yun Yang continued.
Song Juyao wasn't sure if her status as a criminal would allow her to wander freely. She wanted to find someone to ask but didn't know who to turn to. So she tried walking out, and the soldiers guarding the hall entrance didn't stop her.
Author's Note:
I don't want to spoil anything, but you can safely view Qiqi and the King as two different people. The male lead is Qiqi - how could someone as adorable as little dust not be the male lead! Remember, Jiang boy is absolutely obsessed with the female lead!!!
PS: Let me recommend my other completed works with lovable male leads: 《女主醒来后[快穿]》,《女王制造商[重生]》,《我可能不会爱你》and for face-slapping satisfaction there's《快穿之横行霸道》~