The Mandatory Sweetheart Protocol (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

Manluo frowned at the bottleneck in her cultivation. Achieving human form was already a rare blessing, but without a stroke of fate or a new breakthrough, she might stagnate in this realm for who knew how long. Her fingertips brushed the snow-white silk tassel dangling by her cheek, the corners of her eyes pinked like dewdrop-kissed plum blossoms—a visage of creamy porcelain skin and pearly radiance, her sharpest disguise. "Ding——Perfect Host Compatibility Detected: 99.9%!"The newly minted Wifey System 1009 erupted in blue light within her spiritual sea as Manluo sipped tea beneath a wisteria arbor. The glowing white fluffball hadn't even finished "I am your dedicated—" before her vine-shaped spiritual power coiled around it like a knotted yarn ball. "B-b-binding is to help you conquer three thousand small worlds!" the system squirmed through the vine cracks, fluffy ears shaking off stardust, "You can exchange for Beauty-Enhancing Pills, Youth-Preserving Ointment, and time-space travel privileges!" Manluo's eyelid twitched. Time-space travel? Those words made her fingertips tighten—here, only those who attained the Great Dao could tear through spatial barriers. How could this mysterious system achieve that? "Explain this 'conquering'." Her voice was as gentle as spring wind, but poison seeped from her palm into the vines penetrating the system's core. While pretending to listen to the rookie system's mission briefing, her spiritual sense weaved traps like silent spider silk. When the system proudly displayed "Emperor's Heart-Tugging Talisman" and "Imperial Concubine's Seductive Bone Fragrance" in the mall, Manluo chuckled. What need had a venomous flower spirit for external charms? Still, the "Otherworld Passage" redemption options made her eyes flicker. "What happens if I fail?" she interrupted suddenly, vines constricting until the system ball yelped."T-three revival chances!" the system activated its cutest expression, round eyes pooling with moisture, "And high mission scores get you paid vacations!" Paid vacations? Manluo's hidden spiritual sense tapped the system's core, finding a fragile defense barrier. She stealthily turned a wisp of mental power into pollen, slipping through the energy cracks the system leaked in excitement—this thousand-year-old poison vine excelled at planting deadly traps in gentle disguises. Fine snow fell on the Forbidden City in the 16th year of Kangxi's reign. Manluo studied the reflection of an 18-year-old girl in the mirror, fingertips grazing the Guo Luoluo clan's jade collar— the system had intended to bind her as Consort Yi's sister, but she'd secretly altered the spawn point. "Host! Why choose an unscripted role?!" the system panicked in her spiritual sea, "The original plan was for you to become Kangxi's favored concubine! Now Consort Yi is sending you to the palace maid selection! If you fail, you'll have to marry!" Manluo smirked at the mirror, east pearl earrings casting tiny rainbows. Fail the selection? She intended to shatter the script. When Consort Yi obtained the "exemption from selection" grace from Kangxi, the ambition swirling in Manluo's downcast eyes was undeniable—the Shumulu clan's marriage proposal had lain on the Guo Luoluo desk for three days. When the bridal sedan chair entered Yingcheng Duke Manor in the 17th year of Kangxi's reign, her mother-in-law's glare was colder than winter lake ice. "A wife should be virtuous," the old lady snapped, eyeing the ruby hairpin in Manluo's temple, "Such beauty brings nothing but jealousy." Manluo's fingertips pressed against her husband's feverish hand, her gaze sweeping past the concubine hiding behind the corridor pillar. On their wedding night, as Fushan carried her to the carved bed in a drunken haze, the smile on her lips burned hotter than the red wedding candles—inside this young body dwelled the spirit of a vine that could wither all flowers. Three years later, a plain white carriage halted at Guo Luoluo Manor. Manluo's hand on the door was as pale as paper, her figure beneath the mourning clothes so frail it seemed the wind might shatter her. But when she lifted her head, the tearstain at her eye corner left the welcoming clan breathless—this vulnerable beauty was even more stunning than on her wedding day. "Milady, please accept our condolences." The steward dared not meet her gaze, yet heard her soft request: "Prepare a quiet room. I wish to copy Buddhist scriptures for my husband's soul." In her sleeve, the system transferred its last energy into points, unaware its core was already entangled in Manluo's venomous spiritual threads. Snow fell soundlessly. Manluo traced the "Time-Space Travel" option on the system interface, watching her reflection regain color in the mirror. What script shall the next world hold? Her smile chilled, the mirror revealing blood-red vines coiling in the eyes of this thousand-year flower spirit.