LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 1 - First Encounter at the Imperial Academy—Luo Jinxuan
Imperial Academy
Lu Ping quietly stared at the judgment from the Si Kou Manor in his hand, finally confirming that he wasn’t dreaming.
First, he was a transmigrator.
Second, if given the choice, Lu Ping would have preferred to continue working 996 hours a week. Transmigration? Whoever wants it can have it!
This situation is absolutely mortifying!
On the first day after his transmigration, Lu Ping spent his time at the Si Kou Manor.
As for the reason… well, after accepting an invitation to a relative’s banquet, he was forced to get involved in a case concerning a women’s quarters.
To put it plainly, it involved accusations of arranging blind dates for women.
In broad daylight!
Let’s not even mention that this happened before he transmigrated—his predecessor had strictly adhered to the rites, attending the banquet without overstepping any boundaries.
Yet he was accused of such a crime. What kind of malicious intent was this?
The good news is that after the investigation at the Si Kou Manor, he was released without charges.
The bad news is that no one cared whether he was innocent, nor would anyone step forward to clear his name. His reputation was utterly ruined.
The dynasty he transmigrated into is called the Great Jing Dynasty, which bears a striking resemblance to the Zhou Dynasty from his previous world. Both implement a feudal system, governing the country with rites.
In an era where rituals and music still hold sway, the importance of reputation goes without saying. Regardless, his official career was already bleak.
Fortunately, he was of royal blood and was currently a scholar at the Imperial Academy. Perhaps there was still a chance to coast through life?
[Would you like to start the simulation?]
Lu Ping calmly opened the game in his mind, which was also his golden finger after transmigration—the [Fate Simulator.]
It was a single-player cultivation game he used to play before his transmigration. In the game, players start as scholars and can rise through the ranks to become nobles or ministers in the capital by mastering the Six Arts. They could also join the frontier to defend against foreign invasions, expand territories, and be conferred as lords, or they could choose to live in seclusion, seeking immortality.
Of course, most players were drawn to the beautifully illustrated female characters in the game.
You thought you were playing a game?
In reality, you were nurturing the illustrations!
After transmigrating, not only did he come to this world, but the game also followed him.
Although the golden finger wasn’t perfect, he didn’t mind.
Things couldn’t get any worse anyway, so passing the time by playing the game didn’t seem so bad.
It’s worth mentioning that after his transmigration, the game had updated with many new female characters.
With that in mind, Lu Ping activated the [Fate Simulator] in his mind.
After much deliberation, he chose the heroine who appealed most to him, the Han Marquis, and began his pursuit.
‘In reality, they falsely accused me of arranging blind dates for women. In the game, can’t I at least enjoy myself?’
‘I must chase after her thoroughly!’
[Initializing, please prepare…]
Before Lu Ping could prepare, the game screen suddenly flickered.
[Loading Map—]
[Identity Confirmed—]
[Your Origin: Royal Bloodline (Minor Branch)]
[Randomly Assigning Talent, Your Talent for This Simulation is: A Hero Like Lü Bu!]
[A Hero Like Lü Bu: You are naturally skilled in archery and horse riding, brave and warlike. Your martial arts talent has greatly increased, as has your military strategy, but your political acumen and moral integrity have decreased.]
As he looked at the golden “A Hero Like Lü Bu” talent, Lu Ping fell silent.
In the [Fate Simulator], each simulation randomly assigns a talent that serves as an inherent ability in that life.
By all rights, this talent was worthy of its golden legendary status, practically making one a natural-born general. The problem is…
This is Lü Bu we’re talking about!
The legendary invincible flying general, but someone known for his fickle nature, often ridiculed as a “servant of three families.”
“A life of wandering, never meeting a wise lord;
A man of great stature, born between heaven and earth, should he live in obscurity under others for long?
Old scoundrel, take my halberd!”
Suddenly, Lu Ping felt a cold sweat.
The [Fate Simulator] predicts actions based on a character’s personality, with talent greatly influencing their behavior.
While the game offers a high degree of freedom, players cannot take actions that go against the character’s wishes.
In other words, if the protagonist in the simulator decided it was time to pledge allegiance to a different father or stage a rebellion, Lu Ping wouldn’t be able to silently refuse.
Could it be that he would end up as a “servant of three families” as well?
But then Lu Ping thought, it’s just a game, not reality.
Besides, after transmigrating, he was the only player in the game.
Could anyone possibly obtain the simulation’s memory and track him down in reality?
It’s just a single-player cultivation game!
Lu Ping stopped overthinking and decided to continue playing.
…
Luoyang, Han Marquis’s Mansion.
In the grand mansion, the columns were intricately carved with dragon and phoenix motifs, and jade pendants and antlers hung from the gate, showcasing the marquis’s authority and nobility.
In the main hall, a refined woman, dressed in luxurious black ceremonial robes, sat with poise at the head of the room.
[The Fate Simulator is starting, please prepare…]
[Would you like to start the game?]
Luo Jinxuan, the Han Marquis, suddenly heard a strange voice in her mind, followed by a screen appearing before her eyes.
The right minister, Li Wenfu, continued speaking in a solemn tone, oblivious to the vision before her, “Jinxuan, the king recently intends to establish a crown prince. You must prepare yourself.”
Luo Jinxuan quickly glanced at the game screen, realizing that her uncle seemed unaware of the strange occurrence. She calmly replied, “I understand, Uncle. I’ll need to rely on you in the future.”
Li Wenfu stroked his beard and smiled, nodding slightly.
The current king had no sons, only five daughters, with Luo Jinxuan being the eldest.
“There may be some turmoil in the court in the coming days. Learn the rites and avoid asking too many questions… I will handle the court matters; you needn’t worry.”
Luo Jinxuan absentmindedly nodded in agreement.
After Li Wenfu finished his instructions, Luo Jinxuan escorted him out of the mansion and immediately dismissed her attendants.
“I’m tired. Unless it’s something urgent, do not disturb me.”
“Understood!”
[Would you like to start the game?]
Luo Jinxuan clicked on the game screen and chose “Yes.”
[In the year 517 of the Jing Calendar, a major political scandal suddenly erupted in the court, with many royal relatives accused of violating rites and reprimanded by the emperor.]
“Is this the turmoil my uncle was referring to?”
Luo Jinxuan had heard some rumors about this matter, which seemed to match the information on the screen.
[The next day, a royal scholar named Lu Ping, who was inadvertently involved in a women’s quarters case, seeks to become your retainer. Would you like to accept?]
Luo Jinxuan instinctively frowned. A women’s quarters case—at best, it’s about improper conduct and licentious behavior. At worst, it’s outright defiance of the emperor’s orders, considering her father had once decreed the abolition of women’s quarters in the capital.
However, seeing the words “inadvertently involved,” perhaps he was truly innocent?
At this critical moment in the struggle for succession, though the royal family had suffered a setback, its influence was still considerable.
Accepting this royal scholar might provide an opportunity to win over the royal family in the future.
Thus, she chose to accept.
The screen shifted, and a character portrait of a man named Lu Ping appeared before her.
[A man born under heaven and earth should wield a three-foot sword to achieve immortal feats.]
[With the grace of my ancestors and the favor of the saintly king… I wish to go to the border to conquer the Quanrong, eliminate traitors, restore the royal family, and return to the old capital!]
[I humbly request the princess’s approval.]
“Haojing?”
Luo Jinxuan narrowed her eyes, resting one hand on her chin while gently tapping the table with the other.
Which royal descendant hasn’t dreamed of restoring the royal family and returning to the old capital?
But after so many years, who has truly succeeded?
Even her brilliant and mighty father, who ascended to the throne at a young age, reclaimed power in just over a decade, and pacified the court, was still trapped in Luoyang, unable to launch a western campaign.
Could a mere royal descendant accomplish this?
Luo Jinxuan didn’t know if Lu Ping had ulterior motives or if he genuinely harbored such aspirations.
But considering his circumstances, the only path left for him seemed to be the military.
[You don’t think highly of his ambitions, but for the sake of the royal family, you decide to give him some support.]
Suddenly, a golden exclamation mark appeared on Lu Ping’s character portrait. Luo Jinxuan realized she could now access the character’s information card.
[First Encounter at the Han Marquis’s Mansion—Lu Ping]
[Character Introduction: Courtesy name Zheng, a descendant of King Huan, royal offspring, currently a scholar at the Imperial Academy, position (???), life history (???), talents (A Hero Like Lü Bu, Far-Sighted and Knowledgeable), Lord (Luo Jinxuan)]
Luo Jinxuan suddenly discovered she could now view the information on her subordinates, and each person’s factional affiliations were clearly detailed.
Luo Jinxuan’s spirits immediately lifted. This intelligence was too comprehensive as if she had gained heavenly insight.
In the struggle for the throne, the advantage was now hers!