Zhou Fushan hastily said, "Your Majesty, this humble official knows Xu Changyue's hideout. If we send people now, we can still capture him and retrieve the stolen items."

Ding! Your opportunistic sidekick Wei Ping is back online!

He added, "We have already located three of his hideouts in the East Market, West Market, and South Street. His accomplices confessed that Xu Changyue left the capital two days ago, heading toward Beili.

This humble official has issued warrants for Xu Changyue’s arrest across the regions. We should receive news of his capture soon."

As if Zhou Fushan hadn’t suffered enough, Wei Ping delivered the final blow: "Xirui also testified that Zhou Ping'an, in an attempt to cover up this matter, followed Xu Changyue’s orders to eliminate Zhou Qi'an—a talented asset to the empire.

Lady Hu, Zhou Ping'an, and Concubine Hua conspired to frame Zhou Qi'an for assaulting his father’s concubine, hoping to use the Marquis’ authority to expel him from the family.

Furthermore, according to Xirui, Lady Hu exploited her marital access to the Marquis’ study, stealing multiple military secrets for Xu Changyue and Beili..."

He didn’t continue, as the rest would be submitted in writing. But these revelations alone were enough to bury Zhou Fushan.

Marquis Changqing, Zhou Fushan, could no longer withstand the relentless blows. He couldn’t face the fact that his wife had not only betrayed him but also the empire, dragging him into this abyss of ruin.

His towering frame collapsed to the ground.

Yue Fuguang was unaware of these events unfolding in the imperial court, but she knew Zhou Qi'an was safe—because the moment the mission completion notification sounded, 300 points were instantly deposited into her account.

Then, a few more points trickled in slowly.

"System, are these extra points from the other captured individuals contributing to our score?"

[That’s right, Host. These captured Beili operatives would have indirectly caused events leading to the Great Yan’s downfall in the future.

Their arrest alters their fate and saves some of the people they would have harmed. These are bonus points—your merit is boundless!]

"You said 'some.' Does that mean certain inevitable deaths remain unchanged?"

It seemed that no matter how hard she flapped her butterfly wings, some things were destined to happen.

[Correct. For instance, if Beili wants someone dead, they’ll simply send others to carry it out if these operatives are captured.

So, Host, you must keep striving! You completed this mission well—I believe you can conquer this world!]

Before even starting her "job," Yue Fuguang, who had yet to face society’s harsh realities, was force-fed an optimistic delusion by her system.

She silently wondered: Didn’t the system say she’d only spent a few days in the modern world? How had it already mastered the art of empty corporate pep talks?

Her main mission was to alter the Great Yan Dynasty’s doomed fate—prevent its collapse in ten years and stop the chain reaction of five warring states battling for three centuries.

Countless side missions paved the path to this goal. Zhou Qi'an was her first completed side quest.

With her limited historical knowledge, Yue Fuguang understood that without unification, nations would inevitably war—fighting for land, resources, population, even annihilation.

What were they fighting for? Survival.

If you didn’t act, others would force you to. A peaceful retreat?

She doubted even the seemingly composed Emperor Mingxi truly believed in that, given his relentless military expansion.

Everyone waited for their neighbors to show weakness before striking.

The Great Yan’s downfall in ten years stemmed from internal strife—a new emperor, unprepared and reckless, doomed his reign.

And when neighbors saw weakness, who wouldn’t pounce?

The current six states had split from the Great Wei two centuries ago. Sharing the same origin, their endless wars were inevitable.

Unless a new ruler emerged, shattered the six, and reforged them into one.

This mission was near-impossible. Saving the Great Yan was one thing, but preventing war? Was she supposed to help unify the five states?

No. She had no interest in becoming an empress or laboring for others. Yue Fuguang wasn’t as selfless as her system.

"System, if I only complete the mission of saving the Great Yan, will I still earn points?"

[Host, partial completion of the main mission caps at 300,000 points.]

Yue Fuguang did the math—300,000 points would barely cover one of her legs.

Side missions earned just enough to maintain her cover, with little leftover. The main mission’s rewards were her true goal—rebuilding her body.

A perfect physical form was her obsession. She refused to spend eternity wearing borrowed skins across worlds, fearing she’d forget herself.

For now, she’d take it step by step. If Emperor Mingxi or his crown prince proved worthy, she might invest effort and points to aid them.

After all, the system implied each conquered state brought points. Whether unification happened depended on the Great Yan’s leadership.

But it was too early. The empire’s internal crises needed solving first.

Launching wars now would lead to collapse—like the Qin Dynasty in her world’s history—crumbling the moment its founder fell.

Strengthening the foundation came before expansion.

As Yue Fuguang mused, a maid announced, "Seventh Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence in the main hall. An imperial decree has arrived—all household masters must attend."

"Understood. I’ll change and come shortly."

While swapping her casual robes, Yue Fuguang wondered if the decree was for her.

An official post for an eight-year-old girl seemed absurd. A title upgrade was more likely—though without merit, even a county lady’s rank would be a stretch.

When she arrived, all female family members (except Yu Ningrou) were present. The men were at court, and the fourth master was away at the estate.