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For this reason, her status among the people also rose increasingly.

The extent of her encyclopedic knowledge when handling state affairs was also a skill that the System forced her to acquire in exchange for her reproductive ability.

At that time, the Old Sovereign and Old Priest of the Han Country had already passed away.

After their deaths, Han Xibei inherited the throne of the Han Country, while Han Ye voluntarily became the regent king serving under Han Xibei.

As for how the Old Sovereign and Old Priest died, that too was arranged by the System.

The accursed System threatened Lin Zaozao, Han Ye, and Han Xibei's lives, forcing them to willingly sacrifice themselves to seize the destiny from the Old Sovereign and Old Priest.

Eventually, the Old Sovereign and Old Priest were indeed sacrificed.

However, during the sacrifice, the Old Sovereign Han Yunchuan offered his eternal imperial mandate to Gu Shan in exchange for a chance to be reborn as a human in the next life.

After all, that was what the Old Sovereign had promised Gu Shan while he was still alive.

The Old Sovereign allowed Gu Shan, who was once a nightmare spirit, to be reborn as a human and have the opportunity to spend his life with Lin Zaozao.

It was a reward for Gu Shan's dedication in protecting the Han Country.

The Old Priest Ming Yue used his life to gain the chance to be reborn and reunite with the Old Sovereign in their next life.

After the Old Sovereign and Old Priest completed their sacrifice to the Moonlight Flower Tree, the System realized it had been deceived and failed to obtain their destiny.

So it vented all its rage upon Lin Zaozao.

It tortured Lin Zaozao mercilessly, draining her of her essence.

If she dared to object, the System would threaten her parents, brother, and friends back in her original world!

For the sake of her loved ones, Lin Zaozao could only suffer in silence.

As her health deteriorated, Lin Zaozao's once lively and cheerful personality also became increasingly silent and withdrawn.

Every day, she wore a white robe, either assisting Han Ye and Han Xibei with governing duties or being forced by the System to remain in the desolate Sacrificial Hall.

She spent days on end kneeling in the Sacrificial Hall, torturing herself in exchange for the Han Country's prosperity.

At that time, the Sacrificial Hall was filled with a blinding whiteness.

The only things that brought Lin Zaozao a glimmer of life were the two wolf cubs, Qian Duoduo and Mi Duoduo, that she and Xi Luo had adopted together.

These two foolish wolves were the only living beings in Lin Zaozao's bleak and monotonous Sacrificial Hall.

Repeated torment and exhaustion caused Lin Zaozao's body to become increasingly frail. By the time she came of age, she had become emaciated beyond recognition.

It was also around the time she came of age that the two countries of Canglan and Fengshuo, which had been hostile towards the Han Country for decades, suddenly sought to establish an alliance.

The best way to facilitate cooperation between the two countries was through a marriage alliance.

Canglan Country sent their eldest princess Ye Xi, third prince Ye Yi, fourth princess Ye Hui, and fifth prince Ye Nuo to the Han Country.

Meanwhile, Fengshuo Country only sent their young princess Qian Xue.

Han Ye's marriage partner was the fourth princess of Canglan, Ye Hui. Han Xibei's marriage partner was the young princess of Fengshuo, Yexue.

Lin Zaozao was acquainted with Ye Yi, Ye Nuo, and Ye Xi, as they often visited the palace of the Han Country in disguise as merchants to secretly meet her.

Ye Xi was considered the priestess of Canglan Country, and she and her brother Ye Nuo possessed a pair of lapis lazuli eyes that could see past and future lives.

Whenever Ye Xi and Ye Nuo came to see her, they would ask her about various aspects of sacrificial rituals.

By now, Lin Zaozao was thoroughly versed in sacrificial knowledge. So when Ye Xi and Ye Nuo asked her these questions, she was willing to answer them in great detail.

Because she was truly so lonely.

In her solitary life, being able to converse with others brought her some joy.

As for Ye Yi, with his exotic features and a pair of mesmerizing lapis lazuli-like eyes that gave off an air of indifference, Lin Zaozao initially thought he would be difficult to get along with. However, over the years of their acquaintance, she realized that this seemingly callous young man had the softest heart.

When Lin Zaozao, recovering from illness, learned of Han Ye and Han Xibei's impending marriage alliances, Princess Ye Hui and Princess Qian Xue had already taken up residence in the palace of the Han Country.

"Zhuzhu, you're up?" Han Ye asked softly, seeing Lin Zaozao kneeling in the Sacrificial Hall.

"Brother Han Ye, I heard you're going to marry Princess Ye Hui of Canglan Country?"

Kneeling on the ground, Lin Zaozao was enveloped in a large and elaborate sacrificial robe. Her body was so thin, her doll-like face no bigger than a palm.

Now kneeling in the vast Sacrificial Hall, the color of her lips was faint. Her gentle gaze towards him was as flat and waveless as a dried-up well.

Seeing Lin Zaozao like this, Han Ye's brow furrowed tightly. What had happened to the lively and cheerful little priestess from her childhood?

He, Han Xibei, Xi Luo, and Gu Shan had been secretly observing her. But they hadn't noticed anyone approaching her.

Yet, she became less and less happy with each passing day.

And her body grew weaker and weaker with each passing day.

Although they had found many people to examine her body, her health continued to deteriorate.

Her spirit too had weakened to an extreme.

But despite her frail state, she still had to struggle to perform some complex tasks.

Although they had tried their best to stop her...

Suppressing the dark light in his eyes, Han Ye spoke to Lin Zaozao in his most gentle voice.

"Zhuzhu, would you like to go for a walk with me? Kneeling in the Sacrificial Hall for so long will take a toll on your body."

"No need. Brother Han Ye, I don't want to go out, because I'm so tired!"

Lin Zaozao looked up at Han Ye with a hint of regret in her distant gaze.

Yesterday, that accursed System took away one of her kidneys and gave her a new filter in return.

That filter was meant to make her look more like a detached high priestess, unconcerned with worldly affairs.

Only in this way, when she appeared before the people during major sacrificial ceremonies, would she be more convincing.

[Host, please have Lin Zaozao and Han Ye leave the Sacrificial Hall, and do your best to match him with the lead female character Ye Hui.]

[I won't play matchmaker. Who Han Ye wants to be with is his own freedom, I won't interfere.]

[Host, if you don't follow the System's instructions, the System will now shock you as punishment.]

The next second, a familiar electric current suddenly coursed through Lin Zaozao's entire body. Under the intense shock, even the well-prepared Lin Zaozao trembled uncontrollably from the tremendous voltage.

"Zhuzhu, what's wrong?"

Seeing Lin Zaozao's swaying face, Han Ye asked anxiously.

"Nothing. Han Ye, please go out first, I want to rest."

"Zhuzhu, let me take you back, okay?"

"No need, hurry out, I want to be alone and quiet."

Seeing Lin Zaozao's firm attitude, Han Ye could only reluctantly walk towards the exit. When he reached the door, he couldn't help but stop and say:

"Zhuzhu, if there's anything, you must tell me, I will definitely help you.

Also, Han Xibei and I will not marry the princesses of the Canglan and Fengshuo countries.

You know, from childhood until now, the only one in our hearts has been you."

"Mm! Han Ye, I know."

Seeing Han Ye explaining himself, Lin Zaozao said calmly.

After Han Ye had left and the Sacrificial Hall's door closed, the extremely weak Lin Zaozao could no longer control herself and fainted on the ground.