More sunlight spilled into the chamber as the eunuch barked orders, the curtains pulled wide.
Warmth flooded over Martha's.
...No, the Emperors face.
She winced, her delicate features wrinkling as she shielded her eyes with a groan.
She wanted nothing more than to sink back into the velvet pillow behind her.
"Ah!..." A sharp pain throbbed through her temples, veins threatening to burst. The words left her lips without thought: "Leave!"
The sound of her own voice startled her; it was lower, heavier, commanding. Yet the servants obeyed without hesitation, retreating like ripples pulled back into the tide.
Only then did she take in her surroundings.
Carved sandalwood beams coiled across the ceiling, inlaid with golden phoenix motifs. Silken drapes of crimson and jade hung heavy by the windows, embroidered with blossoms. A lacquered desk overflowed with scrolls, brushes, and jade seals of office.
Beneath her rested a bed so large and soft it could swallow her whole, dressed in sheets finer than anything she had ever touched.
Once, she would have died to live in such a room.
"...How about my brother?"
"Ding!" A clear chime resounded from nowhere, sharp and sudden as if the world itself had spoken.
╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
║ HAREM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════╣
║ Emperor: Xu Wenyan (♀ disguised as ♂) ║
║ Level: 1 (Novice Ruler) ║
║ EXP: 0 / 100 ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════╣
║ Core Stats ║
║ • Authority: 5 ║
║ • Wealth: 3 ║
║ • Military: 4 ║
║ • Culture: 2 ║
║ • Harem Harmony: 1 ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════╣
║ Objective: Build your empire and ascend as a legendary ruler. ║
║ Unlock: Concubine Routes to gain EXP and special perks. ║
║ Caution: Neglecting stats may trigger Bad Endings. ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════╝
"Ah… of course. A system," Martha groaned, pressing her fingers to her temple as the migraine pounded harder.
It had just been a hypothetical to actually live a like this!
A stupid wish in a stupid moment of weakness.
She hadn't meant it!
"A… moment of weakness," she muttered bitterly. "God, I hate this."
Her gaze drifted to the bronze mirror on the vanity.
The reflection staring back was breathtaking; sharp cheekbones, soft lips, long lashes.
Xu Wenyan, the "useless" Emperor, was beautiful in a way that defied gender, androgynous enough to dazzle men and women alike.
But beauty wouldn't entirely save her here.
And, considering the inconvenient absence between her legs, she was already starting this game with a glaring handicap.
Then, the panel flickered again.
╔══════════════════════════════╗
║ NEW MISSION UNLOCKED ║
╠══════════════════════════════╣
║ Mission 1: "Prove You're Not Useless" ║
║ Objective: Survive your first court assembly. ║
║ Requirements: Issue one imperial decree that increases either Popularity, Culture, or Military. ║
║ Failure: Court ridicule → Popularity -10, Harmony -5. ║
║ Reward: Unlock first Harem Route. ║
╚══════════════════════════════╝
Martha squinted at the glowing words.
"Great," she muttered. "My first quest is literally 'don't be useless.'"
It almost felt like a cruel coincidence.
Just weeks ago, she had dropped out of college, unable to keep up with tuition.
Her dream of becoming a lawyer had ended halfway through her second year, smothered under the weight of reality.
Now she was stuck in the role of an Emperor.
"How do I even… call my servants back?" Martha mumbled, rubbing her temple. "Uh… Call the… maids?"
To her surprise, the words worked.
A handful of women entered at once, moving with practiced grace to assist her.
In this game's world, only a trusted circle knew the Emperor's secret.
For any servant, exposure didn't mean gossip, it meant death.
They dressed her carefully, the heavy silk robes flattening any hint of her feminine shape.
By the time they were done, Xu Wenyan was no longer a girl in disguise but a regal young "man."
She was led down vast corridors of polished marble and crimson carpet.
Lanterns of gold-trimmed jade glowed against murals of dragons and phoenixes, while courtyards outside spilled with plum blossoms drifting in the breeze.
The throne room was a cavernous space of carved pillars, each one wrapped in coiling dragons painted with gilt.
On either side stood rows of stern men in official robes, their gazes sharp enough to pierce armor.
Ministers. Advisors. Power-brokers.
At the center, one man stepped forward, his voice clipped and cold.
"Emperor Xu… it has been thirty minutes. Must you be so inconsiderate of time?"
Martha sat a little straighter on the throne.
Buddy, I used to work double shifts at a convenience store. You're lucky I even showed up at all.