SBCEJM -Chapter 43 Recruiting a Crown Princess — First Come, First Served!

This inner thought was like a bucket of ice water dumped straight over the Emperor and Empress.

That’s right. As long as Consort Shu was still alive, the mother gu would continue to exist.

And the gu worm inside the Crown Prince would remain a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Just as the imperial couple was anxious and at a complete loss, the system’s cheerful voice rang out.

【Ding! Host, no need to worry! This system always answers urgent needs, and now proudly presents the nemesis of Miao gu worms — the “Special-Effect Gu Removal Pill”!】

【Instant results! Guaranteed cure! Original price: 998,000 melon points! But today, special friendship discount — only 500,000 melon points!】

Feng Zexuan’s eye twitched violently.

【Five hundred thousand?! Why don’t you just rob me instead?!】

【Look at my balance! I’ve risked my life gossip-hunting every single day and only managed to save up 280,000 melon points! You’re trying to bleed me dry!】

The Emperor and Empress immediately perked up their ears.

Melon points? Five hundred thousand?

Even though they didn’t understand the unit, somehow they instinctively grasped the meaning.

Scholar Feng had the antidote!

It just needed to be purchased using “melon points.”

And those points apparently came from eating gossip.

Could it be that gossip could be exchanged for melon points, and melon points could then be used like money to buy treasures?

If that was the case, then maybe being the subject of gossip wasn’t so infuriating after all.

The system earned a commission whenever the host bought something from the system store.

Naturally, it enthusiastically pitched another option.

【Aiya, Host, don’t get so worked up!】

The system switched to a fawning tone.

【If you can’t afford the premium custom version, we also offer a budget-friendly substitute! The “Enhanced Gu Suppression Pill,” specially designed for financially struggling customers like you!】

【The effect may not completely remove the gu, but it can heavily suppress its activity and force it into a deep sleep, guaranteeing His Highness will appear completely normal!】

【And it only costs… one thousand melon points! One tiny gossip scoop and you’ll earn it back!】

Xiao Juechen found himself nodding unconsciously.

This “System” actually calculated things quite well.

If Feng Zekai could save Mingxuan, there would certainly be a generous reward.

Feng Zexuan looked toward the unconscious Crown Prince lying on the couch. His handsome face was pale and fragile, enough to stir anyone’s sympathy.

Then she glanced at the anxious imperial couple nearby.

To care this deeply for their child despite being royalty…

That was truly rare.

With a thought, a pitch-black pill appeared out of thin air in her palm.

Feng Zexuan cleared her throat and stepped forward, preparing to make up a story about “accidentally encountering a master who gifted her miraculous medicine.”

“Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress. This official… once happened to obtain a rare medicine in earlier years called—”

Before she could finish inventing her excuse, Emperor Xiao Juechen directly extended his hand.

“Hand it over.”

Feng Zexuan spread her hand blankly, and the pill was already gone.

Xiao Juechen gave her no time to react. He neither questioned the origin of the pill nor ordered anyone to test it for poison.

Turning around, he instructed the chief eunuch Laifu:

“Quick! Feed it to the Crown Prince!”

Eunuch Laifu dared not delay. He carefully pried open the Crown Prince’s mouth, slipped the black pill inside, and followed it with warm water.

The entire process flowed smoothly and quickly, leaving Feng Zexuan frozen in place.

【Seriously? That’s it? He just believed me? The old emperor didn’t even interrogate me? What if I’d handed over poison? Isn’t his trust in me a little too outrageous?!】

Xiao Juechen pretended not to hear anything, his dragon-like eyes fixed firmly on his son.

Empress Liu Mengli also held her breath, her heart lodged in her throat.

The hall was so silent that a falling pin could be heard.

Seconds ticked by.

Then, a miracle happened.

The Crown Prince’s tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. The pain faded from his face, and his chaotic breathing slowly became long and steady.

“Imperial Physician, quickly check him!” the Empress ordered urgently, unable to suppress her excitement.

The physician hurried forward again, trembling as he placed fingers against the Crown Prince’s wrist.

A moment later, he suddenly lifted his head, his face filled with disbelief and joy.

“Reporting to Your Highness! The Crown Prince’s pulse is completely stable! That dangerous pulse condition has vanished entirely! His Highness is no longer in danger!”

“Good! Good! Good!”

Xiao Juechen exclaimed three times in succession, overflowing with delight as the tension finally eased from his body.

Empress Liu Mengli also released a long sigh of relief.

【Whew… thank goodness. At least those thousand melon points weren’t wasted. Trading them for the Crown Prince’s life was totally worth it.】

Feng Zexuan comforted herself internally, and the pain in her wallet lessened ever so slightly.

Unfortunately, the system didn’t let her relax for long.

【Host, the “Gu Suppression Pill” only suppresses the gu. It does not eradicate it completely.】

【The love gu feeds on emotion and uses life force as its medium. To fully eliminate it, the Crown Prince must marry the woman he truly loves and consummate the marriage. Only the balance of yin and yang combined with pure masculine yang energy can completely dissolve the child gu.】

The Emperor and Empress froze simultaneously.

The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood each other’s thoughts.

A brand-new problem now stood before them.

Choosing a Crown Princess.

Liu Mengli’s gaze swept toward the noble young ladies nearby.

The selection of a Crown Princess could no longer be delayed.

The system dropped fresh gossip immediately.

【Host, the Empress is preparing to choose a Crown Princess for the Crown Prince!】

【Wait! A royal bride selection! Do you know what that means?! It means a gigantic wave of fresh, juicy noble-family drama is about to begin! This is the seat of the future Crown Princess! How many people are going to fight tooth and nail for it? How much dirt and how many secrets are hidden in this crowd?!】

The moment she thought of that, Feng Zexuan’s eyes lit up.

Xiao Juechen and Liu Mengli both twitched at this sudden 180-degree change in attitude.

Just moments ago she’d been agonizing over spending points, but the instant there was gossip to eat, she became energetic again.

This Scholar Feng truly was a fascinating person.

“Your Majesty,” Liu Mengli rose to her feet, phoenix robes fluttering despite the lack of wind as an imposing aura spread outward.

“Mingxuan’s marriage can no longer be postponed. Today, this Empress shall personally select a Crown Princess for him!”

The announcement shocked the entire hall.

Especially the noblewomen who had brought their daughters to the banquet — their hearts nearly leaped out of their throats.

The young ladies who had earlier been pale with fright now secretly straightened their backs and adjusted their hairpins and clothing.

Who wouldn’t want to become the Crown Princess, the future Empress?

This was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step!

Feng Zexuan’s gossip radar instantly activated.

【It’s starting! A massive talent show scene! System, quick! Activate scan mode — let’s conduct some live background investigations!】

【Received! First contestant in the Crown Princess preliminary selection: Zhang Wan’er, daughter of the Minister of Personnel! Ohoho, this one’s a hidden treasure girl! Look at her gentle and virtuous demeanor, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting — she’s basically the model future empress!】

Empress Liu Mengli’s gaze paused briefly on Zhang Wan’er, seemingly quite satisfied.

Zhang Wan’er nervously clenched her fists.

【But…】 the system abruptly changed tone.