Chapter 5: System, Where's My Compensation

The System was just preparing to atone for its mistakes by telling Jiang Yunxi that it had found witnesses who could establish the guilt of those two when Madam Zheng’s personal maid hurried in.

“Madam, this is bad! The physician just said that the handkerchief Nanny Kong used to wipe the young lady’s face contained a large amount of rat poison.

“Nanny Kong was trying to harm the young lady.

“The physician would like to come in and examine her thoroughly.”

Madam Zheng felt a little annoyed that the maid had come in at such an inopportune moment, interrupting her daughter’s conversation with that so-called System.

Still, she had heard the most important part: the craftsmen who had repaired the railing by the lake on the day her daughter fell into the water. Now she knew who they were.

“I understand. Go and invite the physician in.”

Thinking of Nanny Kong’s attempt to harm her daughter, Madam Zheng knew she had to inform the Heir and Madam as well.

Although she was a secondary wife, that title was merely a pleasant one. In the end, she was still a concubine and had no authority to deal with such a matter.

“Send someone to invite the Heir and Madam too, and tell them that Nanny Kong tried to harm the young lady.”

“And also...”

Her daughter might be unconscious, but her mind was clearly awake.

Madam Zheng did not want them to know that she could hear her daughter’s thoughts.

“We’ll discuss it outside.”

Madam Zheng carefully laid down the daughter she had been holding close in her arms, then left the room with Suju.

Jiang Yunxi: [Useless System, did you hear that? Nanny Kong was caught red-handed. The rat poison in the handkerchief is evidence. We don’t need you at all.]

[You really are completely useless. When I needed you to save my life, you were nowhere to be found. Now that someone else has saved me, you’ve come crawling out to take credit.]

[From now on, all I need is my mother. She can keep me alive. All you do is send me to my death!]

The System blocked both its host and the Main System, then continued cursing up a storm. Its language was truly foul.

It was just unclear whether it was cursing its host, the Main System, or both.

When she still received no response from the System after a long while, Jiang Yunxi frowned.

[System, why aren’t you saying anything? Do you think I’m right?]

The System’s voice came through, sounding somewhat ingratiating.

[Host, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‍you can’t blame me this time. It was all the Main System’s fault. It wasn’t here just now...]

[Enough with the excuses. I nearly died because of you two. Don’t you think I deserve compensation?]

[Compensation?] The System raised its volume, dragging out the final syllable. [But you’re fine, aren’t you?]

Jiang Yunxi arched a brow.

[The fact that I’m fine is thanks to you?]

The System hurriedly contacted the Main System. Fortunately, the Main System did not drop the ball this time.

[Compensation is possible.]

The corners of Jiang Yunxi’s lips curled upward.

That was right—she had earned four hundred Gossip Points from gossiping twice earlier. She had spent one hundred to unlock the System Shop, leaving her with three hundred.

But three hundred points were not enough to exchange for a Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill...

Jiang Yunxi cleared her throat.

[System, tell me about this Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill. How many points does it cost?]

[The Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill is exactly what its name suggests. After taking it, one becomes immune to all poisons. It can prevent any poison found in the mortal world.

[There are three versions. The low-grade version costs five hundred Gossip Points and lasts for five years. The mid-grade version costs seven hundred Gossip Points and lasts for ten years. The high-grade version costs fifteen hundred Gossip Points and lasts for life.]

She had transmigrated to ancient times, and she was a concubine-born daughter. There was probably no avoiding the struggles of an inner household.

Poisoning was one of the most common methods used in such schemes, and it was extremely difficult to guard against.

She really needed this Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill.

And if she was going to get one, she wanted the best.

[System, I’m a very easily satisfied person. I’m not greedy at all.

[For my compensation, I’ll take the high-grade Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill.]

[It’s only fifteen hundred points. That’s just a few pieces of gossip. It’s not much at all, don’t you think, System?]

[Beeep...]

An emotionless electronic voice rang out.

[Warning. The System has insulted its host. One warning issued.]

Jiang Yunxi arched a brow.

[System, you dare insult me? I think my compensation is too low now. That System Shop of yours...]

[Agreed, agreed. The compensation will be the high-grade Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill.] The System’s voice was filled with urgency.

It was worried that if it hesitated any longer, its host would raise the price again.

It would have to speak seriously with the Main System later. This host was far too crafty. The Main System needed to grant it greater authority, otherwise next time—

[Hand it over!]

System: [Host, you can’t move your body right now. Even if I give it to you, you...]

[It should dissolve the moment it enters my mouth, right? After all, it’s made by the System?] Jiang Yunxi asked.

That was how it always worked in the novels she had read.

The System sounded rather proud.

[Of course.]

Jiang Yunxi relaxed.

[Then put it directly into my mouth.]

Good things had to be safely secured—or rather, safely swallowed.

What good was it to leave it in someone else’s hands? What if the System pocketed it or switched it with something else?

Jiang Yunxi deliberately left the System unblocked so that it could hear her private doubts.

Soon, she felt a foreign object suddenly appear in her mouth. A sweet, refreshing flavor spread through her, followed by a warm current that rose throughout her body and lingered for quite some time.

[Host, this body was weak from birth because of a difficult delivery. You’ve been taking medicinal decoctions for years, and there’s quite a lot of medicinal toxicity accumulated in your body.

[After taking the Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill, those accumulated toxins have been cleansed as well. Your body should feel somewhat lighter and more comfortable.]

Jiang Yunxi’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked:

[What about my inherent weakness?]

The System’s answer immediately shattered her hopes.

[Host, it’s a Hundred-Poison Immunity Pill. It’s for detoxification and poison prevention, not for treating illness.]

Jiang Yunxi clicked her tongue. Fine. There went her hopes.

Then perhaps the System Shop had something else...

[Does the System Shop have any medicine for treating physical weakness?

[I can’t drag around this sickly body forever. How am I supposed to go out and gather gossip to earn Gossip Points?]

Although the System had no heart and therefore could not experience a pounding one, it felt as if its CPU were about to crash again.

This crafty host—what was she planning now?

Surely she wasn’t about to demand more compensation!

[Host, let me make one thing clear first. You’ve already received your compensation, and you’ve already used it. You have to keep your word. You can’t go back on it.]

[So there is something?] Jiang Yunxi asked, not entirely certain.

[There is, but you’ll have to earn it through gossip. You can exchange Gossip Points for it later. It won’t be free.]

Jiang Yunxi felt that the System was looking down on her. Had she ever said she wanted it to give her something for free?

Could it not question her character?

Although... well, she had not actually said that part out loud.

[How many pills would I need to completely cure this body, and how many Gossip Points would they cost?]

[One Health-Strengthening Pill is enough. It’s not expensive—five hundred Gossip Points.]

Only five hundred. That really was not expensive. She already had three hundred, so she only needed to gather gossip a few more times.

There was no hurry to deal with her physical weakness. She had plenty of time in the future. Her priority now was staying alive.

She had to remember that she currently had a cerebral hematoma, pneumonia, and a high fever that would not go down. If nothing was done, she would end up just like the original host.

But she only had three hundred Gossip Points. Would that be enough to deal with all these illnesses?

She also had to save those points to cure her physical weakness.

The System had sent her into this body. Didn’t that mean it bore some responsibility?

Still, judging from the System’s reaction just now, it clearly had no intention of offering any additional compensation.

She’d still have to rely on it to make money from gossip in the future, so she couldn’t push them too hard. She needed to come up with another plan—see if she could fleece them for a little more and squeeze out some extra benefits.

Once this opportunity passed, it might never come again.

Jiang Yunxi’s eyes flickered as she said nonchalantly,

【System, we’re already bound together. You owe me the newbie gift pack, right?】