Being targeted by the villain [Through the Book]

Chu Jiu Jiu, a modern office worker, dies in an accident and transmigrates into a novel she previously read. She inhabits the body of Consort Rou, a villainous female supporting character in a treacherous palace setting. A mechanical system activates, informing her that she must complete the original character's villainous plotlines to survive, with death as the penalty for failure. The story establishes a high-stakes environment where the emperor, Han Chu, is a ruthless madman who treats the harem as a killing game. Chu Jiu Jiu, possessing a law-abiding modern conscience, is horrified by the violent tasks assigned to her. Her primary goal becomes survival through subversion of the plot rather than genuine malice.

Her first major conflict arises when the system orders her to poison the maid of Concubine Li, Xiaoyue. The original character would have killed the innocent servant to frame Concubine Li. Chu Jiu Jiu refuses to harm the maid. During the confrontation, she creates a chaotic scene where the poisoned wine is spilled and destroyed. She claims the incident was an accident and dismisses Concubine Li, effectively neutralizing the threat without committing murder. This act of mercy confuses the palace inhabitants, who are accustomed to Consort Rou's cruelty. Concubine Li, initially terrified, leaves unharmed, altering the original timeline where she would have been driven to madness and violence by such persecution.

A critical turning point occurs during a gathering of concubines in the Imperial Garden. The emperor, Han Chu, arrives, and a system bug causes anyone nearby to hear Chu Jiu Jiu's inner thoughts. Her candid and often humorous internal monologue reveals her true nature to the emperor and several other concubines. She thinks about food, fears the emperor, and critiques the scheming of others openly. Instead of executing her for her perceived disrespect, Han Chu becomes intrigued by her unpredictability. When Chu Jiu Jiu accidentally insults Concubine Li's flattery in her thoughts, the emperor uses this to assert dominance over the harem without revealing the source of the information. He rewards Chu Jiu Jiu with daily visits to the Yangxin Palace, a privilege that isolates her further but also places her in constant danger close to the emperor.

Chu Jiu Jiu continues to navigate these dangers by twisting the system's tasks. When ordered to plant a poisonous sachet in Consort Hui's palace, she has her maid bury a sachet containing a benign wish for Consort Hui's prosperity instead of poison. The sachet is discovered, and Consort Hui accuses Chu Jiu Jiu of sorcery. However, the imperial physician confirms the sachet is non-toxic. Chu Jiu Jiu openly admits to trespassing but frames the act as a gesture of friendship. Han Chu, amused by her frankness and lack of malicious intent, lets her off with a verbal reprimand. This incident solidifies his fascination with her, as she is the first concubine who does not fear him in the traditional sense or attempt to manipulate him through standard harem politics.

The narrative explores the shifting dynamics within the harem. Other concubines, including the female protagonist Xin Meiren, are confused by Chu Jiu Jiu's behavior. They cannot reconcile her actions with the reputation of the original Consort Rou. Chu Jiu Jiu's kindness toward her maids, Xiaolan and Xiaokui, further distinguishes her from the original character, earning their loyalty and altering their perspectives on their mistress. The story highlights the contrast between the brutal, survival-of-the-fittest environment of the palace and Chu Jiu Jiu's desire for a peaceful existence centered around food and safety. Her interactions with Han Chu become a cat-and-mouse game where she unknowingly reveals her thoughts, forcing the emperor to confront a version of reality that challenges his cynical worldview.

As the story progresses, Chu Jiu Jiu is invited to a painting appreciation gathering hosted by Xin Meiren. She accepts the invitation primarily because food is being served, demonstrating her consistent prioritization of basic comforts over political maneuvering. The system remains a persistent obstacle, issuing new tasks that Chu Jiu Jiu must creatively circumvent. Her relationship with Han Chu evolves from one of potential execution to one of guarded curiosity. The emperor begins to rely on her unfiltered thoughts as a source of entertainment and truth in a court full of lies. Chu Jiu Jiu remains unaware of the full extent of the system bug, believing her survival is due to her own cunning and the emperor's arbitrary mercy. The narrative sets the stage for further complications as her deviations from the original plot create ripples that threaten to destabilize the entire palace hierarchy.