I Rely on the Collapse of the Character Setting to Survive in the Hands of the Male Lead Chapter 122

Chapter 122

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The Emperor, both frustrated and angered by the current situation, looked at Yue Chen and said, after some thought, “Alright, you investigate. I want to see who is lying in this matter.”

Originally, the situation could have been diffused with a simple apology, minimizing the issue. At a critical moment, Concubine Mei would have chosen to sacrifice the three study companions to save the Fourth Prince. However, under Yue Chen’s inquiry, things might not proceed as smoothly. The moment Yue Chen mentioned an investigation, the gravity of the situation escalated. The involvement of the Fourth Prince’s faction was likely inevitable, leaving Concubine Mei feeling uneasy.

As for the three princes on the side, their attitudes varied.

Yuan Ye observed coldly, considering these people’s misfortune as his good luck. His slight frown indicated a trace of sympathy for his unfortunate younger brother. Even if the Fourth Prince wanted to make a show, he shouldn’t have been so aggressive. The faction surrounding the Fourth Prince seemed to be more prone to causing trouble than achieving success. The Fourth Prince’s lack of understanding might have made him a pawn in someone else’s game.

As for the Third Prince, who played a role in instigating the situation, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Once Yue Chen conducted the inquiry, he could claim his rightful glory and also take the opportunity to vent on behalf of his mother, Concubine Mei. Lately, Concubine Mei not only secured her position as a concubine but also competed for the favor of the Emperor, leaving Concubine Pei often feeling uneasy. This time, even if they received a lesson, it would serve their purpose.

Accepting the imperial decree, Yue Chen smiled and said, “It’s quite simple, really. Let the Fourth Prince redraw it on the spot and explain it to us in person. With the assistant minister here, he can also share his thoughts. If the Fourth Prince stumbles and can’t provide a clear explanation, it’s certain that the methods were not his own.”

The Emperor nodded, acknowledging that it was the simplest and most effective method. He then looked up at the Fourth Prince.

At this moment, the Fourth Prince, having separated from Concubine Mei, looked somewhat disgruntled as he gazed at the assembly.

Chu Lishu timely stepped forward, patting the Fourth Prince on the shoulder, and said, “Fourth Prince, don’t be nervous. We all believe in you. Just treat it like you usually do. You often have a great time playing with the waterwheel with us, right? Think of it as a toy, don’t overthink it.”

Lin Qingyang also said, “Fourth Prince, we believe in you. Once you prove yourself this time, no one will casually doubt you, no matter how many drawings you make in the future.”

Xu Wenze looked at Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu with confusion. He couldn’t determine whether these two genuinely believed in the Fourth Prince or if they had ulterior motives. The impulsive actions just now didn’t seem characteristic of them.

Surprisingly, with the encouragement from Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang, the Fourth Prince did calm down. Through their interactions over time, the Fourth Prince had developed a significant level of trust in Chu Lishu. Additionally, he got along well with Lin Qingyang. The subtle suggestions from them at this moment proved more effective for the Fourth Prince than Concubine Mei’s consolation.

Concubine Mei looked at them with some astonishment, mixed with suspicion. Were they so certain because they were genuinely supporting the Fourth Prince, or was it a deception, perhaps orchestrated by Xu Wenze? Concubine Mei began to feel uncertain.

The Fourth Prince, feeling wronged, said, “But I clearly drew it this time! Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” He couldn’t comprehend why, when it was his own drawing, he had to redraw it to prove himself. It was truly unfair.

Lin Qingyang’s eyes twinkled as he smiled and said, “It’s not that everyone doesn’t believe you entirely. It’s just that His Highness is very young. If it were a drawing by the Third Prince, for example, no one would find it too surprising. Just wait until His Highness grows up; it will be fine.”

Lin Qingyang’s words hit like a thunderbolt on level ground, instantly striking several people’s hearts. The Third Prince seemed to transform into a quail in an instant.

Suddenly, the Eldest Prince spoke, “This isn’t fair. Both Fourth Brother and Third Brother offered drawings and advice. Why is Fourth Brother being doubted, while Third Brother is praised? Father Emperor, for the harmony among us brothers, I believe Third Brother should also undergo testing. Otherwise, it’s unfair to Fourth Brother.”

The Third Prince’s face changed abruptly, immediately glaring at the Eldest Prince, “Big Brother, what are you talking about? This whole thing seems unrelated to me. I can’t draw something as impressive as that.”

“Unrelated? Weren’t you just hopping around excitedly?” the Eldest Prince mocked, “What’s wrong? Feeling guilty now that the spotlight is on you?”

The Third Prince pretended to remain calm, “Guilty? How could I feel guilty? Big Brother, are you trying to favor Fourth Brother deliberately and bringing me into this to divert attention, buying time for them to deceive everyone?”

“With your eloquence, I can’t argue with you. I adhere to a simple principle. Since you’re innocent, there’s nothing to fear. Just undergo the test like Fourth Brother. The assistant minister is here; you can discuss it with him, truly showcasing your abilities in front of Father Emperor.”

“You!”

“Yuan Yu, don’t be hasty. Yuan Shuo has a point. To avoid gossip later on, you might as well prove your innocence alongside Yuan Han,” Yuan Ye immediately added. They were so shocked by the Fourth Prince’s situation that they forgot they were initially skeptical about whether the Third Prince had drawn the diagram himself. At the beginning, they had assumed he had the help of strategists.

Using the strategists’ abilities to contribute to one’s cause was an accepted and default rule of the game. However, because of the significant impact caused by the Fourth Prince’s actions, it surpassed his own perceived capabilities. It was like someone who had never practiced martial arts suddenly becoming a martial arts master—it seemed like treating everyone as fools.

That’s why the investigation started. In other words, carrying a crime while holding a jade is only applicable if the Fourth Prince’s drawing had only a minor, inconspicuous advantage. Who would bother tracing the origin of the drawing? Nobody would care.

With Yuan Ye and the Eldest Prince continuously putting pressure, the Third Prince found himself on the edge. He was genuinely worried that the Emperor would ask him to draw as well.

Without waiting for the Emperor to speak, Yue Chen directly suggested, “It’s not a bad idea. We are quite interested in the Third Prince’s draft as well, the assistant minister and I would like to study it. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

The Third Prince’s heart raced. Eventually, he heard the Emperor say, “Sure.”

For a moment, the Third Prince felt his vision blur, but he quickly forced himself to calm down. He still had a chance. He could take his time drawing. Let the Fourth Prince undergo the test first. As long as the Fourth Prince couldn’t produce the drawing and angered the Emperor, it would inevitably lead to many complications. At that time, the Emperor wouldn’t have the time to deal with him.

Holding onto this slim hope, the Third Prince returned to his seat with the Fourth Prince to start drawing.

Meanwhile, the study companions were rearranged to another location.

Pei Jin stood next to Lin Qingyang. She lifted her head and gave Lin Qingyang a cold look. Lin Qingyang noticed it and responded with a provocative smile, as if he had already conveyed his message.

Pei Jin’s face gradually darkened, furious. She glared fiercely at Lin Qingyang.

Unexpectedly, Chu Lishu, standing next to Lin Qingyang, suddenly pulled him aside, and the two of them swapped positions, blocking Pei Jin’s line of sight.

Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu with confusion. Chu Lishu cast a sidelong glance at him, clearly blaming him for taking the initiative just now. The lines about bringing the Third Prince out were supposed to be delivered by him, but Lin Qingyang had jumped the gun.

Lin Qingyang realized his mistake and quickly apologized, explaining that the conversation had naturally flowed in that direction. However, Chu Lishu ignored him, giving him a little lesson. Statements like those could easily backfire if not handled carefully. Fortunately, the Eldest Prince and Yuan Ye shifted their focus later on. Otherwise, after the incident, Lin Qingyang would have likely become a target.

Chu Lishu naturally wanted to be the one to speak. The method he came up with carried its own risks, and he was willing to take responsibility for them.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Fourth Prince set down his brush, still looking grievously at the Emperor.

The Third Prince, observing nervously from the side, had only completed about half of his drawing in that time, and he was already sweating profusely.

Yue Chen and the assistant minister approached to inspect the drawings. The people around held their breath, anxiously awaiting the verdict.

After a short while, the assistant minister and Yue Chen nodded at each other. Yue Chen turned to the Emperor and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s generally acceptable.”

The Emperor slightly paused, nodding, “Continue.”

While “generally acceptable” might imply that the Fourth Prince had reproduced the drawing, considering the original sketch bore his handwriting, it did not necessarily mean he understood its significance.

Following that, Yue Chen and the assistant minister began to ask questions. As the inquiry delved deeper, the expressions of everyone present became unanimous—eyes widened, tongues tied.

The Fourth Prince’s explanations were not very clear. In some instances, he needed the drawings to supplement his words. His language was also quite immature. However, even those unfamiliar with water wheels could ascertain one thing.

The Fourth Prince truly understood water wheels—comprehending their principles, understanding what he had drawn, and recognizing why his drawing was superior.

It was his creation, reflecting his own ideas.

Everyone’s minds were left in shock.

It wasn’t until Yue Chen regained composure, turned, and, along with the assistant minister who tightly held the Fourth Prince’s excited hand, faced the Emperor to provide the final response.

At this point, the Emperor hardly needed an answer. His gaze toward the Fourth Prince practically glowed.

There’s nothing more prideful and honorable than having a son who can achieve something that even the talented ministers cannot.

“Well done, my child, come to your father’s side.”

Concubine Mei was overjoyed and quickly pushed the Fourth Prince forward. The Fourth Prince hesitated, looking back at Chu Lishu and the others. With nods of encouragement from everyone, he slowly approached his revered father. As soon as he got close, the Emperor lifted him up in his arms.

“Hahaha, truly my son! Well done! Exceptionally well done!” The Emperor was genuinely elated, showing a level of joy beyond everyone’s expectations. He sat down with the Fourth Prince in his arms. “Quickly, tell your father, when did you come up with such ideas?”

The Fourth Prince was still a bit bewildered, murmuring, “When I went to play with my study companions at the Wenbo Pavillion, I found the water wheel interesting. We played together, and then I overheard them discussing the principles. I didn’t really understand, but I came up with some ideas. They found it amusing, so they helped me make it, and then…”

In truth, the Fourth Prince himself wasn’t entirely sure how things had turned out this way.

At this point, Chu Lishu once again volunteered to help explain, and the Emperor was happy to listen.

In Chu Lishu’s account, it seemed like they were just embellishing, and the main ideas and inspiration came from the Fourth Prince. However, they didn’t overly praise the Fourth Prince, subtly emphasizing that it was just a flash of brilliance from him, a casual and unintentional thought.

At the right moment, Yue Chen chimed in, helping with the flattery, “It seems that our Great Zhou is blessed by heaven. Due to Your Majesty’s benevolence, the heavens have bestowed insight upon the Fourth Prince, allowing him to bestow such a wonderful method upon our Great Zhou.”

This round of praise reduced the risk of portraying the Fourth Prince as a prodigy. After all, he couldn’t create another miracle, and shaping him as a genius might make him vulnerable to attacks. This divine narrative, portraying the accomplishment as a blessing received during playful moments, would only make the Emperor feel that his son was fortunate, blessed by divine protection as the Dragon’s heir.

And it must be supported by sufficient intelligence, but not to an excessive degree. This is equivalent to giving half of the credit to the Emperor and half to the Fourth Prince.

The Emperor indeed found this explanation very satisfactory. He chuckled as he comforted the Fourth Prince, saying, “My son is fortunate and intelligent; he will surely achieve great things in the future.”

Upon hearing these words, the Fourth Prince couldn’t hold back his tears any longer. “Father, aren’t you going to punish me and my study companions?” he asked.

“Far from punishing, we will reward you generously! All of you have made significant contributions!” The Emperor, feeling guilty for mistakenly causing his son’s distress, declared a series of rewards. Due to their status as an imperial prince and study companions, official titles could not be granted, so they were compensated with treasures such as gold, silver, pearls, luxurious fabrics, and more.

However, all of these were not as valuable as the fame gained from this battle and the Emperor’s favor. Not only did the Fourth Prince’s reputation soar, but even the three study companions became well-known. The imperial palace was a place where people judged others based on their achievements. After this incident, who would dare to look down on them just because they were not born into noble families?

Even Concubine Mei received continuous rewards.

Everyone stepped forward to express their gratitude, creating an atmosphere of joy.

On the other hand, dark clouds gathered elsewhere. Concubine Pei nervously watched the Third Prince, unable to intervene at the moment. She could only rely on the Third Prince to navigate through the situation and extricate himself from trouble.

However, it was apparent that Concubine Pei overestimated the Third Prince. The Third Prince was currently so nervous that he couldn’t even replicate a complete diagram.

Just at this moment, a summons came.

Yuan Ye and the Eldest Prince hadn’t expected the Fourth Prince to make such a successful comeback. Although they felt somewhat choked, they had to step forward to congratulate him. After all, with the Emperor in such high spirits, they couldn’t afford to dampen the mood.

They had never received such an honor before, especially for Yuan Ye. It was reminiscent of the scenes when Yuan Ran was praised in a similar manner. They both seemed to have the talent to surprise everyone unexpectedly and earn the title of a genius.

With this sudden turn of events, the Fourth Prince might completely overshadow his elder brothers, but considering his younger age, the resentment wasn’t immediate. However, the dissatisfaction was brewing, and the focus quickly shifted towards the Third Prince. If it wasn’t for the Third Prince’s intervention earlier, the Emperor might have rewarded them and moved on. Now, with the Emperor bestowing rewards upon the Fourth Prince and his study companions repeatedly, it seemed like this effect would linger for a while. It felt like a loss on both sides.

“Father, shouldn’t we also take a look at the Third Prince? After all, he was the one who had suspicions about the Fourth Prince,” the Eldest Prince said, adding insult to injury.

Yuan Ye also spoke up, “Indeed, the preparation time was long enough, yet why does the drawing still look incomplete?”

With this remark, the Third Prince was already sweating profusely. His pupils trembled as everyone observed his slightly shaking body and the half-finished, poorly executed drawing. The Emperor’s expression had changed significantly.

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