I Rely on the Collapse of the Character Setting to Survive in the Hands of the Male Lead Chapter 126

Chapter 126

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>

Chu Lishu lifted Lin Qingyang with one hand, kicked away the dagger beneath his feet, and prepared to pull him inside. However, in the next moment, he felt something was wrong, lowered his head to take a look, and a certain image flashed through his mind.

Immediately, Chu Lishu moved sideways, lifting Lin Qingyang in a manner imitating how Lin Qingyang had carried Pei Jin previously. He brought him inside, closed the door, approached the bed, gently laid him down, admired his belongings for a moment, and then climbed onto the bed, hugging him tightly. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something.

Lin Qingyang, resembling a doll, showed no reaction, only feeling a bit chilly below and uncomfortably kicking his legs.

Chu Lishu propped himself with one hand on the pillow, and with the other hand…

A moment of clarity flashed through the chaotic mind. Very well, as expected, it worked just as judged.

“Mmm…”

Lin Qingyang, in the midst of a dream, furrowed his brows uncomfortably, gradually feeling that something was amiss all over his body.

Soon, his breathing and body temperature were no longer normal.

Chu Lishu, watching this scene, was momentarily stunned. After a while, it seemed like he finally reacted. The redness in his eyes appeared to intensify, with a chaotic glow in his eyes, far from a normal state of rationality. However, a strange color emerged, something was compelling him, guiding him on what he needed to do.

One thing he had never done but had fantasized about, and he was very curious about, while the other was something he had done before but never had the chance to do again, and he missed it greatly.

Chu Lishu stared intently at every subtle change in Lin Qingyang’s facial expressions. As he began to experiment with how to control the situation, he found it to be an interesting affair and grew increasingly greedy.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became unsettling, and even the lighting softened.

Although Lin Qingyang was unconscious, he felt extremely uncomfortable, finding it difficult to breathe, and the sensation was indescribable.

Finally, Lin Qingyang became irritated. He was a man, and he needed to take control. Gathering his strength, he turned over and sat up.

And at this critical moment, Chu Lishu shuddered all over, freezing all his movements. He stared in disbelief, his eyes gradually regaining clarity. Without realizing it, the redness disappeared from his eyes, and he quickly recalled everything in his mind. The more he remembered, the more shocked he became.

What… what had he done? How did his hands lose control? How could he treat Lin Qingyang like that?

Before Chu Lishu could take any action, Lin Qingyang, unable to endure the incomplete sensation, reached out and grabbed Chu Lishu’s still-positioned hand.

Once Chu Lishu realized what happened, his face changed dramatically. He tried to pull his hand back, but Lin Qingyang forcefully held onto it.

Watching Lin Qingyang wrinkle his brows in pain, Chu Lishu gritted his teeth, relinquishing control over his own hand, and enduring the oppressive feeling from top to bottom.

The room was very quiet, so quiet that every subtle sound was amplified. Chu Lishu’s gaze gradually changed. He turned to look at Lin Qingyang, swallowed, and finally couldn’t resist lifting his other hand to press against Lin Qingyang’s neck. He adjusted the position and continued what he had just started; otherwise, he always felt like something was missing.

This time, the touch of their lips was very gentle, with a sense of tenderness. Even in his sober state, Chu Lishu couldn’t help feeling a fluctuation in his heart.

He let go of Lin Qingyang, and Lin Qingyang’s head slid onto his shoulder, resting there.

Chu Lishu consoled himself, saying that he was, after all, a man. Men have impulses, and there’s nothing shameful about it, especially in this atmosphere.

He had accidentally seen some images before as if there were scenes with two people together, something… that he could probably accept.

Chu Lishu slightly opened his eyes and looked at Lin Qingyang. Just as he was about to make a move, Lin Qingyang suddenly stiffened.

A dark cloud swept over Chu Lishu’s face. What should he do if he threw him into such a state?

Chu Lishu felt extremely uncomfortable all over his body, and his gaze uncontrollably wandered, as if he was afraid someone would notice his subtle movements. He even awkwardly cleared his throat.

He leaned in close to Lin Qingyang’s ear, his voice hoarse as he whispered, “I helped you, and you help me. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

Lin Qingyang, still in a dazed state, naturally had no reaction to anything. He was obedient and docile, and their positions were reversed once again. Lin Qingyang’s hands were held up.

A deeper, more profound kiss descended once more.

The night was long, and someone lingered for a very long time.

When Lin Qingyang woke up, he felt somewhat disoriented because he seemed to have had a vivid dream. In the dream, he couldn’t see clearly who was there, and he wasn’t sure what they did. All he knew was that it was that kind of dream—pleasant but with a weary body.

He remembered clearly that he had slept on the floor last night, so why did it feel so comfortable now? Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the bright canopy above. It looked somewhat familiar. Lin Qingyang suddenly became alert and realized that he was in Chu Lishu’s bed. However, when he glanced around, Chu Lishu was nowhere to be seen. The entire bed was occupied only by himself. His clothes were somewhat messy, but he managed to wear them.

He also felt several areas of discomfort. His neck was a bit sore, and there was some stiffness in his tongue and jaw. These he could attribute to sleeping in an uncomfortable position. However, why did his right-hand ache so much? It seemed as if it had become accustomed to a particular posture, and there was a lingering sensation that Lin Qingyang found hard to describe.

Slowly lifting his hand to examine it, he noticed it was trembling. This was not a minor injury. Lin Qingyang looked puzzled. Did he hurt his hand last night?

While still pondering this, there was a disturbance at the door. Lin Qingyang looked up and saw Chu Lishu standing there holding breakfast, looking extremely flustered and staring at him.

It was truly a rare expression, leaving Lin Qingyang bewildered for a moment. After a brief pause, he understood. The male lead must have done something to upset him, hence the guilty and anxious expression. Connecting it with the state of his hand, Lin Qingyang pointed directly at Chu Lishu, “You!”

Chu Lishu’s expression panicked, and he immediately closed the door. He placed the food tray down, walked to the bedside, and grabbed Lin Qingyang’s hand, saying, “I’m sorry.”

Although he had taken care to clean up everything when he woke up in the morning, he felt that it was a self-deception. As expected, Lin Qingyang found out.

Lin Qingyang looked at him unkindly, “You… you better say it was an accident.”

Chu Lishu paused. He attributed everything to his loss of control and male instincts, but he went too far. He couldn’t evade it. “It’s not… an accident.”

“What? So, you did it on purpose?” Lin Qingyang couldn’t believe it.

Facing Lin Qingyang’s questioning, Chu Lishu gritted his teeth and finally exhaled, saying, “I will take responsibility.”

“Of course, you have to take responsibility! I won’t be able to pick up a pen to write today. I have assignments to complete; you help me with that!”

“Okay.” Chu Lishu quickly nodded. Well, as his future spouse, he should…

“I mean, cousin, you’re too contradictory. Last night, you didn’t believe me, didn’t give me a chance to explain, and now you’re retaliating against me? What did you do to my hand? Did you twist or bruise it? And my neck and jaw, did you take advantage of me sleeping to hit me? Do I have other injuries? What’s the use of apologizing to me now? Our relationship, you not only didn’t trust me but also hurt me. I’m truly… heartbroken by you!”

Chu Lishu: …

Seeing Chu Lishu’s regretful expression, Lin Qingyang was certain that after falling asleep last night, Chu Lishu discovered something, got angry, and ended up hurting him. Upon waking up and realizing the mistake, Chu Lishu was now expressing regret.

However, Lin Qingyang also knew when to stop. Since Chu Lishu was full of remorse now, he quickly let go of the misunderstanding from last night.

“Never mind, I won’t dwell on it. But about last night, don’t leave any misunderstandings. I and Pei Jin already explained everything, and besides, I didn’t intend to be overly generous. Actually, it’s because…” Lin Qingyang quickly found an excuse, mentioning the unfortunate incident of provoking the Third Prince to come out. Since Pei Jin had kept it a secret, it was a favor Lin Qingyang returned by sending her back. There was no need to delve deeper into it.

After Lin Qingyang finished speaking, Chu Lishu remained silent. Lin Qingyang looked at him suspiciously, and he noticed Chu Lishu’s expression changing from blank to cold, with his eyes becoming gloomy.

Blinking, Lin Qingyang wondered if this matter wouldn’t be easily resolved.

Lin Qingyang quickly added, “Oh, my hand hurts, my neck hurts… my jaw hurts.”

Soon, Chu Lishu’s expression changed again. The avoidance in his eyes disappeared, and the frost on his face melted.

It was clear that Chu Lishu was the one who caused the injuries. Seeing his guilty look, Lin Qingyang felt like standing on the moral high ground.

“Hmph, just say whatever you have in mind. Don’t go doubting me again. We conspired against the Third Prince together, how could you still doubt me? Is that how you see me? I’m speechless,” Lin Qingyang complained.

Finally, Chu Lishu sighed, “I didn’t doubt you.”

However, it sounded a bit through gritted teeth. Lin Qingyang said, “I don’t believe you. With that reaction of yours, yes, and you even hurt me!”

Chu Lishu moved his mouth and eventually spoke, “I believe you. I know there must be a reason. It’s just that the situation at that moment led to a misunderstanding. Later… I was angry for another reason.”

“What’s the reason?”

Chu Lishu glanced around, cleared his throat, and said, “Although you were repaying a favor and had good intentions, did you ever think about how others would perceive it when they saw you leaving with Pei Jin and staying together? Maybe the Third Prince would suspect Pei Jin of colluding with you to frame him, and Concubine Mei might doubt your motives, thinking your relationship with the Third Prince is unclear. The intricate plan we carefully devised might be in jeopardy because of your kindness. Trust is not easy to build, but it can easily crumble, and rebuilding it is even harder.”

Chu Lishu’s lecture instantly made Lin Qingyang, who was feeling proud, wilt. Anxious, he said, “Will… will it be like that? What should we do? Should I do something to make amends? I didn’t mean it. Oh dear, it’s all my fault. I didn’t think about it at the time. How could I forget? We are now in the palace, completely in an adversarial position. I…”

Chu Lishu was taken aback, seeing Lin Qingyang genuinely panicking, he quickly held him down, “Don’t be nervous. I was just saying that because we haven’t completely sided with the Fourth Prince’s faction yet. There’s still time for everything. Today, I heard that Pei Jin took an early leave, obviously due to genuine health issues. So, taking care of a fellow study companion isn’t a big deal. It doesn’t violate our initial intentions. My words were just a lesson for you. Remember…”

“I got it. I swear I won’t have any friendly contact with anyone from either side without informing you if absolutely necessary.” Lin Qingyang quickly said cautiously.

Chu Lishu nodded in satisfaction, patting Lin Qingyang’s head, “That’s a good boy.”

Seeing that Chu Lishu finally smiled, Lin Qingyang knew that he had passed this test. He breathed a sigh of relief, realizing it was a false alarm. In the future, he will need to choose his words and actions more carefully.

Feeling exhausted, Lin Qingyang lay down, “Can I borrow your bed for a while? I don’t know why, but I feel incredibly tired.”

Chu Lishu’s voice hesitated, “Sure, you can lie down as long as you want.”

“My wrists, arms, everything feels sore. You…” Lin Qingyang started saying.

“It’s just a bump. I’ll apply some ointment for you.” Chu Lishu quickly responded.

Lin Qingyang suddenly discovered a new source of amusement. As long as he started by mentioning his sore hand, he could get Chu Lishu to do anything, making him act like a personal attendant. Chu Lishu didn’t seem to mind and willingly played along.

Oh heavens, what kind of unexpected benefits were these! Was it even appropriate for him, as a toolman, to harbor such thoughts? Lin Qingyang felt triumphant all day, but eventually, he felt a bit embarrassed about continuing to exploit the situation. The rumors about him and Pei Jin didn’t seem to spread, and everything went smoothly for the next two days. Concubine Mei’s favor towards them became more apparent.

Finally, after a couple of days, Third Prince and his group came for class.

Lin Qingyang initially thought there might be some conflict, and Fourth Prince seemed a bit afraid of his third brother. However, Third Prince acted as if he had settled down, completely ignoring them.

But Lin Qingyang knew that next, Chu Lishu would probably prepare the final act, a stratagem to make Prime Minister Li completely trust them.

Chu Lishu didn’t discuss this with him, indicating that he planned to handle it on his own. Although Lin Qingyang was concerned about the plan, he couldn’t stop Chu Lishu from proceeding. Some things were inevitable and had to unfold.

In the afternoon, they had military strategy lessons with Huo Luo. Huo Luo taught them about marching, formation arrangements, and simulated battles on a sand table. Lin Qingyang, although initially clueless, gradually developed an interest. Even though he might not have the natural talent to be a general and didn’t like the idea of going to the battlefield, studying tactics and formations turned out to be quite intriguing.

When it was time to leave school, Huo Luo stopped Lin Qingyang and said, “By the way, you mentioned wanting to eat some game meat. I just hunted a stag, I’ll send it to you tonight.”

“Thank you, Big Brother Huo!” Lin Qingyang immediately smiled.

Xu Wenze and Chu Lishu paused, looking at Lin Qingyang with confusion.

“Is your recent diet a bit too heat-inducing? It’s spring, not winter,” Xu Wenze wondered. “Be careful not to get a nosebleed from too much heat.”

“How could that happen? I’ve only been eating like that for two days,” Lin Qingyang replied.

Chu Lishu thought for a moment. Has Lin Qingyang’s appetite changed recently? He used to dislike certain foods, but now he eats them every day. Not only beef and lamb but also carrots and leeks, which he used to dislike. Now, he’s preparing to eat deer meat and drink deer blood. There was a time when they encountered such limited-edition delicacies in a restaurant, but Lin Qingyang refused to eat them, insisting that he wouldn’t eat animals that looked cute.

Chu Lishu couldn’t help but feel suspicious. When they returned home, he couldn’t resist asking, “What’s been going on with you lately? Feeling unwell? Should we find the imperial physician to take a look?”

“No, I just feel a bit cold recently, so I’m eating some warm foods,” Lin Qingyang replied.

Chu Lishu frowned and said, “Don’t eat randomly. If you feel cold, you should see the imperial physician.”

Lin Qingyang chuckled, “Let’s just say I have a craving. How about a barbecue tonight? I want to eat what you cook. I’ve only tasted it a few times.”

Seeing Lin Qingyang’s eager expression, Chu Lishu softened and said, “You can let the palace chef prepare it for you today, and I’ll make some for you tomorrow. Tonight… we have a night meeting with Yue Chen.”

“Oh, right. Can’t miss that.” Lin Qingyang nodded.

Chu Lishu suddenly suggested, “Tonight, why don’t you skip it? It’s quite boring. Since you mentioned feeling cold, how about taking a medicinal bath tonight and getting some good rest?”

Lin Qingyang initially thought of refusing but seeing Chu Lishu’s determined expression, he suddenly realized that Chu Lishu must be planning to use the strategy of pretending to be injured tonight.

Lin Qingyang’s expression changed a few times, “I’ll still go.”

Chu Lishu shook his head, “Obey.”

Lin Qingyang blinked, but in the end, he nodded.

However, nodding didn’t mean he would obediently comply. This was related to his mission, and he couldn’t be at ease if he didn’t keep an eye on things. Sneaking over quietly to observe how the male lead handled the situation and then sneaking back, perfect.

Because the feigned illness was the culmination of the entire plan, Lin Qingyang knew that Chu Lishu wouldn’t make too much noise. As long as he appeared sufficiently humiliated, it would be enough. In such situations, mistakes were generally rare, and if circumstances changed, it was convenient for him to intervene promptly.

So overall, Lin Qingyang wasn’t very worried.

After eating deer meat in the evening, when Chu Lishu, Xu Wenze, and the others had all gone out, Lin Qingyang also tidied up and prepared to go out.

But just as he opened the door, he was startled by the sudden appearance of a eunuch in front of him.

Lin Qingyang didn’t have time to react and fainted.

When Lin Qingyang woke up again, he found himself lying inside the cold palace.

For a moment, Lin Qingyang felt a sense of panic. However, as he raised his head and saw the icy black iron chair with Chief Steward Ning sitting on it, Lin Qingyang became calm.

As expected, it had finally arrived.

This time, the plot was unfolding with him taking the place of the male lead.

Lin Qingyang silently glanced at his points, then looked at the pills in the Exchange Shop. Well, everything was in order.

“Interesting… You’re the first person brought here who isn’t scared. Did you anticipate that I would come for you?”

Lin Qingyang got up, dusted off the dirt on his clothes, and said, “After all, I am the legitimate son of Marquis An Nan, the study companion of the Fourth Prince. I believe even Chief Steward Ning wouldn’t have any reasonable cause to suddenly do something to me. So why would I do something embarrassing? But I really don’t know why Chief Steward Ning suddenly grabbed me. I haven’t offended Chief Steward Ning, recently, I’ve only offended the Third Prince. Could it be that Chief Steward Ning, on the surface, is the Emperor’s person but secretly helping the Third Prince?”

According to the descriptions in the book, Ning Ziheng detested those who were timid or uncontrollably crazy. He appreciated people with courage and discretion. Lin Qingyang hoped to gain some favor and prevent this madman from being too ruthless.

A strange silence made Lin Qingyang’s heart race. Suddenly, applause rang out, accompanied by a cold laughter. Ning Ziheng spoke, “Lin Qingyang, well done. I appreciate you. If you weren’t associated with Yuan Ran, I might not kill you.”

If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>