I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 176

Chapter 176

In Zi Chen Hall, almost everyone involved in the operation to eliminate the Wu Xin Mountain incident was present. Recognizing their contributions and addressing any wrongdoings according to the law was the order of the day.

Lin Qingyang and his group received significant recognition for their assistance in the matter, and their rewards were duly granted.

The most unfortunate was Yuan Ye. According to the information reported from Zhao Cheng, it was Yuan Ye’s unauthorized actions that disrupted the overall plan, leading to the failure of the first siege and causing severe consequences. Both princes were captured, and one was critically injured—all largely attributed to Yuan Ye’s rashness. This was a great shame for the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Yuan Ye, already in a sorry state, now faced a reprimand that left his face even redder, filled with a surging anger. The strategists in the Eastern Palace had already prepared an excuse for him. This time, they had to sacrifice a bit more to contain the situation. Therefore, Cheng Yi was chosen as the scapegoat. Cheng Yi was the closest cousin to Yuan Ye and belonged to the main line of the Cheng family, giving him considerable weight.

It was framed as if Cheng Yi was eager for quick success, hastily offering misguided advice. He suggested a last-minute adjustment to attack the mountain together with the Crown Prince, believing that spreading the forces across three routes would weaken their strength. Cheng Yi, as Yuan Ye’s confidant, momentarily misled him. Yuan Ye, trusting in cooperation with his brother, didn’t expect the information to be poorly communicated, leading to the subsequent events.

Yuan Ye knelt on the ground, apologizing while subtly portraying himself as a naive fool who knew nothing about warfare during his first battle. This portrayal aimed to deflect blame for disregarding the overall situation and plotting against his brother.

Lin Qingyang watched as Cheng Yi knelt behind Yuan Ye, his face turning pale, and trembling with fear.

This incident could easily cost Cheng Yi his life. The arrogant young master was probably terrified to the point of wetting his pants. Reflecting on Cheng Yi’s past glory, it was all supported by the two brothers, Yuan Ran and Yuan Ye. Lin Qingyang wondered if Cheng Yi would fantasize that if Yuan Ran were still standing in front of him, he wouldn’t be facing such a predicament.

On the Third Prince’s side, with Yuan Ye’s statement, it became even easier to fabricate reasons. The Third Prince claimed that he saw his two elder brothers gathering and was concerned that something might go wrong, so he hurried over. Being young and leading troops for the first time, he appeared even more innocent in the whole situation.

The Eldest Prince sneered at their performances, but having received approval from the family strategists, he didn’t argue further. Since he was already the victor, pursuing the defeated would only make him appear excessively ruthless and opportunistic towards his brothers.

With the Wang family’s watchful eyes, the Emperor also couldn’t let the Eldest Prince be too wronged. Soon, the officials in charge of investigating the matter concluded their inquiries. Seated on the imperial throne, the Emperor issued a royal decree.

Harsh penalties were imposed on those involved with Yuan Ye and the Third Prince, including dismissals and exile for those with official positions, and flogging and imprisonment for those without. Cheng Yi was directly rendered useless this time, and the trusted follower of the Third Prince, who had participated in the action, also faced consequences. Fortunately for Pei Jin, she managed to escape the fallout.

Yuan Ye and the Third Prince naturally faced punishment as well. They were confined to the imperial tomb for a month, required to kneel before their ancestors for three hours each day for reflection, and had to transcribe military strategy books as a penalty.

This month essentially excluded Yuan Ye and the Third Prince’s influence from political affairs, silencing the Cheng and Pei families in the court. During this critical month of severe disaster, officials capable of participating in governance would receive the most significant promotions. In other words, the Eldest Prince could take advantage of this opportunity to significantly expand his influence.

By the time they were released, it was likely that the Eldest Prince would have left them far behind.

Hearing such punishment, Yuan Ye and the Third Prince wished the Emperor would just beat them instead, but having committed mistakes, they had no qualification to negotiate. They could only grit their teeth and accept the consequences.

On the other hand, the Eldest Prince, despite being severely injured, led troops to eliminate Wu Xin Mountain, rescuing his two brothers. This was a remarkable achievement, and he received praise from the Emperor for a long time. The officials present also showered him with compliments. The Emperor, facing a son with achievements, naturally genuinely liked him. This time, with a grand gesture, he directly bestowed the title of a king (as in territory king not emperor).

Following the customs of the Great ZhouDynasty, titles of king were usually conferred at the age of twenty, except for the Crown Prince. Granting the title earlier signified remarkable achievements, the highest honor, and it was the Emperor’s affirmation of the individual’s capabilities. It also meant that the person could officially enter the court as an official and directly participate in political affairs.

The Eldest Prince was overcome with excitement, kneeling down with surging emotions, and at that moment, the pain from his injuries seemed to vanish.

After the report concluded, the Emperor left Zhao Cheng and Chief Steward Ning in charge, along with a group of ministers. It was evident that they were going to discuss the matter of spies from Tianheng Country. Since there was no concrete evidence at the moment, handling such matters proved to be quite challenging.

As others gradually left, Lin Qingyang and the other two naturally needed to make a stop at the Fourth Prince’s residence before leaving the palace. Concubine Mei and Concubine Xu had been waiting there.

Concubine Mei  and the others had also heard about the Eldest Prince being conferred the title of a king. They were concerned that this plan to promote someone to the forefront might become difficult to control in the end, possibly backfiring and benefiting the Eldest Prince.

Chu Lishu continued to manipulate, taking the opportunity to bring up the plan against the Blood Abyss Pavilion and Chief Steward Ning that had been discussed earlier.

As Lin Qingyang wasn’t initially involved, he stayed outside, accompanying the Fourth Prince and recounting the adventures on Wu Xin Mountain. On the other side, Xu Wenze, although involved in the plan, didn’t play a major role. He chatted with Concubine Xu separately after a brief conversation with Concubine Mei.

Concubine Xu still maintained her gentle and tranquil demeanor, always docile and obedient in front of Concubine Mei. Even though she was deeply worried about Xu Wenze, she didn’t dare to speak out of turn in front of Concubine Mei. While waiting for Xu Wenze to come out, she was visibly restless, constantly inquiring with Lin Qingyang about whether her younger brother was injured. Only when Xu Wenze finally emerged did she rush forward with red eyes to greet him.

Upon meeting his sister, Xu Wenze’s expression finally eased a bit. He took his sister to a different place to talk privately. He had many questions, but faced with his sister’s innocent appearance, he found it challenging to ask. In the end, he had to give up.

After questioning for a while, Concubine Mei allowed the three of them to go back and rest. As they had all contributed and were also injured, they were not required to immediately enter the palace as study companions. They were granted three days to rest at home.

Xu Wenze was picked up by the carriage from the Duke Wei Guo’s residence. Ignoring the concern from the elders and female relatives at home, he immediately requested to speak with his father alone.

In the study of the Duke Wei Guo, without waiting for his father to inquire about his injuries, Xu Wenze directly asked, “Father, I was captured on the mountain as a prisoner. The patriarch and the spy from Tianheng Country tried to… help me escape.”

Xu Wenze stared straight at the Duke Wei Guo with intense eyes. “They wanted to kill everyone, but they intended to spare me. They were trying to save me. Why?”

Duke Wei Guo appeared genuinely concerned and said, “Could it be that they wanted to use you as a hostage?”

“Father! I’m not foolish. I can see through things. Why would I qualify as a hostage? They treated me completely differently from the other captives. I have no connection with them, don’t know them at all. There’s no reason for them to treat me this way without cause! Father, are you hiding something from me? What is our Duke Wei Guo’s residence really doing? Why are we involved with bandits, spies? Could it be that we…”

Xu Wenze couldn’t imagine it. Duke Wei Guo’s residence didn’t wield much power or wealth; it could only be considered to have some status in the capital. They had always followed the rules, kept a low profile, and the most audacious thing they did was form an alliance with Prime Minister Li, which was done to protect his sister in the palace and ensure a future living space. How could they be involved with Wu Xin Mountain?

Duke Wei Guo’s eyes flickered, and he finally sighed. In a deep voice, he said, “Son, it’s not that I wanted to keep it from you, but… this is classified information within the Fourth Prince’s faction. It’s something Prime Minister Li doesn’t want us to disclose.”

Xu Wenze was momentarily stunned. “Prime Minister Li?”

cnodded. “In the struggle for power, we are already unable to contend with the other three families. Naturally, we need to establish connections with various forces. Wu Xin Mountain is indeed considered one of our cooperative partners. You were involved in part of the mission this time, weren’t you? If Wu Xin Mountain hadn’t initiated the incident first, where would we have gotten a task for you to do?”

“But, in reality, they almost killed everyone!” Xu Wenze argued. “Isn’t that an attempt to get rid of the three princes? Chu Lishu’s suggestion is the right one, to gradually weaken them and let them compete among themselves. But…”

“The bandits naturally have their own motives. If we truly intended to eliminate the three princes, wouldn’t the Emperor suspect the Fourth Prince? Wouldn’t the three major families target Prime Minister Li? How could we possibly do such a thing? We’re just cooperating; it doesn’t mean we can control them. They changed their minds temporarily, and we couldn’t do anything about it. Besides, didn’t something go wrong? It proves they still showed mercy, or they would have killed earlier,” Duke Wei Guo explained.

Xu Wenze shook his head, still finding it unreasonable but not knowing how to argue.

Duke Wei Guo spoke again, “All of this is Prime Minister Li’s idea, so you don’t need to question it; just follow orders.”

“No, it’s still not right. If I could receive such preferential treatment, why was Chu Lishu almost… harmed!” Xu Wenze immediately objected.

“Chu Lishu is just a strategist. If something happens to him, it can dispel suspicions from others about us. With his background and status, he can’t be compared to you. He is an object that can be sacrificed at any time,” Duke Wei Guo explained.

“It’s not right! Right now, Prime Minister Li’s trust in Chu Lishu clearly surpasses ours!”

Duke Wei Guo’s expression changed slightly, and he smiled, saying, “You’re still too inexperienced, there’s much you don’t understand. In any case, everything we do in the Duke Wei Guo’s residence is according to Prime Minister Li’s wishes. Many things are classified, and I can’t reveal them to you. Just follow orders and do well with the tasks assigned to you.”

Duke Wei Guo patted Xu Wenze on the shoulder and said, “You’ve suffered. Take a good rest for a few days and don’t worry too much. As you mature and become more understanding, Prime Minister Li will naturally entrust more tasks to you.”

Xu Wenze stared at his father in bewilderment. There was a lingering sense of something being amiss in his heart, but what his father said made sense too. Unless his father had been deceiving him from start to finish, he couldn’t fathom why his father would insist on deceiving him. Their family had been prominent in the capital for generations; it didn’t make sense for them to actually betray the country.

So, no matter how awkward his father’s explanations were, they still seemed to be the most reasonable. Xu Wenze had to admit that he had received quite a shock tonight. He thought that Prime Minister Li no longer trusted Duke Wei Guo’s residence, only to find out that his father had close ties with Prime Minister Li. Even Chu Lishu was completely manipulated and couldn’t be considered a trusted confidant.

Did power struggle really involve such intricate and deceptive maneuvers, plotting against people’s hearts? Then what could one truly trust in the end?

On the other side, with the moon hanging high, Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang had just returned to the residence.

At this time, after resting for a while, Mu Huichun was summoned by Chu Lishu without a second word to attend to the health of County Princess Yawen. Chu Lishu knew that Lin Qingyang was most worried about this matter at the moment.

Mu Huichun’s medical skills were renowned, and in no time, everyone had gathered around County Princess Yawen’s side, including the household’s old physician.

Mu Huichun took a deep breath and checked County Princess Yawen’s pulse. The atmosphere was tense, and County Princess Yawen’s expression was somewhat rigid. She had long given up hope for her own health. If she encountered a miracle healer who could give her more time to spend with her children, she would be content.

However, Mu Huichun’s expression gradually became subtle, “Strange… really strange.”

“What’s wrong?” Lin Qingyang immediately asked nervously.

“I can’t explain it for now, but starting from now, I need to check the pulse of the County Princess every other hour,” Mu Huichun said.

This kind of response made everyone feel uneasy for a moment, as if they were suffocating. What’s going on? They initially thought the County Princess’s situation was desperate, that conventional medicine had failed, and they were just seeking a better treatment to prolong life. Why did Mu Huichun’s words seem to imply something else?

Seeing Lin Qingyang’s unpleasant expression, Chu Lishu spoke directly, “The reason is not the most important thing. What’s most important is…”

Mu Huichun immediately understood Chu Lishu’s meaning and said, “Oh, it’s okay. With me here, she can live. As long as the County Princess maintains emotional stability, relaxes, and avoids getting too excited about things, she can live a long life.”

Mu Huichun’s clear and crisp young voice, after saying that, instantly made everyone feel as if they were experiencing an illusion.

“Is… Is what you said true?” Lin Qinglan immediately couldn’t control her tears.

Mu Huichun raised his head proudly and said, “I am the future divine physician. Even if I don’t know the reason, I can still cure it. You just need to cooperate.”

“Cooperate, cooperate, we will definitely cooperate!” Nanny Ding immediately said.

Lin Qingyang looked at the silently tearful crowd, still feeling anxious. Can someone destined to die from illness really survive? Although it was what he hoped for, it felt like a miracle. Unable to resist, he turned to look at Chu Lishu.

Chu Lishu seemed to know what he was thinking. Hee directly reached out and held Lin Qingyang’s hand, smiling and whispering, “If my junior brother can’t cure it, then at that time, we’ll go find our master.”

Lin Qingyang’s eyes couldn’t help but redden. He tightened his grip on Chu Lishu’s hand, as if gaining some kind of strength. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but think that this was probably the happiness of holding onto the male lead’s thigh.

As for the matters within the residednce, let’s set them aside for now. Starting from the second day, the Great Zhou Dynasty witnessed various shifts in power. The Wang family began to openly suppress the Cheng and Pei families without any scruples, presenting a completely dominant stance. Meanwhile, the Eldest Prince had now become King Jin.

The rewards and punishments this time were publicly announced, serving as a kind of indirect appeasement for the sentiments of the disaster-stricken people. Under the guidance of the Wang family’s public opinion manipulation, there was growing discontent towards the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, while admiration for the Eldest Prince soared. People believed that the Eldest Prince was invincible and brave, having even reclaimed supplies for the disaster-stricken, portraying him as the kind of royal figure worth relying on according to the discerning public sentiment.

Thus, the reputation of the Eldest Prince indeed soared as planned by Chu Lishu.

Voices calling for the replacement of the Crown Prince gradually emerged in the court.

【Main Mission 2, Mission 6: Help the male lead raise the Eldest Prince’s reputation – completed. Character level upgraded to ‘High Level Toolman,’ reward points 200, total 666 points, plot progress: 60%.】

Having completed the three main missions and elevated the character level, he have unlocked a special mission, bringing the total to two mystery boxes. This time, the events at Wu Xin Mountain concluded satisfactorily, or at least that’s how it should be, despite the numerous changes.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the imperial city in Tianheng Country, within a massive beast-fighting arena, a man in dark attire lay comfortably on a bench made of Han white jade. One hand gently caressed the woman in his embrace, while the other held a wine jug, pouring its contents slowly into his mouth. Occasionally, the liquor would slide down his sensual Adam’s apple, only to be licked clean by the woman in his arms, who obediently restricted her attention to his jawline and dared not go further. She could only gaze adoringly at him.

His handsome features were sharply defined, carrying a dangerous and sharp edge. It was as if a hidden knife lurked in a bed of roses, ready to harvest the lives of onlookers with the slightest misstep.

A pair of eyes radiating a cold and wolfish demeanor bored boredly into the circular arena below. Inside, five majestic lions circled a man drenched in blood, as if ready to pounce and make a meal of him in the next moment.

“Your Highness, news has arrived from Great Zhou. Master and the others were completely defeated, not a single survivor left.” Kneeling on both knees, his subordinate respectfully presented the intelligence.

“Oh? Interesting…” The slender hand opened the intelligence report, glanced over it, and slowly remarked, “It seems that the Great Zhou Dynasty still has some useful individuals, managing to break through my surveillance.” The man sat up, lazily stretching his body. “Since Yuan Ran’s death, Great Zhou has been rather dull for too long. It’s finally getting lively. Should I add some entertainment for them?”

At that moment, a series of roars echoed from below, the sound of each lion being slaughtered one by one.

The man’s gaze shifted, and his subordinate immediately smiled, saying, “Your Highness, how did the captives perform this time?”

The man withdrew his gaze indifferently. “Decent, they can fight, but… they still lack the charm of the little pet I used to pick up before.” It was a pity the little pet was lost. If only I could find it again.

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