I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 188

Chapter 188

Lin Qingyang had been spending almost a month in the palace, feeling as if he were on vacation. The situation outside had stabilized, and the disaster victims had been properly resettled. Even the Emperor’s complexion had improved significantly.

Meanwhile, the Eldest Prince, who occasionally visited the palace, was also in high spirits lately. It could be said that the power in his hands had reached a new peak in history. Of course, it couldn’t be compared to the days of Yuan Yan, but it had far surpassed what Yuan Ye, the current Crown Prince, should have in terms of influence.

There seemed to be a subtle trend in the changing positions of power.

At this moment, Chief Steward Hai sent a letter to them. Gu Jing had already received orders to prepare. They were to act during the Qixi Festival banquet. Gu Jing had now fully aligned himself with Chu Lishu.

Days passed quickly, and suddenly there were only three days left until the Qixi Festival banquet. Yuan Ye and the Third Prince were finally released.

On this morning, as Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu were about to leave the palace for their vacation, they bumped into the Eldest Prince head-on.

Suddenly, a notification rang in Lin Qingyang’s mind:【Main Mission 2, Mission 11: Assist the male lead in cleaning up the Ministry of Works.】

Lin Qingyang understood this well and wasn’t surprised. It seemed that things were progressing smoothly for Yue Chen and the others. However, he found it odd that the Eldest Prince seemed so indifferent.

Once inside the carriage, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but speak up. “The power distribution within the Six Ministries varies, and the Ministry of Works is controlled by the Eldest Prince’s Wang family. If they encounter any trouble, the Eldest Prince will be affected too. Yue Chen and the others have been gone for a month already. Why is the Eldest Prince still so calm?”

It was common knowledge among the supporters of the Fourth Prince that Chu Lishu was dealing with the three major forces. However, only Chu Lishu’s trusted confidants were aware of his plans regarding the Six Ministries. Still, Chu Lishu didn’t hide anything from Lin Qingyang because he knew Lin Qingyang wouldn’t ask too many questions and certainly wouldn’t go to Prime Minister Li to verify. So, he left the boundaries vague. It wasn’t surprising that Lin Qingyang asked.

“When the Eldest Prince learns that some people below him are doing things that could attract the Emperor’s attention, what do you think he’ll do?” Chu Lishu inquired.

Lin Qingyang thought for a moment. “Given his ambitions, he probably wouldn’t tolerate such unexpected events.”

Chu Lishu smiled faintly, and Lin Qingyang instantly understood. “Ah, the Eldest Prince doesn’t know about the misconduct of the lower-ranking officials.”

“If they truly didn’t have a clue, then both he and the Imperial Concubine Huang would be incredibly foolish. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. They must be aware that their subordinates aren’t all squeaky clean. Certain mistakes are allowed to exist as long as they can be resolved. But after the flood incident, many issues have come to light simultaneously. The Eldest  Prince and the Imperial Concubine Huang haven’t realized the seriousness of the situation yet. Meanwhile, the lower-ranking officials are afraid of being dealt with prematurely by their superiors. All they can do is desperately conceal the truth, downplay the severity of the situation, and hope for a chance to survive. So…”

“So, for us, it’s the perfect time to fish in troubled waters,” Lin Qingyang analyzed, mimicking Chu Lishu’s style.

Chu Lishu nodded. “Cousin, you’re getting smarter and smarter.”

“Don’t praise me like I’m a child,” Lin Qingyang said with a frown, feeling speechless.

Suddenly, someone boarded the carriage. It was Lu Yi.

“Master, there has been unusual activity in the city since yesterday. There are spies and thugs lurking around General Huo’s residence and the Yue residence.”

“Are they the Eldest Prince’s men?”

“No, it seems they are from out of town,” Lu Yi replied.

“Capture one and interrogate them harshly,” Chu Lishu said decisively.

Lu Yi immediately left to carry out the order.

“Could it be that something has happened to Yue Chen and Huo Luo?” Lin Qingyang asked anxiously. He couldn’t help but worry, especially since the plot had changed in many places, and he didn’t know if it would affect the safety of those two.

“If they still manage to get into trouble despite teaming up, then they’re truly useless,” Chu Lishu said, unusually serious. If they were from out of town, could it be…

Chu Lishu had a certain idea in mind, but for now, there was nothing they could do but return to the residence.

Back at the residence, everyone seemed to be wearing smiles.

Upon inquiry, Lin Qinglan’s health had fully recovered, and County Princess Yawen was also doing well. Tomorrow would mark the final round of acupuncture treatment for her, and if successful, all hidden dangers in her body would be completely eliminated.

Yawen’s spirits had completely changed, and now she could hold a pleasant conversation with Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu.

When the two left for the medicine pavilion and saw Mu Huichun again, they noticed that the child had not only grown taller but also gained some weight. It was evident that he had been treated like a national treasure here. While delicious food and drinks were served in the residence. The Liu family, thanks to the Merchant Agency, had provided Mu Huichun with high-quality medicinal herbs, allowing him to spend his days happily.

Mu Huichun naturally wanted to provide an update on the condition of the patients at home when he saw Lin Qingyang.

Lin Qingyang gratefully offered the snacks he had brought back from the palace, and Mu Huichun, feeling his plump cheeks, couldn’t resist devouring the snacks in no time.

Chu Lishu shook his head as he watched. “Be careful of cavities.”

In the evening, Cousin Liu came to find them, suggesting they go out for a stroll. Upon inquiry, they learned that Liu Jingchen wanted to purchase more houses and shops in the capital, especially those related to the entertainment industry at night. Since the Chen Lan Merchant Agency had a stake in it, Liu Jingchen wanted the three of them to go out together.

Lin Qingyang was excited to go out, but Chu Lishu probably felt that Lu Yi would come with his men in the evening, so it wouldn’t be convenient to go out.

So, Lin Qingyang and Cousin Liu’s nephew went out together. Inevitably, they thought of their good friend Qi Yan. As the prince of the nightlife, Qi Yan would surely have insightful opinions on such matters. Sure enough, after Qi Yan joined them, Cousin Liu and Qi Yan hit it off.

When they got tired from strolling and found a tavern to have a drink, Lin Qingyang finally found the opportunity to talk to Qi Yan about the situation in the south.

In fact, this was the main reason Lin Qingyang had called him here.

“Ah, don’t mention it,” Qi Yan sighed, “Both my brothers got injured. It seems there was a riot among the refugees earlier, and they took some soldiers to suppress it. However, the situation escalated, and they didn’t want to harm anyone, so they ended up getting injured themselves and are now recuperating at home.” He leaned in closer to Lin Qingyang, speaking cautiously, “My brother also said this matter is quite complicated, and he advised us to pretend we don’t know about it. So, I’m reminding you as well. This matter is basically unrelated to you, so it’s best to steer clear.”

Lin Qingyang’s eyes flickered, nodding to show he understood.

After discussing the serious matter, Qi Yan noticed that Liu Xiaowei on the opposite side wasn’t drinking. He enthusiastically said, “Why aren’t you drinking, Fifth Lord Liu? The pear blossom wine here is delicious. Oh, I see, maybe it’s not strong enough. You can ask for some strong liquor. Their family has that too.”

Lin Qingyang quickly waved his hand, saying, “My uncle doesn’t handle alcohol well, don’t use your persuasion techniques on him.”

Qi Yan was surprised, probably finding it unbelievable, and said, “Pear blossom wine isn’t strong, it’s usually fine for girls to drink. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

Liu Xiaowei furrowed his brow slightly, actually feeling like having a drink.

Lin Qingyang and Liu Jingchen saw him like this and couldn’t bear it either.

“How about giving it a try?” Liu Jingchen thought that even if it was just one glass, he had poured so many times before, so he should have some tolerance by now.

But when Liu Xiaowei took a small sip from the tiny glass, and everyone watched with anticipation, they were caught off guard to see Liu Xiaowei’s head hit the table, and Lin Qingyang didn’t have time to catch him.

The waiter who came to serve the wine was also shocked, “What… What’s wrong with this guest? Our pear blossom wine is not easy to get drunk on!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, he drank too much before coming here.” Qi Yan stifled a laugh.

In the end, the three of them could only drink and wait for him to sober up.

As they were talking, Lin Qingyang leaned on the railing of the second floor and looked at the night scene outside. Suddenly, the commotion below caught his attention.

A ragged girl was driven out of a pharmacy, the shopkeeper still cursing at her. A few righteous people around spoke up, and the shopkeeper eventually went back inside. The girl, in a hurry, asked if there were any other pharmacies nearby. Two men stepped forward with smiles, offering to take her there. Thinking she had encountered good-hearted people, the girl followed them.

However, the two men led the girl straight into an alley. Realizing something was wrong, the girl immediately tried to run.

But the two men refused to let her go, reaching out to tear off the robe she was wearing. As they examined her closely, one of them cursed.

“She’s disfigured!”

“Doesn’t matter if she’s disfigured, her figure’s good enough, still fun to play with.”

As the two men approached, intending to commit a heinous act, suddenly there was commotion at the mouth of the alley. They turned to see a man wielding a silver long sword, lightly scoring the wall.

“Don’t want to die? Then scram!”

The two men were just ordinary thugs. Seeing the sword, they assumed the man was a martial artist and didn’t dare to offend. They immediately turned and ran off.

Lin Qingyang put away the sword, grateful that he managed to bluff them away. Otherwise, he’d have to call for help.

He hurried forward, picked up the robe, and draped it over the girl. Only then did the frightened girl lift her head, and Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned. He noticed a long scar on her cheek, most likely from a knife.

“Thank you for saving my life, young master. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Your accent suggests you’re from out of town. Be careful when you’re out and about.”

“I just… I just need to find a medicine shop. Someone’s waiting for me to bring back medicine.”

Seeing the girl’s pitiful and frail appearance, Lin Qingyang could only play the role of a good person. “There’s a medicine shop around the corner. Let’s go. I’ll lead the way.”

Afraid that the girl might be wary, Lin Qingyang walked ahead without waiting for her response. If she trusted him, she would naturally follow.

Soon, they arrived at the medicine shop. Lin Qingyang initially intended to leave, but recalling how the girl had been treated earlier, he thought it best to lend a hand, just in case she had no money.

Upon seeing the girl take out a pearl as payment, Lin Qingyang realized he had misunderstood the situation. Prepared to leave, he heard the girl being scolded. Curious, he turned to look and saw the medicine seller holding a medicine bottle, speechless. “Miss, are you deliberately causing trouble? We sell medicine, but if you come with an empty bottle asking for medicine, do you expect us to magically produce it for you? At the very least, tell me the name of the medicine, or its ingredients, or even the symptoms of the patient.”

The girl was momentarily speechless, as if she had something difficult to express. As a result, she was deemed a troublemaker and about to be driven away by the shopkeeper.

At that moment, Lin Qingyang stepped forward, took the bottle from the girl’s hand, and pulled her away from the shop.

The girl was startled. “Young master, what… what are you going to do?!”

It wasn’t until they reached a less crowded area that Lin Qingyang sternly questioned her, “Where did you get this medicine bottle?”

The girl hesitated. “Young master, do you recognize this bottle?”

Lin Qingyang pondered for a moment, then cautiously probed, “This is a specialized medicine bottle from a private medicine shop in the capital. Outsiders usually wouldn’t recognize it. Moreover, you’re from out of town. How did you come by it?”

The girl immediately widened her eyes and said anxiously, “This belongs to my friend. He said the medicine in this bottle could save lives, but we’ve already used it all up, and we…”

Lin Qingyang’s mind raced. “Well, lucky for you, I happen to have some with me. You can use it.”

With that, Lin Qingyang took out the medicine, and the girl’s eyes lit up instantly—it was the same kind of bottle.

“Can… can I really use this?”

“Of course, it’s fate that we met. Take it, it’s for emergencies,” Lin Qingyang reassured.

The girl was grateful and insisted on repaying Lin Qingyang with a pearl, even asking for his name and address to return the favor. However, Lin Qingyang declined.

Afterward, the girl left with the medicine bottle, and Lin Qingyang quickly bid farewell to his cousin and followed her. Although Liu Jingchen didn’t stop him, Qi Yan wanted to join, but once they left, he couldn’t find them anywhere.

The girl was cautious, always alert to the possibility of being followed. However, Lin Qingyang had learned a thing or two about tracking from following the male lead for so long. Following a girl without any martial arts skills was easy for him.

The medicine bottle belonged to Mu Huichun, and only Yue Chen and Huo Luo had access to it. Plus, this girl was from out of town… especially with that scar on her face.

Lin Qingyang remembered the description of General Huo’s wife, who had a scar on her face, making her unattractive.

Could it be just a coincidence?

Finally, they arrived at a deserted and dilapidated temple in the city where beggars gathered. If it weren’t for following the girl, Lin Qingyang wouldn’t have known about this place in the city.

As the girl walked inside, Lin Qingyang was about to follow stealthily to eavesdrop when he heard a scream of terror.

Startled, Lin Qingyang hurried to a window and peeked through the crack, only to see four thugs holding three people captive: the girl, a young man with injuries hindering his movement, and shockingly, an unconscious Yue Chen.

Where was Huo Luo? Why wasn’t he there!

“Kill this one, take the other two away,” the leader pointed at Yue Chen.

Seeing the imminent danger, Lin Qingyang had no choice but to rush in.

With the concealed weapons provided by Chu Lishu and his uncle’s precious sword, perhaps he could fight back.

“Such audacity! This is the Imperial City; before you decide to take someone’s life, you should consider if you have the ability to do so,” Lin Qingyang exclaimed boldly.

Lin Qingyang made a grand entrance, standing at the doorway in a commanding pose.

The sudden appearance startled everyone, causing them to pause.

“Why is there still someone here? Get him!” the thugs shouted.

Lin Qingyang swiftly launched a concealed weapon, and the foremost thug fell to the ground.

This startled the other three thugs, uncertain of Lin Qingyang’s skill.

Lin Qingyang continued to act tough, saying, “Who sent you? Do you even know who you’re trying to kill? Do you want to be hunted down by the powerful Yue Clan from the Four Great Families to the ends of the earth?”

Lin Qingyang was probing, but the three individuals remained unfazed, indicating that they were likely aware of Yue Chen’s identity.

“Ah, I see now. You’re from the Ministry of Works!”

Lin Qingyang’s guess was off the mark, but it unsettled the three men. Two of them rushed forward.

Now Lin Qingyang was in trouble. He swung his sword hastily. His precious blade cut through any weapon that came his way, but it also exposed the fact that Lin Qingyang had no martial skills whatsoever.

This prompted the three men to ignore the hostages and focus on surrounding Lin Qingyang.

The only one who could assist was the girl, who also attempted to wield a blade, but she lacked the skill.

Just as Lin Qingyang was forced to retreat and stumbled to the ground, he could only shout, “Do you think I’m alone? Look!”

Raising his hand, Lin Qingyang tricked the three men, who fell for it and turned to look. But they were deceived, as Lin Qingyang, who had managed to rise to his feet, was now advancing aggressively.

However, this time Lin Qingyang couldn’t avoid their attack, yet strangely, there was no alarm bell ringing in his mind.

Just then, Lin Qingyang shouted again, “Stop! Look behind you!”

This time, the three men paid no attention, intent on striking. But then they heard Lin Qingyang say, “Leave one alive.”

In the next moment, two of the three men had their necks silently snapped.

The third was kicked and sent flying, collapsing unconscious on the ground.

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air, glaring disapprovingly at Lin Qingyang.

Lin Qingyang quickly offered the weapons with a playful smile. “Uncle, you arrived just in time and saved my life.”

Unhappy, Liu Xiaowei reluctantly took back his sword. “Who allowed you to run around? I’ll tell Chu Lishu when I get back!”

Lin Qingyang: …

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