I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 194

Chapter 194

The plan of witchcraft was Empress Cheng’s scheme to frame Imperial Concubine Huang by using the Qintian Observatory. This was one of the most common tactics in the palace intrigue, intending to slander Empress Dowager for using witchcraft dolls to harm others. Therefore, she began setting the stage for the performance from now on.

In Lin Qingyang’s view, this mission should be completed smoothly, as it wasn’t Chu Lishu’s plan but merely going along with Empress Cheng’s scheme. The male lead didn’t need to do anything; he could just watch from the sidelines. Chu Lishu only escalated the conflict between the two sides initially, then used the controlled Qintian Observatory to monitor the development of the whole event. Now, everything was going smoothly, and they were just waiting to see the results.

So, for them, the Qixi Festival banquet didn’t involve anything particularly special; it was just watching a well-executed drama unfold.

The banquet had already begun, and Empress Cheng’s frequent displays of discomfort naturally drew attention.

“What’s wrong, Sister-in-law? Are you feeling unwell?” the Emperor, seated at the main seat, asked.

Empress Cheng looked up with a weak smile. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have been feeling a bit unwell recently, but the imperial physicians have assured me that there’s nothing wrong with my health. It’s probably just a result of not sleeping well.”

“Since you’re not feeling well, Sister-in-law, there’s no need to force yourself to attend the Qixi Festival banquet. You should go back and rest,” remarked the Imperial Concubine Huang on the left, her voice cold and proud, revealing her dislike for Empress Cheng.

Imperial Concubine Huang was of similar age to Empress Cheng but appeared slightly older, perhaps due to the frustrations of life, her husband’s disfavor, and her awkward position. As a result, her expressions always seemed world-weary, except when she looked at her son, when her demeanor would improve slightly.

“I also noticed that Your Majesty’s complexion doesn’t look good. There’s no need to force yourself,” added Concubine Pei, also seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Empress Cheng appeared melancholic, her gaze downcast, as if feeling bullied. “I won’t force myself. Seeing all these smiling faces, I feel happy in my heart,” she said, trying to mask her feelings of being mistreated.

Imperial Concubine Huang couldn’t be bothered to spare her another glance, and Concubine Pei rolled her eyes before turning away.

However, the Empress Dowager, who had a good relationship with Empress Cheng, showed genuine concern, attentively inquiring about her well-being.

Empress Cheng took the opportunity to mention her recent frequent nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night, and encountering strange accidents, indicating that things hadn’t been going smoothly for her lately.

Empress Cheng spoke cautiously, leaving only a subtle impression on those who heard her, without arousing any suspicion.

Concubine Mei, who was already aware of the entire plan from Chu Lishu’s side, spoke up: “Are you having nightmares? Empress, you should drink more calming tea. If that doesn’t work, you can ask someone from the Qintian Observatory to check if there are any Feng Shui issues in your residence.”

Empress Cheng didn’t expect Concubine Mei to be so insightful. Coming from her, the suggestion carried more weight than if she had said it herself.

However, Empress Cheng still needed to maintain a facade of indifference to avoid alerting her enemies. After this exchange, there was no visible reaction from Imperial Concubine Huang’s side.

The atmosphere below had gradually heated up.

Some were showcasing their talents, others were engaging in friendly competitions, and a few even initiated challenges to demonstrate their strengths.

Of course, there were also those who wished to avoid such trouble, like Cao Wanying.

However, with her reputation preceding her, avoiding attention was impossible. Soon enough, the Empress Dowager took the initiative to inquire about Cao Wanying.

Cao Wanying had no choice but to bravely step forward and play a piece on the zither. Her performance elicited even more applause than the dancing display that had captivated the hall earlier, including that of Pei Qianyu.

With her ethereal beauty, Cao Wanying captured the hearts of many, stirring feelings of admiration even in the men present. Both the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince had their eyes fixed on her, full of appreciation.

Only Yuan Ye secretly glanced at Jing Rouyin. Naturally, Jing Rouyin couldn’t come forward to perform, as her appearance would easily remind people of unpleasant matters.

Jing Rouyin glanced at Cao Wanying for a moment before shifting her gaze to the three princes on the platform. Seeing Yuan Ye looking at her, she smiled coyly, captivating everyone with her charm.

This scene naturally didn’t escape the notice of Empress Cheng, whose expression turned sour. She didn’t want her son to get involved with Jing Rouyin.

“I still remember when Ying’er used to accompany her grandfather to the palace when she was young. She has always been a well-mannered and intelligent beauty since childhood, and now she has grown into such a charming and lively young lady,” Empress Cheng said to the Empress Dowager with a smile. “I remember one year when it snowed, Yuan Ye took her out to play in the snow, but ended up making the poor girl cry after teasing her too much.”

The Empress Dowager seemed to recall the incident and burst into laughter.

However, Imperial Concubine Huang was not pleased to hear this. Was Empress Cheng intentionally trying to suggest Cao Wanying’s suitability?

Imperial Concubine Huang spoke directly, “Indeed, she’s a good girl. Whoever marries her will surely be blessed. Why not have the Qintian Observatory calculate her fate? Who knows, she might have a royal destiny. I think she’s quite likable.”

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement, “If Ying’er enters our palace, it will certainly be a good thing.”

The Eldest Prince was a year older than Yuan Ye. If Cao Wanying were to enter the palace, the Eldest Prince would undoubtedly have the first choice.

Upon hearing the Imperial Concubine Huang’s words, Empress Cheng instantly understood that they were both eyeing the same prospective daughter-in-law. How could this be allowed?

So, as soon as the music ended, Empress Cheng wanted to take the initiative and call Cao Wanying over to her side to show intimacy. However, she noticed that Yuan Ye was not in his seat, and there was also no one in Jing Rouyin’s position. This immediately infuriated her, and her face turned pale with anger.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager directly summoned Cao Wanying to her side. Although she sat beside the Empress Dowager, the care shown to her by the other concubines was already making those below envious.

“It seems that the royal family has taken a liking to Miss Cao.”

“Well, isn’t that something everyone knows? With luck, she might become the mother of the nation in the future.”

Whispers surrounded them, and Lin Qingyang watched the scene in a daze. Suddenly, he felt a warm breath near his ear. Almost as if the words were being whispered into his ear.

“You’ve been watching Cao Wanying for a long time now. What’s up? Does she look particularly beautiful tonight?” Chu Lishu asked in an ambiguous tone.

Lin Qingyang turned his head and almost bumped into Chu Lishu’s nose, they were too close. He could see the details on Chu Lishu’s face clearly, which seemed to bother Chu Lishu a bit. Feeling embarrassed, Lin Qingyang moved away a little and said, “I’m just watching the excitement.”

“Others are just watching, but you’ve been staring at her all along,” Chu Lishu said discontentedly, picking up his glass. He felt annoyed that Lin Qingyang had been so distracted just now. Someone might think he was infatuated with Cao Wanying.

Lin Qingyang opened his mouth, but could only offer a vague response for now. With so many changes in the plot, he couldn’t be sure of anything at the moment. However, he soon found himself gazing at Cao Wanying on the stage again.

At this point, after three rounds of drinks, most of the performances had concluded, and people were starting to leave for the river lantern festival. Chu Lishu squinted slightly, set down his glass, and then grabbed Lin Qingyang’s arm to lead him away from the banquet.

“Huh? Cousin, what are you doing? We don’t have anything else to do, right? There’s no need to leave so hastily. Let’s wait until the banquet here ends and the royal family members leave before we go,” Lin Qingyang protested.

Chu Lishu remained silent, pulling Lin Qingyang towards a quieter area. Lin Qingyang didn’t want to leave; he needed to ascertain Cao Wanying’s next move. So, he forcefully stopped in his tracks.

At that moment, they happened to be in the shadows of a corner in the garden.

Lin Qingyang looked puzzled as Chu Lishu suddenly wore a stern expression. Before Lin Qingyang could speak, Chu Lishu pressed him against the artificial rockery.

Suppressing his emotions, Chu Lishu asked directly, “You’ve been acting strange tonight, especially when Cao Wanying started performing. Your eyes never left her. What are you up to? Don’t tell me it’s just curiosity. Tell me the truth!”

Lin Qingyang looked somewhat uncomfortable, appearing as if he had something to hide. With a complex expression, he countered, “How did you know I was looking at her? Were you also watching her?”

Chu Lishu, however, narrowed his eyes and replied, “I was watching you.”

Lin Qingyang chuckled dryly, pretending nonchalance as he said, “Anyone could see that. All three families are trying to win Cao Wanying as a daughter-in-law. I’m just sympathizing with her, thinking that such a perfect woman deserves better.”

Chu Lishu released Lin Qingyang, looking puzzled. “Since when did you become curious about the lifelong affairs of others? Cao Wanying is destined to be seen as a prize by those families. Considering the current situation, neither the Cheng nor the Wang family have eligible daughters for marriage. So, choosing a girl from another family, Cao Wanying is indeed the top choice.”

“Aren’t you quite close to Mr. Cao? Don’t you want to help her?” Lin Qingyang probed.

“Help? It’s needless worrying, especially after tonight. Who would have the energy to care about Cao Wanying?” Chu Lishu said indifferently.

Lin Qingyang felt a lump in his chest, as if a mouthful of blood was stuck there. The importance of the plan involving the witchcraft now seemed trivial compared to the complicated situation surrounding Cao Wanying tonight. But… he didn’t feel like facing that storyline.

“Distracted again? What’s wrong tonight?” Chu Lishu frowned, reaching out to touch Lin Qingyang’s cheek gently before suggesting, “Let’s go and release river lanterns to clear our minds.”

After a moment of consideration, Lin Qingyang thought that Cao Wanying and Jing Rouyin would also be releasing river lanterns. It might be a good idea to go and see, perhaps even to remind her of something.

Chu Lishu’s movements stiffened, and he immediately pulled Lin Qingyang to hide. Shortly after, Lin Qingyang heard hurried footsteps.

“Mother, please don’t do this,” came the voice of Yuan Ye, “I was just taking a stroll and catching up with Rouyin.”

“Empress, what do you mean by grabbing me like this?” Jing Rouyin’s voice followed, composed and dignified.

Peeking out with Lin Qingyang, they saw Empress Cheng surrounded only by her trusted aides, gripping Jing Rouyin and dragging her away into the distance.

Lin Qingyang also admired Yuan Ye. Tonight was crucial for them as mother and son. He had thought of enjoying a romantic evening, but they were caught by Empress Cheng.

Sure enough, the next moment, Empress Cheng became furious and slapped Jing Rouyin directly.

Jing Rouyin instantly fell to the ground, covering her cheeks, crying in extreme grievance.

Yuan Ye wanted to intervene but was angrily rebuked by Empress Cheng. “I can see you’ve been ensnared by a fox spirit. Do you know what happened tonight? How did I give birth to such a useless son like you? Have you forgotten what her identity is? Do you still want to get involved with her?”

Yuan Ye had not yet experienced the bitterness of being attacked by rumors, as mentioned in the original plot, so he remained persistent about Jing Rouyin. Especially when Empress Cheng mentioned Jing Rouyin’s identity, it further aroused his rebellious spirit and protective instincts.

“Mother, if you keep behaving like this, everyone will really find out,” Yuan Ye said sternly.

Empress Cheng was infuriated and quickly shook off Yuan Ye’s hand. “You, go back and do what you’re supposed to do. I will have someone escort Miss Jing out of the palace. She is not suitable to stay here any longer.”

“Mother!”

“Get out!”

Yuan Ye wanted to say more, but people around him stepped forward to persuade him. They warned him that further angering Empress Cheng would be the worst thing for Jing Rouyin. Reluctantly, Yuan Ye had no choice but to leave.

Empress Cheng looked at Jing Rouyin, who was still crying on the ground, and waved away the crowd. She sneered coldly, “They say you have the phoenix’s fortune, but do you really think you can wear the phoenix robe? If you couldn’t seduce my elder son, you tried your luck with the younger one. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. I won’t let my son marry you. Where’s your phoenix’s fortune now?”

Jing Rouyin, who had been softly crying, trembled at these words. When she looked up at Empress Cheng, her eyes were already red, and her expression was cold and stern.

“Your Majesty, we have once been through thick and thin together. Do we need to resort to such extremes now? I’m just seeking a place to live in peace.”

Empress Cheng’s face twisted momentarily, as if recalling something unpleasant, and she glared fiercely at Jing Rouyin.

“A place to live in peace shouldn’t be by Yuan Ye’s side. I’ve already chosen Cao Wanying. She will become the Crown Princess. I’ve already had her destiny checked by the Qintian Observatory. She’s no worse than you.”

Hearing this, Jing Rouyin remembered the attention Cao Wanying received tonight, and her face contorted with emotion.

“That’s not necessarily true, Your Majesty. Since you’ve said I have the phoenix’s destiny, how could anyone else become the Crown Princess? Just now, Yuan Ye promised me he would never marry Cao Wanying.” Her phoenix’s destiny couldn’t be replaced.

Empress Cheng was infuriated. “Who do you think you are? Just because he promised doesn’t mean anything! You’d better behave yourself, or else, you won’t be able to stay in the capital!”

After the threat, she was about to order someone to send Jing Rouyin away, but Jing Rouyin spoke coldly, “There’s no need for you to drive me away. I’ll leave on my own.”

Empress Cheng thought Jing Rouyin had given up. She shouldn’t have wasted time and energy on her tonight, so she didn’t bother to linger and just left in a huff.

Meanwhile, Jing Rouyin sat on the ground and smirked for a while before getting up to leave.

As Lin Qingyang watched Jing Rouyin leave, his expression gradually changed. It seemed that Empress Cheng had truly decided on Cao Wanying in her heart. The current situation was different from the original plot, where Jing Rouyin had already become the Crown Princess due to the previous incident, and Empress Cheng naturally didn’t have a good attitude towards this daughter-in-law, probably similar to the current demeanor.

If Empress Cheng had said something similar tonight and also wanted to help Yuan Ye continue to marry Cao Wanying.

Then in the original plot… it would make sense for Jing Rouyin to frame Cao Wanying.

But now Jing Rouyin is not yet the Crown Princess, and she hasn’t reached the point where she must support Yuan Ye, so she shouldn’t have a reason to harm Cao Wanying. Would the subsequent plot not happen then?

Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu, who was also lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… I just feel… a bit uneasy, like something isn’t quite right.” Chu Lishu also sensed that something was off after seeing Jing Rouyin, but couldn’t pinpoint it, as if there was a lurking threat that hadn’t been addressed.

Then the two of them arrived at the place where they were going to release the river lanterns. Lin Qingyang quickly scanned the area and saw that only Cao Wanying was there, and Jing Rouyin was nowhere to be found. This eased his mind. In the best-case scenario, Jing Rouyin might have already left the palace.

After releasing the river lanterns, everyone gathered in the Imperial Garden to watch the fireworks. At that moment, just when Empress Cheng was speaking with the Empress Dowager, Empress Cheng suddenly coughed up blood and fainted. The imperial physicians were called to attend to her, but they couldn’t determine the cause. Shortly afterward, a eunuch came with news that the Crown Prince, Yuan Ye, had accidentally been hit by a falling tree branch while rushing over. Although he wasn’t seriously injured, he had twisted his leg and had to be carried over by attendants.

As everyone was stunned by these sudden accidents, the Eastern Palace caught fire.

These successive incidents were no longer trivial matters. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s faces turned extremely grim. They immediately summoned the Imperial Court of Justice Review to investigate and called upon Gu Jing from the Qintian Observatory. After all, these events inevitably led people to think of Empress Cheng’s earlier complaints about misfortune, naturally touching upon the topic of supernatural forces.

Gu Jing immediately began divination and calculation. Soon, he concluded that the incidents involving Empress Cheng and the Crown Prince seemed to be cursed. Such occurrences were not uncommon within the palace and were deeply taboo among the royal family. Once discovered, they were considered grave offenses.

Immediately, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s expressions turned sour, demanding a thorough investigation.

Gu Jing conducted another round of calculations, and the focus shifted towards the Qinghong Palace where Imperial Concubine Huang resided.

Naturally, Imperial Concubine Huang and the EldestPrince showed immense anger, accusing Gu Jing of wrongful accusations.

At that moment, Empress Cheng regained consciousness, and upon hearing the situation, she burst into tears, pleading her innocence. Yuan Ye also knelt down, beseeching the Emperor to search the Qinghong Palace.

Under the orchestrated plan, the Emperor led a group to the Qinghong Palace, while the Empress Dowager remained to oversee the situation. Everyone else was directed to various resting areas and strictly forbidden from leaving. It seemed they would have to spend the night in the palace until everything was sorted out.

Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang, being palace study companions, had the freedom to move around and arrange things for themselves. Instead of resting, they waited for news on the way to the Qinghong Palace.

At this point, Lin Qingyang could clearly sense Chu Lishu’s restlessness, and he couldn’t quite understand why.

Just as Lin Qingyang was about to inquire, they unexpectedly encountered Jing Rouyin, who was acting alone. It turned out she hadn’t left the palace?

Jing Rouyin seemed to be just passing by. After exchanging greetings with them, she left to arrange accommodations for those outside the palace.

Lin Qingyang thought of Cao Wanying being there too and felt uneasy. He was considering whether to find an excuse to separate from Chu Lishu when he heard Chu Lishu suddenly say, “Something seems off.”

With that, Chu Lishu grabbed Lin Qingyang and hurried towards the Qinghong Palace. When they arrived outside the palace, they could hear a commotion coming from within.

The commotion indicated one thing: they found nothing.

The setup for the witchcraft accusation… lacked physical evidence and therefore couldn’t stand.

What’s going on? Wasn’t everything arranged properly? How could there be no physical evidence?

【Ding, Main Mission 2, Mission 12: Help the male lead complete the plan of witchcraft failed.】

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