I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 196

Chapter 196

The voice… Gu Jing was suddenly startled, his reflex urging him to turn around and look, but his cautious nature restrained him from doing so.

After Chu Lishu’s words, he naturally departed without a sound, denying Gu Jing the chance to see him.

Gu Jing nervously pondered for a while, knowing that if nothing happened later, he would take another chance based on this reminder. After all, he had no way out now; one wrong move could cost him his life.

Under the trembling gazes of Empress Cheng and Yuan Ye, the guards entered and exited various rooms, yet ultimately found nothing.

Now, everyone’s expressions turned peculiar, and someone whispered, “Could it just be a coincidence?”

At this, the Emperor looked at Gu Jing again, who immediately knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, my divination techniques have never failed.”

“Are you sure you’re not being bribed? No mistakes? Then why do we need to search the palace again?” Imperial Concubine Huang was starting to lose her temper.

She couldn’t understand why their plan to retaliate against Empress Cheng had failed. It was such a perfect opportunity, one that could have surely brought down Empress Cheng and the Crown Prince. They had received the information from Jing Rouyin and immediately started arranging things. They were all their trusted aides, so how could there be a problem?

“Your Majesty, I have only followed orders and have not been bribed or targeted. However, interpretations of the divination charts vary, and while they are related to the Qinghong Palace, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the palace itself contains something. It could simply be the result of resentment and curses. Anything associated with the object of the curse can be affected. The item might be elsewhere,” Gu Jing explained straightforwardly.

“Resentment? Such a silver-tongued explanation! Are you trying to smear my mother’s reputation? Your Majesty, we should kill those who sow discord like him!” the Eldest Prince said angrily, his hostility evident.

The Emperor’s face darkened as he said, “Lord Gu, do you know what crime you’ll be charged with if we don’t find this cursed object you mentioned today?”

Gu Jing immediately trembled in fear, almost prostrating himself on the ground as he replied, “Your Majesty, what I said is true, please believe me, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s gaze turned colder, clearly showing his intent to eliminate the threat by killing Gu Jing to appease the crowd’s anger.

“Then tell me, what should we do?” The Emperor’s tone was chilling, indicating his readiness to execute Gu Jing to quell the crowd’s fury.

“We can search the palaces associated with the Qinghong Palace,” Gu Jing suggested.

At this moment, murmurs arose from the crowd, “Places associated with Qinghong Palace? Doesn’t that include the Mingguang Palace where the Eldest Prince used to reside?”

This remark came from Pei Jin, who initially could only think of more troublesome ways to bring up the Mingguang Palace. However, she hadn’t expected Gu Jing’s impromptu suggestion, which inadvertently aligned with her own intentions. It seemed destined that misfortune would befall the Imperial Concubine Huang and her faction. Of course, she believed that Gu Jing must be aligned with Empress Cheng, or else this play wouldn’t have unfolded as it did.

Third time’s the charm. The Mingguang Palace was the final destination. Both the Imperial Concubine Huang and the Eldest Prince, as well as Empress Cheng and Yuan Ye, felt uncertain in their hearts. Their respective plans had been thwarted, and at this point, they were like travelers wandering in the mist, unsure of what lay ahead.

If they found it, it meant defeat for the Imperial Concubine Huang and the Eldest Prince. If they didn’t, Gu Jing would undoubtedly face death, and there would be implications for Empress Cheng and Yuan Ye as well.

Slowly, Chu Lishu caught up with the large group. Since they couldn’t find the witchcraft doll in the Ziwei Palace, it was already considered cutting their losses in time. Whether they could succeed afterwards depended on Pei Jin’s arrangements.

Just as he was thinking this, he noticed Pei Jin approaching. Chu Lishu maintained a neutral expression as he watched her approach.

Chu Lishu’s eyebrows twitched at the news of his cousin drunkenly jumping into the river. Well, it was summertime, and he was a good swimmer. It seemed he was buying some time within a safe range. He commended him for his efforts.

“Where is he now?” Chu Lishu asked.

“He’s been taken to the medical pavilion to sober up. Probably will be sent directly back to the Wenbo Pavillion,” Pei Jin replied.

As they casually conversed, they arrived at the Mingguang Palace. After a thorough search, the witchcraft doll made its debut.

Chu Lishu didn’t bother with the subsequent cries and protests, confident that both the Pei and Cheng families would pin the blame accordingly.

With such an incident unfolding at night, the surroundings naturally fell silent. Chu Lishu was walking when he suddenly heard hurried gasps and unsteady footsteps. Sensing it was a woman from the sound, he headed towards the source, only to come face to face with a woman rushing towards him.

Chu Lishu initially wanted to dodge, but he found that the approaching person was actually Cao Wanying.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingyang had already been escorted back to his room, where the eunuchs were busy preparing for his bath. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Qingyang regained consciousness and dismissed the eunuchs, hastily drying himself off and changing clothes, intending to go out and find someone.

As soon as he opened the door, he was met with the hurried arrival of Xu Wenze.

Lin Qingyang’s expression changed slightly. “What’s going on?”

Xu Wenze quickly said, “I went to look for Cao Wanying, but she wasn’t there. What should we do now?”

She’s gone? Could it be that we’re really reverting to the original plot?

As he was thinking, suddenly a notification sounded in his mind. 【Side Quest: Assist the male lead in wooing Cao Wanying.】

Lin Qingyang’s whole body stiffened, the color drained from his face in an instant, and his mind went blank. The mission was to…

Xu Wenze, seeing his increasingly troubled expression, asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

“I need to… I need to go find…” Lin Qingyang was feeling a bit at a loss. Who should he find? Cao Wanying or Chu Lishu? What if he went and found out that they were really following the plot? Should he stop them? Did he have any right to intervene?

No matter how he thought about it, Lin Qingyang instinctively headed towards the main gate.

Before reaching the gate, he saw a familiar figure helping someone walk over.

It was Chu Lishu, with Cao Wanying draped in his outer robe.

Cao Wanying was leaning against Chu Lishu, her head buried in his shoulder.

Lin Qingyang suddenly felt like he had been slapped in the face, a sense of shame rising from the bottom of his heart and spreading throughout his body.

The system demanded this way, wasn’t it just a matter of course? Yeah, what’s he doing? What’s he thinking? Is his mind not right? Why does he seem like a clown?

They were a proper couple in the book, weren’t they?

He should be happy for the male lead. After all, the male lead was always clean and upright. If he really ended up with someone like Cao Wanying, who’s such a good girl, then a good candidate for queen would emerge, right? The male lead could follow a more normal path, experiencing human warmth, beneficial and harmless.

What should he do now?

Right, they’re coming over. He should step aside, let them in, make some space, so they don’t feel awkward.

Lin Qingyang absent-mindedly stepped aside from the middle of the gate, his movements like he’d lost his soul.

Chu Lishu, who had already spotted him, immediately stepped forward, asking, “What’s wrong? Did you really drown? Feeling unwell? Why do you look so…”

Lin Qingyang dared not meet Chu Lishu’s gaze, he could only shake his head.

Xu Wenze was also nearby. Lin Qingyang had become uneasy upon hearing about Cao Wanying’s situation. Seeing Chu Lishu bringing Cao Wanying here, he couldn’t help but ask, “What happened to Miss Cao?”

Chu Lishu then shrugged his shoulders. Only now did Lin Qingyang see clearly that she wasn’t leaning on him willingly but was unconscious. Chu Lishu had to support her like this out of necessity.

Chu Lishu, worried about Lin Qingyang, pushed him aside when Xu Wenze approached. Xu Wenze was startled and managed to catch Lin Qingyang, staring wide-eyed at Chu Lishu.

“She’s been poisoned, probably by someone. I’ve given her the antidote and knocked her out. Take her to my room to rest, and we’ll talk when she wakes up,” Chu Lishu said.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyang, who was nearby, suddenly raised his head and stared at Chu Lishu with wide eyes.

Seeing Lin Qingyang’s strange expression, Chu Lishu furrowed his brows and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Qingyang was momentarily unsure of what expression to wear. “You? Antidote? Knocked her out?”

Chu Lishu raised an eyebrow. “What else would I do? Take her to the imperial physician? That would be too public, and her reputation would suffer. This is the safest option.”

Lin Qingyang felt like he was hearing his heartbeat again, speechless and unsure of what to say.

Xu Wenze resignedly escorted the person back to the room, and Lin Qingyang didn’t want to dwell on such matters anymore. He couldn’t understand what he was thinking, making himself feel so awkward throughout the whole ordeal. This kind of character wasn’t suitable for him; it’s better to relax.

Chu Lishu walked back with Lin Qingyang, recounting the events that had just transpired. The more Lin Qingyang listened, the more shocked he became, never expecting such a dramatic turn of events.

Wait a minute! Since the witchcraft was completed, then… System, are you playing tricks on me?

My mission, my three hundred points!

Lin Qingyang felt like crying without tears, but he could only try to stay optimistic, thinking that at least he was back on the right track, and there might still be hope for the other missions.

The two arrived at Lin Qingyang’s room, and Xu Wenze also joined them. As a supporter of the Fourth Prince, Xu Wenze was privy to some information about tonight’s arrangements. Upon hearing the developments, he couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious.

“I’m still a bit worried. I’ll go out and take a look. The results should be out by now,” Xu Wenze said as he got up.

Chu Lishu was supposed to stay and oversee everything, but he had come back temporarily because of concerns for Lin Qingyang. However, now he felt a bit inclined to go again.

“How about we go together?” Lin Qingyang suggested.

“Alright, we can’t leave. We have Miss Cao here, so we must leave someone behind to watch over her to prevent any further incidents,” Xu Wenze said.

Chu Lishu agreed and turned to Lin Qingyang, saying, “You didn’t look well just now. You must be tired from falling into the water. Stay here and rest. We’ll be back soon.”

Lin Qingyang could only nod in agreement. Seeing Chu Lishu about to leave, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy and grabbed his arm, saying, “If you go to check on things, don’t do anything else on the way. Tonight is unstable, and anything you do could be dangerous. If you have anything you want to do, wait until another day.”

Tonight was supposed to involve a subplot of investigating Chief Steward Ning’s secret chamber. In the original plot, the witchcraft ritual went smoothly, and Chief Steward Ning was occupied with other matters, giving Chu Lishu the opportunity to investigate. This subplot was closely related to the quest of pursuing Cao Wanying. However, given the current flow of events, the male lead hasn’t even mentioned it, and Cao Wanying arrived earlier than expected. Additionally, Chief Steward Hai, who was supposed to provide information, is still by the emperor’s side. It’s clear that tonight’s events have been delayed due to too many complications. Moreover, based on his understanding of the plot, investigating Chief Steward Ning isn’t necessarily something that needs to be completed tonight.

He genuinely fears being tasked with another mission related to this matter. He truly can’t bear the burden anymore.

Chu Lishu dismissed Lin Qingyang’s concerns as post-traumatic stress from the witchcraft incident, not taking it too seriously, and simply nodded to reassure him. Meanwhile, Lin Qingyang believed he had genuinely stopped that subplot and waited for them at the Wenbo Pavilion. After about an hour passed, only Xu Wenze returned.

When Xu Wenze mentioned they had split up, Lin Qingyang’s face went pale, and he immediately set out to find the person.

The sound of someone plunging into his bathtub echoed in his room with a “plunk.” Lin Qingyang and Xu Wenze rushed over to find Chu Lishu soaking inside. Without time to explain, Chu Lishu’s face turned serious as he said, “Chief Steward Ning is chasing after me. He caught sight of me and might suspect something. I’ve picked up his tracking powder; it needs time to dissolve in the water. He’s close behind.”

“How…?” Xu Wenze exclaimed, immediately brainstorming, “We’ll just pretend you’re bathing. That should throw him off…”

“This isn’t my room, and you’re my close associates. It’s hard to prove. He won’t let this slide easily,” Chu Lishu said sternly. “I need evidence that I haven’t left here for an hour.”

Lin Qingyang felt a pang in his mouth and let out a hiss; he had bitten his tongue out of nervousness.

The situation mirrored the plot exactly: tracking powder, bathtub, and the need for an alibi.

In the original plot, Chu Lishu encountered Cao Wanying, who had been drugged, while being pursued. To clear suspicion, he took Cao Wanying back to his room and had relations with her in the bathtub. This act resolved Cao Wanying’s predicament and dispelled any suspicions from Chief Steward Ning. After all, at that time, Cao Wanying had been drugged for a long time, and her physical response made it seem as though she had spent a considerable amount of time with Chu Lishu. Moreover, Chief Steward Ning would never suspect one of the main characters involved in palace intrigue of engaging in spying him.

However, now… with Cao Wanying drugged next door, Chu Lishu found himself facing the same dilemma.

No wonder the previous mission didn’t show signs of failure; could it be because it hadn’t reached the point of making a decision yet?

Suddenly, a voice came from outside the door. Xu Wenze immediately said, “I’ll go out to intercept and buy some time. You guys figure out a plan.”

After saying this, Xu Wenze rushed out, but there were only Chief Steward Ning’s eunuch attendants at the main gate. Chief Steward Ning wasn’t there. Could it be… Xu Wenze suddenly felt worried, afraid that Chief Steward Ning would bypass the main gate and go directly to track the suspected individual.

At that moment, Chu Lishu also heard the noise on the roof. Someone walked past but didn’t stop, indicating they were heading to his room. However, his room only had the unconscious Cao Wanying at the moment.

If Chief Steward Ning came personally, he would definitely come to check here.

Chu Lishu’s expression changed slightly, and he suddenly realized that Lin Qingyang had been unusually quiet. When he turned to look, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

He stood up abruptly.

Lin Qingyang thought Chu Lishu had come up with a plan to use Cao Wanying and felt a sudden tightness in his chest, instinctively raising his hand to stop him.

But the next moment, Chu Lishu grabbed his arm and pulled him into the bathtub.

Lin Qingyang’s mind went blank, unable to react.

Suddenly, his mouth was covered, and Chu Lishu leaned in close to Lin Qingyang’s ear, whispering, “Cousin, I’m sorry. Whatever I do later, you have to cooperate with me.”

Lin Qingyang was stunned, trying to comprehend what was happening. Did the male lead come up with another plan? Then why did he pull me in?

Suddenly, Lin Qingyang’s upper body clothing was pulled down, hanging around his waist. Before he could react, he saw Chu Lishu also pulling off his own shirt. The two of them were mostly submerged in the water, resembling a bathing scene.

In the dimly lit chamber, with only faint light filtering in from outside through the screens, everything was bathed in a soft blue glow, obscuring any prying eyes from seeing clearly.

The tiles on the roof were gradually moved aside, and Chu Lishu, observing Lin Qingyang’s shock, swiftly turned him around and pressed him onto the edge of the bathtub, exposing only his smooth back.

This position meant Lin Qingyang was now facedown, making his expression invisible to anyone above.

Before Lin Qingyang could fully process what was happening, he felt a hand pressing down on his shoulder, while another wrapped around his waist, like a prey ensnared by a wild beast, unable to move.

Suddenly, there was a heavy collision in the water, causing ripples to spread out, accompanied by a rhythmic splashing sound. Lin Qingyang was pushed and bumped against the sides of the bathtub several times before he fully realized what was happening. His face gradually flushed with embarrassment, as if blood were about to drip out, and his heart raced as if it might burst from his chest. It felt as though cheeks brushed against his slender back, lingering as if unwilling to leave.

In the otherwise quiet room, the urgent and confused gasps of Chu Lishu echoed, sounding incredibly realistic, making Lin Qingyang’s ears burn. Yet, the intensity of the situation was only about to escalate further.

“Cousin… Does it….. feel good?” The voice, suppressing some emotion, exploded in Lin Qingyang’s ears like a landmine.

Lin Qingyang finally saw the reality for what it was.

As a High Level Toolman, he was truly being used.

To evade suspicion from Chief Steward Ning, what was supposed to be the plot of the male lead and his wife had now turned into just the two of them? Male lead! Is this the only idea you could come up with?

As a man, being pressed by another man… Even though it was just actions, through clothes, and most of the time not leading to any actual contact, just pretending underwater, it still felt very wrong! After all, their bodies were too close. And why was he the one being pressed down? Based on their sizes, shouldn’t it be the other way around? Well, even if it were reversed, he couldn’t act it out.

Lin Qingyang panicked and could only frantically try to distract himself from the embarrassment by mentally criticizing and ignoring Chu Lishu’s actions. But every exposed part of his body was turning red with embarrassment. He felt like his heart was swinging his soul on a swing, and in the end, he could only bury his face in shame.

But the winner of the Oscar for Best Actor and Best Male Voice Actor wasn’t satisfied and whispered in his ear, “Cousin, you’re not making any noise, it’s very suspicious.”

I’m not freaking gonna make any sound, I don’t even know how!

Just then, there was a sharp pain in Lin Qingyang’s earlobe, and he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan, his sensitive body immediately going limp, feeling out of control.

That voice was seductive and alluring, and even Chu Lishu, who was supposed to be acting, couldn’t help but lose control. His gaze gradually deepened.

Originally, it was accidental contact at most ten times, but the probability for what happened next was off. Chu Lishu’s body was also acting up.

Lin Qingyang, with his pupils gradually dilating, buried within his arms, couldn’t believe the increasingly bizarre situation unfolding behind him. His inner voice couldn’t help but shout, “Are all men just driven by their lower instincts? Can’t they resist any stimulation? Stay calm, damn it! I’m a man, a man! Well, he didn’t really have the right to say anything!”

“Still here, it seems you’re not entirely convinced…” Suddenly, Chu Lishu’s low, husky voice echoed again, accompanied by the sound of water, and Lin Qingyang distinctly felt his pants being pulled away from him. He was left with just his lower undergarment.

Lin Qingyang was so startled that his whole body tensed up, his scalp tingling. Now he had two options running through his mind: one, to trust in the male lead’s character and straight male instincts, prioritize the overall situation, and continue to cooperate; or two, to disavow it all, to hell with it, he must punch him!

However, before Lin Qingyang could make a decision, he was already turned around to face Chu Lishu’s handsome visage. In that moment, Lin Qingyang was stunned. The deep crimson eyes, the slightly parted lips, and the expression on his face seemed as if he was truly enamored with him, leaving Lin Qingyang flustered and only able to awkwardly shield his face with his arms.

His body was embraced, and one of his long, slender legs was lifted and draped over Chu Lishu’s arm, bringing them into a face-to-face position. The ripples in the water continued to undulate, and the teasing words persisted.

“Are you unable to keep up? We’ve just done it for two times, and your legs already can’t hold up? So willful. Clearly, cousin said he still wants more, but now you’re leaving it all up to me.”

Lin Qingyang felt so ashamed that he could almost cry. Male lead, please rein in your wanton acting, it’s enough, really, it’s enough!

“Cousin… tell me, what do you want me to do?”

Lin Qingyang refused to speak, so Chu Lishu continued to press him, as if insisting on his cooperation in the act. Lin Qingyang couldn’t tell if this was just acting or if someone was deliberately teasing him. Finally, he suppressed all his feelings of shame. When he spoke, his voice trembled with shyness.

“G-gently, Lishu.”

His bones really felt a bit sore from all the pushing. Did acting require such sacrifice?

Lin Qingyang couldn’t see Chu Lishu’s expression when he heard those words, but it was almost instantly fierce, like a vicious wolf staring at its prey. Every previous attempt had failed to elicit a conscious response from Lin Qingyang, and this kind of statement was even more irresistible. Forget about the possibility of surveillance; Chu Lishu just wanted to proceed with the act.

Meanwhile, from Chief Steward Ning’s perspective, the position and expressions of the two didn’t seem like they had just started. After observing for a while and seeing things getting more frantic below, it was clear they weren’t just acting. Chu Lishu had a vicious look as if he was pushing Lin Qingyang to his limits. With the water in the bathtub splashing everywhere, Chief Steward Ning finally dismissed his suspicions and, feeling too embarrassed to continue watching, left.

However, his departure didn’t stop the drama inside from continuing.

Someone selfishly wielded their power until they were almost exploding themselves, realizing that this approach wouldn’t solve anything. They believed Lin Qingyang must have felt it too, otherwise, his body wouldn’t have awkwardly tried to dodge in the water.

Watching Lin Qingyang trembling all over, they magnanimously said, “Cousin, the person has left.”

Lin Qingyang thought the most embarrassing thing was finally over. At one point, he even considered giving up and letting the male lead go find Cao Wanying, he didn’t want to experience such embarrassment.

If shame could kill, he would have died a thousand times over.

“Let go…” Lin Qingyang’s voice trembled as he moved his arms away, his eyes, almost on the brink of tears, collided with Chu Lishu’s.

Chu Lishu didn’t release Lin Qingyang, instead, he rolled his Adam’s apple, getting closer and said, “Cousin, we can’t just leave it like this. Since it’s an accident, let’s not bother with formalities. Let’s just solve it quickly. Helping each other out between brothers is also acceptable.”

Lin Qingyang heard a surreal voice in his ears. What was he hearing? What nonsense was this? Where was the male lead’s integrity? His mind wasn’t quite right at the moment; he felt like he didn’t quite understand. Yes, he wanted Chu Lishu to leave. He needed to deal with this.

But the next moment, Lin Qingyang felt his blood reversing in his veins, as if the aftermath of the earlier performance was unfolding. Completely devoid of self-control, Lin Qingyang could only helplessly close his eyes, trying to push Chu Lishu away with his hands, but he had no strength, unable to resist.

The collision of their bodies succeeded, accompanied by Chu Lishu’s even more authentic grunt in his ear.

After a while, Lin Qingyang’s vision whitened, overwhelmed by embarrassment, and he fainted.

Chu Lishu, appearing satisfied, breathed slowly. Finally, with a gentle smile, he lightly kissed the unconscious Lin Qingyang before carrying him out.

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