I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Lin Qingyang heard the signal for the mission while he was still helping the Fourth Prince with his studies. As soon as they finished, he hurriedly made his way back.

Passing by a certain area, he suddenly heard crying followed by Yuan Ye’s scolding voice.

Approaching to investigate, Lin Qingyang indeed witnessed Yuan Ye kicking Jiang Rouyin aside. He had heard rumors about Yuan Ye mistreating Jiang Rouyin after marrying her, often resorting to physical violence, but this was the first time he witnessed it firsthand. Although Jiang Rouyin held the title of Crown Princess, without the support of her natal family, she was still at the mercy of others. Seeing that there were no palace servants around, she had evidently avoided them at the first opportunity.

Lin Qingyang, although a man, chose not to intervene. Just as he was about to silently leave, he noticed a group of palace maids accompanying Concubine Xu passing by. Concubine Xu, being kind-hearted, pretended to offer greetings and stepped forward to intervene. Yuan Ye glanced coldly at her, then left without even sparing a glance at Jiang Rouyin, who was sitting on the ground after being pushed. He didn’t even give her the basic respect.

Jiang Rouyin sobbed miserably and was helped up by Concubine Xu, who comforted her softly. They exchanged a few words before palace attendants were summoned. Jiang Rouyin expressed her gratitude and then left.

Concubine Xu sighed and shook her head. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed Lin Qingyang.

Lin Qingyang stepped forward to bow, but Concubine Xu quickly stopped him and greeted him with a smile. Observing Concubine Xu’s slightly protruding belly and her relaxed expression, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but feel a sense of anxiety for her. He couldn’t resist offering a reminder, “Niangniang, it’s better not to get too close when witnessing such situations next time. In case they accidentally bump into you, it’s too dangerous.”

Despite the outward appearance of hostility, and considering Concubine Xu’s current high favor and pregnancy, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but worry that Yuan Ye might harm her and her unborn child.

Concubine Xu hesitated for a moment, smiling awkwardly as she nodded. She usually seemed obedient and compliant to Xu Wenze. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but be reminded of his own sister. Although they were of similar age, Concubine Xu appeared even gentler and more easily manipulated than Lin Qinglan, which made him uneasy.

“I also felt sorry for her. It’s not the first time I’ve seen her being mistreated, even though she used to be so admired…” Concubine Xu sighed, trailing off. “It seems like it was because of something involving the Fourth Prince. The Crown Prince vented his anger on her, which is so unfair to her.”

Lin Qingyang couldn’t say much to such an overly innocent woman, so he could only advise her to be careful. He couldn’t help but wonder why Xu Wenze wasn’t by her side. Wasn’t he supposed to prioritize Concubine Xu’s safety, even if he had relinquished his role as the study companion?

Concubine Xu explained, “After Father took charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he seemed to become very busy. Lately, he hasn’t been feeling well, so my younger brother started helping him in the residence yesterday.”

Lin Qingyang nodded, his mind preoccupied with concerns about Chu Lishu’s situation. Without much thought, he hurriedly left.

Upon returning to the Wenbo Pavilion, Lin Qingyang saw Yue Chen coming out with a gloomy expression. As soon as he saw Lin Qingyang, he approached and whispered, “His mood isn’t very good. I’ll tell you first. We just got the news, Empress Cheng… she’s pregnant. From His Highness’s expression, it seems like he wants to use Empress Cheng’s pregnancy to provoke Yuan Ye and cause internal discord.”

Lin Qingyang sighed, realizing it was indeed following the plot of the original plot.

“Isn’t it strange? She dares to have another child,” Yue Chen chuckled.

“Why wouldn’t she dare? Wasn’t Yuan Ye born like that?” Lin Qingyang said, speechless.

Yue Chen patted Lin Qingyang’s shoulder. “The task of comforting His Highness is on you now. Just now, I seemed to see something in His Highness’s eyes…”

“Did it turn red again?” Lin Qingyang immediately asked with concern.

Yue Chen nodded, his expression filled with worry. “These days when you guys didn’t go back, we often chatted with Mu Huichun in the private residence. Mu Huichun mentioned… it’s highly likely that it’s a forced stimulation of inner energy leading to Qi Deviation. Given the unstable condition of Tianxuan Pill, it’s like breaking through a limit. It’s difficult to return to normal, so it can only be suppressed near the baseline. And…”

This was basically in line with what Lin Qingyang could have imagined. Was there more to it?

“And His Highness used to suffer from madness before, right? That kind of illness cannot be cured. Although it gradually improved before, with his current physical condition, if he encounters extreme danger or extreme stimulation, it may be more likely to erupt than before. You must be careful by his side. In case His Highness loses control, be sure to protect yourself. It’s better to be safe than sorry when His Highness comes to his senses and regrets.”

Lin Qingyang didn’t want to hear such a judgment. “As long as I’m by his side, he won’t fall into such a situation.”

Yue Chen smiled, feeling relieved, and then left.

Entering the room, Lin Qingyang saw Chu Lishu sitting at the table, his expression slightly dark, surrounded by a lowered aura. Lin Qingyang quickly called out to him, and only then did Chu Lishu snap out of it.

Chu Lishu looked at Lin Qingyang, his restless mood finally calmed by his presence. He reached out to Lin Qingyang, who quickly took his hand.

Chu Lishu pulled him closer, lifting his hand to embrace Lin Qingyang’s waist, leaning against him.

Lin Qingyang’s heart softened at Chu Lishu’s seeking comfort, and he couldn’t help but gently stroke Chu Lishu’s head.

Chu Lishu had indeed decided to kill Empress Cheng, and he had also learned about Yuan Ye’s background. He understood that this uncle-niece relationship might have been maintained for a long time. However, the sudden revelation still dealt a heavy blow to Chu Lishu, leaving him feeling nauseous.

“Empress Cheng is pregnant. The information I gathered suggests that she plans to keep the child and return to the Cheng family’s residence for childbirth. In a few days, the Cheng family will send a girl pretending to be pregnant into the palace. When the time comes, they can legitimately birth the child. Those old fools from the Cheng family probably all know about it, and they support her.”

“Indeed, it’s hard to understand why Empress Cheng would take such a risk,” Lin Qingyang remarked, echoing his confusion from reading the original plot. “Aside from the dangers of being an older mother, even if she gives birth to the child, she won’t be able to raise it herself. She’ll never have the opportunity to face that child as a mother.”

“As for Empress Cheng… well, I can’t say for certain what’s going on in her mind,” Chu Lishu replied thoughtfully. “But with the Emperor’s lack of heirs, the Empress Dowager naturally wants to help the Emperor have more children. And as for the Cheng family, they would love nothing more than to have another legitimate heir for the Emperor, one without the awkward status of Yuan Ye. That way, the throne would be firmly in their grasp, regardless of the circumstances.”

Thinking about the dynamics of the imperial court and the harem, Lin Qingyang began to understand. For Empress Cheng’s pregnancy, it wasn’t a calamity for the Cheng family; it was a stroke of good fortune, the best way to further solidify their connection to the imperial family.

“However, the Emperor may not necessarily see it the same way,” Lin Qingyang responded, absorbing the implications of Chu Lishu’s analysis. “He might be torn between his own flesh and blood on one hand and his imperial authority on the other. He might not be inclined to let this child be born.”

Lin Qingyang was startled by this revelation, as it wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the original plot. However, upon reflecting on the subsequent events in the story, such as Empress Cheng’s miscarriage and the Emperor’s lack of pursuit of the matter, it all made sense.

“The three major families have been reduced to only the Cheng family. If the Cheng family were to have another legitimate child, they would undoubtedly grow stronger,” Lin Qingyang concurred, recognizing the potential consequences. “The Emperor has been waiting for the day when he’s no longer constrained by the major families. It’s unlikely he would willingly allow such a development. Therefore, he might hesitate. If he acts preemptively, it could prevent the situation from reaching Yuan Ye, which would hinder my plans. Because I intend to use this situation to sow discord between Yuan Ye and the Cheng family, I may also need to take action soon.” Chu Lishu’s analysis was cold and calculating, his grip on Lin Qingyang tightening as he spoke. “Qingyang, I’m going to take action.”

Lin Qingyang thought about the original plot and said, “You can do whatever you want, I never had any objections to your decisions, and I will always support you.”

Chu Lishu knew that once Yuan Ye found out about Empress Cheng’s pregnancy, he would definitely take action. The child would undoubtedly die, because in Yuan Ye’s eyes, he was not the emperor’s child at all. The estrangement between uncle and nephew was deep, and he would not allow himself to have another half-brother from the same mother and different father.

After comforting Lin Qingyang for a while, Chu Lishu began to prepare.

On the other side, Jing Rouyin returned to the Eastern Palace. The nanny who had been following her had already been dismissed by Yuan Ye, otherwise she would not have fallen into such a passive situation. As soon as she returned to the backyard, she saw three women sitting together drinking tea. Upon seeing her, they showed no respect, only contemptuous glances and sarcastic remarks about her facial injuries, adding another layer of hatred to Jing Rouyin’s heart.

Initially, Jing Rouyin hadn’t figured out how to use Empress Cheng’s pregnancy to her advantage to maximize her gains. She was waiting for the right opportunity, so she endured Yuan Ye’s violence and rudeness for the time being. But now she didn’t want to endure anymore, especially after being seen by Concubine Xu today. Seeing Concubine Xu’s sympathetic and compassionate gaze almost trampled Jing Rouyin’s dignity, as the gaze of bystanders is most capable of piercing others’ hearts. She was the phoenix, how could she be looked at with such eyes by others?

In that case, she decided to take a risk and expose the matter. Once exposed, Empress Cheng and Yuan Ye would inevitably be at odds. At that time, she would watch them fight to the death with a smile on her face.

After firming up her plan, Jing Rouyin quickly seized the opportunity. The Emperor had a regular schedule for visiting Empress Cheng at night. That night, Jing Rouyin told Yuan Ye that Empress Cheng seemed unwell during the day, fearing some complications and hiding it from him. She suggested that tonight, since the imperial physician was also present, Yuan Ye should go and check on her.

Yuan Ye initially didn’t want to bother. His care for his mother was limited, and his mind was preoccupied with how to secure his position as the heir apparent and prevent the Fourth Prince from surpassing him. However, when Jing Rouyin casually mentioned that the Emperor might also visit tonight, Yuan Ye felt a twinge of discomfort. He had a vague suspicion of some ambiguous relationship between his mother and the Emperor. Even though the servants dared not tell him, he still couldn’t shake off the feeling.

Therefore, despite his inner reluctance, Yuan Ye decided to go. However, as soon as he arrived at the entrance of the Ziwei Palace, he was stopped by the palace servants, who informed him that Empress Cheng was resting and not seeing anyone.

Yuan Ye immediately felt suspicious. Was there really something being hidden from him? Recently, his requests for an audience seemed to have been consistently declined.

Feeling perplexed, Yuan Ye prepared to leave. However, he noticed the Emperor’s personal guards not far away. They were the imperial guards responsible for the Emperor’s protection. But now, they were alone, without the Emperor’s presence. Unless the Emperor had entered one of the nearby palaces and asked them to wait outside.

There were several palaces nearby. Which one was the Emperor in? However, Yuan Ye had a strong intuition. He immediately returned to the Ziwei Palace, bypassing the main entrance and instructing his skilled guards to lead him in by scaling the walls. He was very familiar with the Ziwei Palace and could easily stealthily navigate his way to the inner chambers.

As Yuan Ye saw Chief Steward Sheng standing from the secret door, his face turned incredibly pale. An image began forming in his mind, and he approached a window to peer inside. However, before he could mentally prepare himself, he was stunned by the scene unfolding before him.

His mother, the Empress Dowager, was shamelessly nestled in the embrace of his younger uncle, pouring out thick affection. The sight nearly made Yuan Ye sick to his stomach. As a member of the royal family, as the Crown Prince, he simply couldn’t accept such a scene.

In the midst of his anger, his eyes burning with fury, he suddenly heard the conversation from inside. In that instant, he felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him.

“Your Majesty, I’ve been feeling anxious lately, worrying about my age and health, and how it might affect our child.”

“Don’t worry, with me here, I’ll always protect you and our child.”

“I thought you wouldn’t like him. Now you seem to like the child inside Concubine Xu’s belly.” Although Empress Cheng was over forty, she possessed a beauty that could rival heavenly beings. Even as she aged, her elegance remained undiminished, and it didn’t seem out of place for her to act coquettishly in the Emperor’s arms.

The Emperor still harbored years of affection for her. Despite the power struggles between them, he spoke softly and tenderly, his hand naturally resting on Empress Cheng’s abdomen, feeling the life within.

All of this was witnessed by Yuan Ye who was outside. He couldn’t believe it. He never imagined that, beyond his mother’s affair, he would learn even more shocking news.

Suddenly, a piercing question reached his ears.

“In the future… will it be Yuan Ye or him?” the Empress tentatively asked. “Using our family’s secret method, it has been determined that this child is definitely a boy.”

The Emperor chuckled lightly, seeming indifferent as he replied, “It seems the Cheng family wants to support this little one?”

Empress Cheng coquettishly said, “I don’t care who the Cheng family wants to support. You know my heart has always been with you, just afraid that Your Majesty… won’t cherish our mother-son relationship.” Whoever the Cheng family supports, they are both their children. What she wanted was for the Emperor to promise that the heir would definitely come from her womb.

She was jealous, resentful of the Emperor’s favoritism towards the Fourth Prince and his affection towards Concubine Xu. She had endured it for a long time. She also knew the Emperor was not entirely satisfied with Yuan Ye. So, she decided to bear another child to capture the Emperor’s attention and satisfy the Cheng family’s wishes, killing two birds with one stone.

The Emperor naturally used sweet words to appease her, but his eyes gradually lost their tenderness, and the hand on her belly paused for a moment.

Outside, Yuan Ye’s spine was already chilled. His gaze involuntarily filled with vicious intent, locking fiercely onto Empress Cheng’s belly. To him, Empress Cheng had betrayed him. The Emperor and the Empress Cheng would definitely choose to support this unborn child, even Cheng family too. Yuan Ye recognized that he was not the Emperor’s biological son, and the Emperor would naturally not want to pass the throne to him. There was no choice in this matter; he was already destined to be abandoned. The unborn child was the ultimate product of collaboration between Empress Cheng and the Emperor.

So… this child must not be allowed to be born!

If Empress Cheng dared to have such thoughts, she would repeat her actions, and it was necessary to completely suppress those stubborn old heads and let them know that apart from supporting him, there was no other choice!

Three days later, while Chu Lishu hadn’t taken action yet, Lin Qingyang’s mission had already been marked as completed.

Meanwhile, Chu Lishu received news. After a couple of times being explained away by Yuan Ye as coincidences, Yuan Ye had his people seize power from the Cheng family, causing losses to the Chengs.

The Cheng family expressed great dissatisfaction, feeling that this child had clearly relied on their support but now had ulterior motives, started scheming for personal gain, and refused to be disciplined. Thus, they wanted to suppress Yuan Ye.

The two sides began to secretly engage in conflict.

Chu Lishu immediately realized that Yuan Ye might have found out about Empress Cheng’s situation. He pretended not to know and dealt with the Cheng family first. This saved Chu Lishu some trouble.

Lin Qingyang found it rather strange. Wasn’t it the male lead’s plan that allowed Yuan Ye to learn the truth? After all, Yuan Ye had always trusted Empress Cheng and the Cheng family. When did Yuan Ye become so clever, capable of discovering everything on his own? Could it be that the various changes before had caused a butterfly effect, making Yuan Ye sharp as well?

Lin Qingyang couldn’t understand, but the progress of the situation was favorable to Chu Lishu. He didn’t need to take action himself, which naturally made it safer, so it was considered a good thing!

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