I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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After the new emperor ascended the throne, Mr. Cao, the Imperial Tutor responsible for teaching the prince, resigned from the position of Grand Tutor citing his advanced age. Despite the emperor’s repeated attempts to retain him, Mr. Cao decided to stay at the Imperial Academy as an honorary teacher, occasionally giving lectures to the students.

As those studying at the Imperial Academy were naturally from prominent families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the emperor issued an imperial edict that children who passed Mr. Cao’s assessment would be eligible to serve as the prince’s study companions in the palace.

Due to this imperial edict, families from various prestigious backgrounds, regardless of legitimacy, rushed to enroll their eligible children in the Imperial Academy, causing a sudden surge in student enrollment that year.

In the original plot, there was an assessment held after the new year. At that time, the original body was already bedridden due to illness and did not participate in the assessment at all. In the end, only Lin Qingxu and Chu Lishu from the Marquis’s residence successfully passed the assessment and entered the palace to serve as the prince’s study companions.

Chu Lishu’s desire to infiltrate the Marquis’s residence was also for this purpose. He wanted to study at the Imperial Academy, thereby legitimately entering the palace and set up the plans.

Being a prince’s study companion was indeed an honor for the children of prestigious families, as it was the best opportunity to get close to the emperor. It also sealed the future prospects of their families. Therefore, male students were eager to showcase their abilities, striving to outdo one another. With the gathering of aristocratic students at the Imperial Academy and occasional visits by the princes, even female students couldn’t avoid competing for attention.

In the case of the Marquis An Nan’s residence, nearly everyone was mobilized.

Among them, Lin Qingyang performed the worst. Among the students at the Imperial Academy, if Chu Lishu was the top student, then Lin Qingyang was at the bottom, struggling academically.

Therefore, every time Grandmother Lishi, his father, Marquis An Nan, saw his idle appearance, they were infuriated.

Now, hearing the woman say that they could rely on Lin Qingxu at home provided some consolation for them.

However, Lin Qingyang felt extremely uncomfortable listening to this. He turned to look at the woman. Whether it was due to the influence of memories or not, Lin Qingyang always felt a surge of indignation.

As for Madam Ru, the noble concubine taken in by Marquis An Nan, she was the niece of Grandmother Lishi from her maternal family. Originally she was just an ordinary concubine, she gave birth to a son and a daughter, and her status was considered decent. She was also good at acting cute and clever, earning the Marquis’s favor. Despite the Marquis having other concubines, when combined, none of them received as much favor as Madam Ru.

Originally, the legitimate wife, the County Princess Yawen, could easily suppress Madam Ru. Madam Ru herself was aware of her lower status and did not dare to act out of line. However, after the County Princess Yawen’s maternal family encountered problems, she had been bedridden ever since. This elevated the status of Madam Ru, granting her control over the household affairs and the authority to handle guests. The servants in the Marquis’s residence would respectfully address her as “Madam Ru.”

Servants often gossiped behind their backs, eagerly awaiting the demise of theCounty Princess Yawen. Once that happened, Madam Ru would naturally be promoted to the position of the legitimate wife.

These rumors easily reached the ears of the original body, infuriating him. If Madam Ru were promoted to the legitimate position, the status of the legitimate and illegitimate sons would be in question, and he would have to share his future position as the Marquis with Lin Qingxu. With his proud personality, how could he possibly be willing to accept that?　　

So, not only did the original body complain a lot to his mother, feeling that she shouldn’t be bedridden and losing control of the family for the sake of external matters, but he also harbored resentment towards Madam Ru. However, each time he expressed his grievances, he ended up on the losing side.

“Well, Xu’er, I’m naturally reassured,” Marquis An Nan nodded, seemingly satisfied with Lin Qingxu. He then turned to look at Lin Qingyang, who held the position of the legitimate son but had an indifferent expression, “You should learn from your Third Brother.”

Lin Qingyang initially thought of arguing, but after some consideration, he decided against it. To maintain his image and not appear upset, he simply pretended to be annoyed, stood up, and walked away. After all, he had already eaten enough for the time being.

However, Lin Qingyang was stopped by Marquis An Nan. “Where are you going? Since you can’t handle any serious matters anyway, study with your younger siblings.”

Before Lin Qingyang could respond, someone eagerly rejected the idea.

“Second Brother can never sit quietly to study; he’ll only disturb us. It’s better to find Cousin Lishu than to find Second Brother. Cousin Lishu’s writings are praised by all the teachers.” Lin Qingwei tilted her head, with an arrogant expression, openly disparaging her own older brother. After speaking, she assumed a ready-for-battle posture. Usually, in such situations, Lin Qingyang would retort against her.　

Whenever Chu Lishu was mentioned, Lin Qingyang couldn’t quite control the expression on his face. Suddenly, Lin Qingxu also chimed in, “Yeah, let’s call Lishu! Second Brother can join us.” After speaking, he smiled at the corner of his eyes, as if expecting a reaction from Lin Qingyang.

“I’m busy!” Lin Qingyang rejected outright. Seeing that Marquis An Nan was about to speak up again, Lin Qingyang preemptively stated his purpose. He had initially thought of concealing it, considering his public image, but with everyone persistently pressing him, he had no choice.

“I want to visit my mother! She’s always alone, and I rarely get a break. Can’t I spend some time with my mother during my limited vacation?” After Lin Qingyang finished speaking, everyone fell silent.　　

Lin Qingwei, who had just been as spirited as a fighting cock, suddenly wilted, not believing it. “You… you’re lying. You never spent time with mother before. Don’t use mother as an excuse; you must be trying to sneak out to play.”

After all, even she had become numb to her mother’s prolonged illness and gradually forgotten to visit her. Their mother also forbade them from going, fearing that they might get infected, so she stopped going directly. Lin Qingyang, who had always been unfilial, how could he suddenly think of visiting their mother?

Others also looked at Lin Qingyang with the same skeptical expression as Lin Qingwei.

Just as they were discussing, the old nanny’s greeting came from the entrance, abruptly interrupting the tense atmosphere inside.　

“Second Young Master, County Princess has awakened. You can visit her now.”

“Nanny Ding, what is this about?” Marquis An Nan asked in confusion. Could it be that County Princess wanted to see Lin Qingyang?

Nanny Ding was the nursemaid of County Princess. She used to serve in the palace, holding a high position and always acting with decorum. Her voice was low and imposing as she explained, “Indeed, early this morning, Second Young Master went to pay his respects to County Princess, but she was still asleep. So, he instructed me to come here for breakfast first. When the Madam wakes up, he asked me to inform him.”

As soon as Nanny Ding finished speaking, everyone felt as if their faces had been slapped, not physically painful but stinging. The air that had been filled with mockery and skepticism just moments ago got stuck in their throats. It was a choking feeling. After all, they had unanimously concluded that Lin Qingyang must be avoiding studying for something unserious, but as it turned out, he had gone to fulfill his filial duties.　

Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, “I was just about to go. Thank you, Nanny Ding.”

Marquis An Nan took a while to regain his composure. “Well… spending time with your mother is good. Study when you have the time. I’ll accompany you on this visit; it’s still some time before the court session.”

The others felt uneasy inside but could only watch as Marquis An Nan and Lin Qingyang left together. Lin Qingwei’s face gradually turned red.

“Second Brother seems different today?” Lin Qingyao said in confusion.

“He probably has something good happen, so he’s in a good mood,” Lin Qingxu casually remarked.　　

　　……

“After Second Brother finishes visiting our mother, should we still invite him to study together?” Lin Qingyao asked.

“Forget it! Why would we want to invite him?” Lin Qingwei gritted her teeth, feeling a bit resentful, as if she had lost. She wondered if she should also go visit her mother, but the thought of Lin Qingyang made it awkward, so she decided to wait until everyone had left.

“Then… how about inviting Cousin Lishu?” Lin Qingyao also liked Chu Lishu.

But Lin Qingxu interjected, “Let’s wait until Second Brother comes out from visiting our mother. Since Father has already spoken, we can’t neglect to invite Second Brother.”　　

Biluo Hall is the largest courtyard in the entire residence, aside from the one where Grandmother Lishi resides. It’s evident that when the Marquis An Nan’s residence welcomed theCounty Princess Yawen, they spared no effort.

When Lin Qingyang arrived in the morning, he felt that the scenery here was much richer than elsewhere, but it seemed neglected, with details everywhere revealing a perfunctory touch, much like the patients inside… enveloped in a withering atmosphere.

Entering the courtyard, besides their Nanny Ding, who still maintained a straight posture, the other servants they encountered seemed listless. Marquis An Nan, however, appeared accustomed to it all.

Lin Qingyang observed quietly for a while, then followed everyone into the inner chamber.

Passing through the folding screen, he immediately saw a woman draped in a smoky-purple cloud-patterned silk robe, leaning against a large welcoming pillow. Her hair was done in a simple bun, secured with a jade hairpin. Jet-black hair fell gracefully, and her delicate features, coupled with a dignified expression, exuded a noble air. Although in her middle years, traces of her former charm were still evident.

Compared to Madam Ru seen just now, this woman’s grace made Madam Ru’s softness seem somewhat mundane. Unfortunately, illness clung to her; even when she managed to force a smile, it made onlookers sigh.

“Child pays respects to mother; I hope mother is well.” Lin Qingyang performed a formal bow, feeling a bit uneasy. It seemed this Madam wouldn’t live much longer.

In the original plot, a month after the original body became bedridden,County Princess Yawen passed away.

“Yang’er, didn’t I say stop coming?” Even though she said this,County Princess Yawen couldn’t help but smile.

“This child rarely shows filial piety,” Marquis An Nan said with a smile. “How have you been feeling lately?”

It was only when Marquis An Nan spoke that Lin Qingyang sensed something was off between the couple. Since a moment ago, County Princess Yawen hadn’t even looked at the Marquis, it was only when he spoke that she lowered her head and said, “Thank you for your concern, Lord Marquis. I’m fine.”

County Princess Yawen had a chilly tone, and Marquis An Nan felt a bit awkward. After a few casual remarks, he mentioned he needed to attend court and left.

The original novel didn’t provide a description of the relationship between the couple, and the original body was oblivious, having no idea about his parents’ relationship.

However, as Marquis An Nan left, County Princess Yawen stared at his retreating figure with a deep, indescribable resentment. Soon after, she became warm and started expressing various concerns, holding Lin Qingyang’s hands.

“My child, you don’t look like you’ve rested well. Have you been eating and sleeping properly? You should exercise appropriately as well. Mother doesn’t have the ability to take care of you now, so you must take care of yourself.” County Princess Yawen spoke while tightly holding Lin Qingyang’s hands.

Seeing those emaciated hands, Lin Qingyang was moved. The genuine care from this mother was so different from the others in the family. Finally, Lin Qingyang felt a bit of warmth in his heart.

For the first time, he developed a slight fondness for this unfamiliar world.

“Yang’er, has anyone in the Marquis’s residence been bullying you and your siblings lately? Have they caused you any embarrassment? Also, is there any news from your eldest sister’s side?” County Princess Yawen asked with a hint of anxiety.

Lin Qingyang naturally responded positively. However, he also understood thatCounty Princess Yawen feared that, after their external family lost influence, they might be mistreated by others.

“Really…?” County Princess Yawen seemed somewhat incredulous. After all, every time Lin Qingyang came, he would vent his frustrations and complaints on her.

In his memories, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but feel the urge to scold the original body. How could he not appreciate a mother who cared so much about him? He was about to comfort this mother properly when suddenly, Nanny Ding, who had been silently observing, bowed and said, “Young Master, just now, I lied to the Marquis on your behalf. Please punish me.”

Lin Qingyang was momentarily surprised. Nanny Ding was referring to the matter when she went to find him earlier. He did visit County Princess Yawen earlier in the morning, but he never instructed Nanny Ding to say those things. He had simply mentioned he would come after finishing breakfast. Unexpectedly, Nanny Ding went ahead and conveyed his intentions. It seemed she had overheard the conversation inside and was trying to help him, so Lin Qingyang went along with it. Now, why would Nanny Ding…　

The next moment, Lin Qingyang understood why.County Princess Yawen immediately began questioning Nanny Ding, who almost recreated the scene, watchingCounty Princess Yawen grow angrier. Lin Qingyang was sure Nanny Ding had intentionally reported the incident.

“Such audacity! What kind of person does this concubine think she is to dare bully my son! Does she truly consider herself the mistress of this house? How can the Marquis let her mistreat my child like this? It’s simply…” County Princess Yawen, eyes reddening with anger, seemed ready to jump up. Indeed, the power of a mother was formidable. However, Lin Qingyang felt a headache coming and quickly tried to soothe the situation.

County Princess Yawen looked at Lin Qingyang in a daze and said, “My son, you have indeed changed. You’ve become someone who endures being bullied. It’s all because your mother isn’t good, making you learn to swallow your pride.”

Lin Qingyang: …No, no, no. He really just wants to maintain his character. Presumably, the original body spoiled temperament was also related to this protective mother.

“County Princess, you see, without you around, Young Master and Fourth Young Lady would be bullied. So, you must not give up. Take good care of yourself. Once you recover, you can protect them. As long as you’re here, that illegitimate child won’t be able to climb over our legitimate eldest son. Even if the Marquis is biased, he can’t go against the family rules and traditions.” Nanny Ding quickly advised, trying to uplift County Princess’s spirits. This approach would indeed be better for the patient. As expected, the County Princess’s expression changed.

After chatting for a while, County Princess Yawen was about to send Lin Qingyang away, fearing that he would get infected from lingering too long.

“I’ll be fine; your condition is not contagious. I can accompany you without disturbing you. I’ll just read a book on the side.”

No one understood the experience of being bedridden better than Lin Qingyang. Having family around, even if not a single word was spoken, was comforting.

This was also why he initially wanted to visit this mother. During his own time in bed, he had longed for his family to come and visit him, but…

Lin Qingyang yearned for this companionship, and now it seemed like fate had given him a chance to be with his family.　　

County Princess Yawen probably saw her son so filial for the first time. She was somewhat caught off guard; her eyes were reddish, unable to stop saying that this was not good. In the end, she couldn’t resist Lin Qingyang. After accompanying her for lunch, Lin Qingyang finally left. However, looking at the County Princess’s eyes in the end, it didn’t seem like she thought his character had collapsed but rather felt that he was being bullied by Madam Ru.

When leaving, it was still Nanny Ding who sent him off. Nanny Ding, who had been stern-faced the whole time, softened a bit now.

“Nanny Ding, is the physician who specializes in seeing mother the one from the residence… in the West Garden medicine store, right?” Lin Qingyang asked.

Nanny Ding was momentarily surprised, “Young Master, what are you…..?”

“I want to go and ask in detail about my mother’s condition.” There’s no information in his memories, so he had to go ask himself.

Lin Qingyang remembered the Exchange Shop in his system, realizing that he needed to understand the illness first before considering appropriate treatment. After all, he quite liked this new mother, and if he could save her, it would be great.

Nanny Ding’s eyes flickered, “I’ll accompany you there.”

The entire afternoon, Lin Qingyang spent time in the medicine store, asking in great detail. He confirmed that the County Princess’s illness was a symptom of internal damage, and it could only be prolonged with tonics. However, given the bottomless nature of her condition, there was little hope, a situation that even the medications in the system’s Exchange Shop couldn’t resolve. In the end, Lin Qingyang had to reluctantly accept reality.

His mood wasn’t great when Shuncai came to inform him not to forget the family banquet in the evening. Marquis An Nan family gathered for dinner every once in a while. It was time to go back and change into formal attire.

　　……

“Third Young Master, the servants have searched through Young Master Chu’s residence, and he’s definitely not there. He didn’t leave Second Young Master’s courtyard last night! This servant is certain I didn’t make a mistake; you can rest assured.”

Lin Qingxu, after hearing the report, hurriedly went to inform Grandmother Lishi.

“Grandmother, something has happened. Chu Lishu is missing.”

Lishi was in conversation with Madam Ru and asked, “What happened?”　　

“I’ve already questioned the gatekeepers. Lishu has not left the Marquis’s residence since he returned with everyone last night. However, I’ve been searching the entire day, every nook and cranny of the residence, and haven’t found Lishu.”

“A healthy person just disappeared like that? Hurry and continue searching. Your aunt only has this one son. If something happens in our Marquis’s residence, how do we explain it? Are you sure you’ve checked everywhere, including the Second and Third courtyards?” Lishi became anxious.

“I’ve checked everywhere, except… except for Second Brother’s courtyard. Given their strained relationship, I thought Lishu wouldn’t be there. But now… Grandmother, Second Brother and Lishu never got along. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to imprison and abuse him in his courtyard, right? Lishu is frail; if something happens…”　

“Oh no, could it be…” Madam Ru suddenly wore a strange expression, hesitating to speak. She exchanged a meaningful glance with Lishi.

Lishi instantly caught on. She recalled hearing about her legitimate grandson having peculiar tastes. Could it be… despicable!

“You hurry and search!”

“No….. No, Second Brother is quite dominant, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to enter his courtyard.”

“That’s true. If there’s a commotion and the Second and Third courtyards find out, Yang’er’s reputation might be…,” Madam Ru whispered.

However, Lishi’s expression changed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke firmly, “Now that my grandson’s life and death are uncertain, I don’t care about all that. Here’s the plan: your father will be back soon. You go stop him and take him directly to confront Second Brother.”

At the same time, Lin Qingyang was changing clothes in the room when suddenly an alarm sounded in his mind.

【Host, please be aware that the male lead’s life is in danger! Please take action quickly.】

Lin Qingyang: ?????

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