Chapter 77
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Upon hearing Xu Wenze’s words, Lin Qingyang felt as if the ground had been pulled from beneath his feet.
His heart skipped a beat, and he almost knelt down, looking at Xu Wenze with a shaky gaze. “No… this can’t be, we must go. I’ll talk to him again and try to salvage this situation.”
It was no longer just a matter of cold war with Chu Lishu; it was a matter of his life now.
“Do you… have to go? Is it because you think this will earn you points for entering the palace?” Xu Wenze came to inform Lin Qingyang because he had initially promised him this opportunity, but now the head master was considering replacing Chu Lishu. This situation seemed to trouble Lin Qingyang more than Xu Wenze had anticipated as if it were a matter of life and death.
Lin Qingyang frowned, “I can’t explain it, but this is really important to me. I have to bring him along.” He started to leave.
Xu Wenze hesitated for a moment, then seeing Lin Qingyang’s serious expression, he reached out and stopped him, “Trying to talk to him may not work. Let me think of a solution for you.”
Lin Qingyang was somewhat surprised; he had thought that Xu Wenze, being presumably close to Chu Lishu, would assist him. Moreover, given the recent rumors circulating outside, it was unexpected that Xu Wenze remained unaffected.
Lin Qingyang’s expression was quite straightforward, and Xu Wenze understood it at a glance. He smiled faintly, “I’ve observed your relationship, and I know that your bond is strong. Temporary conflicts can always be resolved. This is indeed a good opportunity. Just the two of you going there might open up your hearts and allow for a good conversation.”
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but widen his eyes. It was as if he saw a saintly glow around Xu Wenze. Not only did he not inquire about confusing aspects, but he also considered everything for his friend. How could there be such a good person!
Extending a hand to pat his shoulder, Lin Qingyang looked at him with eyes sparkling. “You’re truly a good person!”
Xu Wenze chuckled at Lin Qingyang’s compliment, “Wait until you hear my plan; you might not think I’m such a good person then.”
Curious, Lin Qingyang listened as Xu Wenze explained his idea. The more he listened, the more astonished he became. In the end, Xu Wenze looked a bit embarrassed. “Is it a bit cunning? Don’t tell Chu Lishu, or he might blame me.”
Shaking his head, Lin Qingyang gave a thumbs up. “No, it’s clever! I’ll go handle it now. If it works out, you’re my lifesaver!”
After expressing his intention, Lin Qingyang immediately went to find the head master.
In fact, Xu Wenze’s suggestion was quite straightforward: take action first and report later.
Lin Qingyang found the head master, who was currently troubled by the selection of new participants. Seizing the opportunity, he said, “Head master, I’d like to recommend myself and Chu Lishu for the task.”
Earlier, Xu Wenze had already recommended Lin Qingyang, and considering Lin Qingyang’s recent good performance, the head master thought that, as cousins, they should be able to work well together. Moreover, Mr. Cao had mentioned that they were both good, so the head master decided on this arrangement.
However, Chu Lishu came forward, stating that he had personal matters to attend to and couldn’t participate. The head master was a bit displeased, but since it was a good opportunity, he reluctantly accepted Chu Lishu’s decline.
With Chu Lishu not participating, Lin Qingyang’s qualification was evidently insufficient.
Surprisingly, at this moment, Lin Qingyang took the initiative to volunteer. The head master, after giving it some thought, said, “If Young Master Chu has personal matters to attend to, we can’t force him.”
Lin Qingyang immediately put on a pleading expression and said, “Cousin actually wants to go. His refusal doesn’t truly reflect his intentions.”
“Why is that?”
“Nobody is at my cousin’s home, and he’s temporarily staying at Marquis An Nan’s residence. He has always felt that he has caused trouble for the family. To avoid gossip, he has been very cautious. This opportunity was a good thing, and we had planned to participate together. However, my third brother just returned home with a leg injury, and there are criticisms from the elders at home. Some even blame my cousin, saying that he didn’t take good care of my brother, leading to this tragedy. In such a situation, if he only thinks about his own future, it’s inevitable…”
Lin Qingyang paused, and the head master understood the implications. Being dependent on others, one had to be discreet. No wonder Chu Lishu gave up such a good opportunity. It was indeed a matter of concern and a demonstration of his effort to maintain harmony within his family.
“Since he’s so considerate, it’s not appropriate to force him…”
“Force is necessary. I’m his cousin, and I can make decisions for him. I can’t let him suffer like this. When father came last time and learned that we could participate in the Ministry of Rites’ work, he was pleased. In fact, both my father and I hope Lishu can go further in the future. Why give up such a good opportunity?”
The head master genuinely admired Chu Lishu, and everyone could see that.
So, Lin Qingyang hit the right note. Although the head master believed that Lin Qingyang’s efforts to persuade him were driven by the desire for his own opportunity, the starting point was for himself.
However, if Chu Lishu could go, it would also be good. In the rituals, many high-ranking ministers from the court would be present. If he could encounter someone who appreciated him, he could carve out his own path without relying on Marquis An Nan’s residence. Ultimately, being overly cautious for such reasons would be a waste of an opportunity.
After hearing the explanation, the head master also felt it was a pity. So, he made a quick decision and directly agreed to let the two of them participate, without changing the candidates.
Upon hearing the head master’s approval, Lin Qingyang was almost jumping for joy. He quickly suppressed his excitement and, following the method Xu Wenze taught him, said, “Then, head master, keep it confidential for now. Let’s not worry him unnecessarily. After classes at the Imperial Academy in the coming days, cousin and I will directly take a carriage to the Imperial Tomb to ensure the task is completed.”
The head master found the plan feasible and agreed.
Yes! As long as they get the male lead to the Imperial Tomb, regardless of whether they are in a cold war or not, they can complete the mission like herding ducks onto a perch.
Once the young master’s life subscription is renewed, they can repair their relationship with the male lead.
So, they kept Chu Lishu in the dark for a day. When the evening classes ended, and the three-day holiday from the Imperial Academy arrived, everyone was gradually picked up by their family carriages.
The carriage sent by the Ministry of Rites also arrived.
Watching the head master come out for the handover, Chu Lishu, who was about to board Marquis An Nan’s residence’s carriage, was suddenly pulled back by Lin Qingyang.
Chu Lishu furrowed his brows, turning to look at Lin Qingyang. “Cousin, is there something else?”
Perhaps finally winning a round against the male lead, Lin Qingyang smiled triumphantly. “Cousin, you’re boarding the wrong carriage. It’s that one over there.”
Chu Lishu’s expression changed instantly as he looked in that direction. He turned back to Lin Qingyang with a cold gaze.
However, Lin Qingyang paid no attention to what Chu Lishu might be thinking. He forcibly dragged him to where the Ministry of Rites officials and the head master were.
“Greetings, gentlemen. We are ready,” Lin Qingyang bowed and said.
Chu Lishu could only reluctantly bow as well.
The official nodded, “Thank you, young gentlemen. It’s getting late, and the journey to the Imperial Tomb is quite long. Let’s board the carriage first.”
“Of course, of course,” Lin Qingyang immediately pulled Chu Lishu and pushed him onto the carriage.
Shuncai had long known about Lin Qingyang’s plan. He cheerfully took their luggage and placed it in the Ministry of Rites carriage.
“Young Master, when will you be back?”
“Probably the evening after tomorrow, or perhaps the morning of the day after. The Ministry of Rites will arrange it. You go back and pass the message.”
“Alright.” Shuncai quickly closed the carriage door for the two.
The inside of the carriage instantly became quiet.
At this moment, Lin Qingyang began to feel guilty. He looked at Chu Lishu, who was sitting across from him, and smiled.
“I remember I already declined the head master,” Chu Lishu said with a cold smile. “I wonder what my cousin did behind my back?”
Lin Qingyang didn’t hide anything, honestly confessing to his mischief, hoping that honesty would work in his favor.
“Quite a clever plan. Did Xu Wenze help you come up with it?”
Lin Qingyang was surprised, “How did you know?”
Chu Lishu looked at him with indifference.
“Although it was his idea, I executed it. It’s not that I couldn’t come up with it; it’s just…” Lin Qingyang felt frustrated. The way the male lead looked at him seemed to say, “You wouldn’t be able to think of this on your own.”
However, on this point, Lin Qingyang misunderstood Chu Lishu. In reality, Chu Lishu knew that given Lin Qingyang’s personality, if he learned about Chu Lishu rejecting the head master, he would have immediately come to plead with him, not set a trap for him without saying a word. That didn’t align with Lin Qingyang’s usual way of doing things.
Unless someone guided him, and Xu Wenze knew that advising Lin Qingyang wouldn’t work. Therefore, it was more likely that he suggested Lin Qingyang take action first and report later.
“Cousin is indeed domineering. Although I’m temporarily staying at Marquis An Nan’s residence, it doesn’t mean Cousin can make decisions for me. I’m not Cousin’s servant.”
Lin Qingyang sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. “Why are you putting it like that? You clearly know that’s not what I mean. If you hadn’t been giving me the cold shoulder, why would I do this? I was doing it for your own good, and you turn it around on me…”
“For my own good?” Chu Lishu muttered in a cold voice as if he didn’t believe it, so he kept repeating that sentence.
Lin Qingyang was about to argue further, but Chu Lishu had already closed his eyes and leaned against the carriage wall, seemingly taking a break.
Sitting across from him, Lin Qingyang really wanted to reach over and give him a good knock. This guy was too infuriating. However, thinking about it, even if he was impressive, he was still deceived into coming along obediently to the Imperial Tomb. It made Lin Qingyang feel a bit smug.
Seeing him give up the struggle, Lin Qingyang’s mood improved. He didn’t force himself to engage in conversation and happily focused on his reading.
The carriage swayed on its way to the Imperial Tomb, making a brief stop midway. The officials in charge of the Imperial Tomb work sent them dinner.
Lin Qingyang called Chu Lishu to eat, but Chu Lishu completely ignored him, still pretending to sleep. Lin Qingyang knew he was pretending, and using not eating as a way to vent his frustration was quite childish.
Lin Qingyang was speechless about his behavior.
Forget it if you won’t eat, I’ll eat by myself.
Lin Qingyang simply got off the carriage, stretched his muscles, and approached others to inquire about the situation.
In fact, preparations for the ritual at the Imperial Tomb had been underway for a while. It’s just that their part of the work was scheduled for the last, so they were brought in only two days before the ritual.
Tonight, they would rest at the cemetery next to the Imperial Tomb. They would begin their work early the next morning. The task wasn’t large, and with two people, they could complete it in a day. Depending on the progress, they might rest for another night and leave the day after.
The day after tomorrow was the final check, and the third day was the actual ritual. Therefore, officials from the court would gradually arrive over the next two days. A friendly official chatting with Lin Qingyang kindly reminded him, “As long as you perform well at that time, you might catch the attention of the ministers. With a good reputation, it will be easier for you to enter official service in the future.”
Lin Qingyang wasn’t particularly concerned about that. He was more interested in the details of the process he was inquiring about. After all, he had completely forgotten the details of this part of the original plot, only knowing that in the Imperial Tomb, the male lead discovered some clues, confirmed that his subordinates were nearby, and then searched for them throughout the night, eventually finding his subordinates.
If the arrangement of work in the Imperial Tomb was fixed, it also meant that the night was crucial.
When the moon was high in the sky, they finally arrived at the Imperial Tomb. Lin Qingyang hadn’t sat in a carriage for so long before, and the road wasn’t easy to traverse. The constant jolting made his bones ache.
Looking at Chu Lishu across from him, although he had been pretending to sleep with his eyes closed, his complexion had turned pale after this journey.
“How are you feeling? Are you okay?” Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but express concern.
Chu Lishu slowly opened his eyes, and between his eyebrows, there was an unexpected weariness. His usually distinct eyes were now lined with a few bloodshot veins, indicating that he was in an obviously bad condition.
Although Lin Qingyang knew he was physically weak, hadn’t he been fine sitting in the carriage before? Why was it so severe this time? Lin Qingyang was a bit surprised.
Someone outside called for them to disembark.
Seeing Chu Lishu in such a weak state, Lin Qingyang reached out to help him. However, despite his condition, Chu Lishu pushed away Lin Qingyang’s hand and steadied himself against the carriage wall, taking each step carefully as he descended.
Lin Qingyang gritted his teeth and quickly followed suit.
Soon, the caretakers of the cemetery came to welcome them. They were first taken to the rooms. Due to the large number of people, they were mostly assigned two people per room, somewhat similar to the arrangement in the Imperial Academy courtyards.
Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu came together, so they were naturally assigned to the same room.
Chu Lishu’s initial reaction was surprisingly a refusal. Faced with the guards of the cemetery, Lin Qingyang felt a bit embarrassed for a while, but there were no available beds. They were just temporary workers and wouldn’t receive special arrangements.
After entering the room, Chu Lishu went straight to his bed in silence, changed his clothes, and went to sleep. Not only did he not say a word, but he also seemed completely indifferent to the surroundings.
Lin Qingyang was truly taken aback; Chu Lishu seemed to resent him to such an extent as if he didn’t want to communicate with him for even a second.
Enduring his frustration, Lin Qingyang approached and said, “You didn’t eat tonight. Do you want something to eat before sleeping? Or maybe have some soup to fill your stomach?”
Chu Lishu still didn’t respond at all, lying with his back turned to Lin Qingyang.
It seemed like the silent treatment had escalated compared to before. It appeared that forcing him to come here had genuinely irritated him.
Lin Qingyang had a good temper. After some reflection, he realized that he was in the wrong. Thinking about not apologizing earlier, he approached and said, “Cousin, arranging you without your consent was my mistake. I should respect your opinion. I won’t find other reasons. I just want to apologize, I’m sorry. If you’re still angry, you can punish me, retaliate against me, it’s fine. Don’t… don’t stay so stiff.”
It remained a suffocating silence.
Lin Qingyang’s emotions fluctuated, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, Chu Lishu spoke, his voice almost bleak, carrying a chilling tone.
“Fine, you go out. I don’t want to share a room with you!”
“W-What?”
“I told you to get out!”
In an instant, the color drained from Lin Qingyang’s face. It could be said that, except for the first night after transmigrating, Chu Lishu had never treated him with such a harsh attitude.
Dumbfounded for a while, watching Chu Lishu’s rejecting figure, he could only awkwardly retreat.
At night, Lin Qingyang found an excuse and squeezed onto a bench in someone else’s room. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, feeling waves of grievances overwhelming him.
The room was filled with loud snoring, which was quite disturbing.
Lin Qingyang got up to get some water, but in the dim light, he accidentally knocked over the water kettle. To avoid making noise and disturbing his roommates, he had to awkwardly catch the kettle with his body. The cap slipped, and all the tea poured down, leaving Lin Qingyang soaked and thoroughly chilled.
Now, it was even more impossible to sleep. Lin Qingyang could only return to his own room, thinking of changing into dry clothes before coming back.
However, when he returned, he found that the door was unexpectedly locked shut.
When he left, Chu Lishu was clearly in bed. Somehow, afraid that Lin Qingyang might return, he even got up to lock the door.
This… this was going too far.
If he wasn’t allowed in, he would find a way in.
Lin Qingyang’s temper was now fully ignited. He directly found a window that wasn’t locked and climbed in.
Ironically, he didn’t expect him to climb through a window, so it was left unlocked?
Lin Qingyang gestured with his middle finger towards the bed with dropped curtains before retrieving his luggage. While changing clothes, he felt a bit cold, but Lin Qingyang’s heart was even colder. He wondered how long this situation would last and if he could successfully complete the mission.
Suddenly, a faint and almost imperceptible moan slipped into Lin Qingyang’s ears.
Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned. After waiting for a while and not hearing a second sound, he began to suspect that he might have misheard.
After changing into fresh clothes and preparing to climb out of the window, Lin Qingyang heard another very faint sound. Moreover, the sound definitely came from Chu Lishu’s bed.
Lin Qingyang was perplexed. After thinking for a moment, he walked to Chu Lishu’s bedside.
This time, he heard it clearly.
The sound seemed like the faint moans of an injured wild beast.
Having nightmares?
Lin Qingyang cautiously lifted the bed curtain to check Chu Lishu’s condition. However, upon uncovering it, he was stunned.
The moonlight and the lantern’s flame blended into a kind of grayish-white, shrouding the person curled up on the bed.
Due to pain, the person was almost drenched in sweat, the entire body curled up into a ball, like a helpless infant embracing itself. The delicate lines of muscles were stretched tight to the point where one could discern the contours. Some areas even twitched occasionally, as if the emaciated bones were trembling.
His face was deathly pale, brows furrowed, eyelashes and lips trembling. His hands clutched the blanket tightly to his chest, pressing down hard as if the most painful area was in his abdomen.
What made Lin Qingyang unable to look away was that Chu Lishu wasn’t using the pillow but instead lying with his head turned sideways. The pillow was bitten as if blocking his own mouth so he could endure the pain without making a sound.
The fragile yet tenacious scene shocked Lin Qingyang, but it was also eerily familiar.
Could this be…
The word hadn’t crossed his mind yet when suddenly an alarm exploded in his mind.
System: 【Crisis Alert!! Host’s life is in imminent danger.】
Lin Qingyang’s brain had just processed the system’s words, but it was already too late. A glint of cold light flashed, and the person on the bed, stimulated by the light, instinctively leaped up. A sharp blade appeared in their hand, aiming directly at Lin Qingyang’s throat.
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