Chapter 90
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“Yeah, didn’t you already figure it out? I like Chu Lishu. I can’t go a day without seeing him. I want to be with him all the time. I don’t have grand ideals or revenge plots. I just want to be with the person I like. If he wants to enter the palace as a study companion, I’ll work hard to follow him. Whatever path he chooses, I’ll choose the same. So, all the things you said are useless to me because I’m not doing this for myself.”
“You… you have no backbone! Arranging your own future casually for a man. You…” Pei Jin was truly exasperated by Lin Qingyang. She felt that Lin Qingyang was just like those brainless women who live for men. She couldn’t believe she once admired him.
Lin Qingyang looked at Pei Jin, who was getting infuriated, and figured that Pei Jin would probably give up on trying to recruit him. Even though it was a bit embarrassing, it was good to put an end to this once and for all. He didn’t want to continue this unclear entanglement with Pei Jin.
“Enough of your words. One day, when you love a man to the point of being willing to do anything for him, you’ll understand that everything done for him is worthwhile!”
Humph, just wait until you experience the true essence of love. I’ll enjoy watching you eat your words!
Pei Jin glared at Lin Qingyang fiercely. “Didn’t you say he’s a straight man? How did you manage to make him submit to you?”
Lin Qingyang blushed at the comment. It was strange; he had trash-talked Xu Wenzhe before without feeling any pressure. Why did he feel so uneasy now that he talked about Chu Lishu? Perhaps he had said too much and was feeling guilty?
“Can’t I have a secret crush? As long as I can be by his side, I’m content,” Lin Qingyang said, putting on an affectionate and unrepentant expression, purposely annoying Pei Jin.
Indeed, Pei Jin couldn’t bear to continue the conversation. Finally, she shouted, “Go to hell, you pervert!”
Lin Qingyang staggered at the harsh words, watching as Pei Jin stormed off like a gust of wind. Before leaving, she even threw the medicine bottle at him.
This combination of barbarity and intelligence, it’s amazing how the future male lead can handle her.
Lin Qingyang shook himself and cautiously poked his head out, feeling pleased. It seemed that being a toolman was indeed a bit more advanced than being cannon fodder. It was much less of a scene of social death.
He happily went back to lie down.
After the martial arts class, Chu Lishu returned to the courtyard early, when suddenly, someone flipped in from outside—it was Lu Yi.
“How did it go?”
“Young Master, Pei Jin did meet with Lin Qingyang. The situation was like this…”
As Lu Yi faithfully reconstructed the scene, Chu Lishu’s expression underwent a thoroughly transformative journey from dark stormy clouds to an awkward clear sky. The changes were so drastic.
Lu Yi delivered the report in a very professional and serious manner, but internally, he had been uncomfortable from the start. He had never expected Lin Qingyang, who seemed reserved, to be so shameless, openly expressing his love for the master. Such bold declarations of affection towards men were rare, and who dared to proclaim them so openly? Moreover, this was his own cousin. Lin Qingyang had truly crossed the line without any sense of shame.
However, Lu Yi now had a better understanding of the master’s attitude toward Lin Qingyang. Despite Lin Qingyang’s intense affection, he never tarnished the master’s reputation externally and never used his authority to threaten the master. Lin Qingyang simply wanted to be near him, silently harboring a one-sided love. Despite seeming a bit foolish, his unwavering loyalty in the face of temptation was quite touching.
If Lu Yi were to encounter such a person, although it might be a bit repulsive, he couldn’t remain indifferent. He would probably pretend not to know and offer some care, a small gesture of reciprocation.
If Lin Qingyang were a woman, Lu Yi might have secretly hoped for him to become the mistress. Unfortunately, as a man and given the master’s lack of interest in such matters, he could only disappoint Lin Qingyang’s heartfelt intentions.
If Lin Qingyang were aware that his fake persona had once again conquered someone’s heart, he would surely be “moved to tears”!
Chu Lishu remained silent for a long time. Upon hearing the sound of Xu Wenze returning, Lu Yi concealed himself.
It wasn’t until Xu Wenze came back that Chu Lishu snapped out of it.
“Didn’t you go to find Brother Lin?” Xu Wenze looked at him strangely. After all, Chu Lishu had returned in a hurry with a serious expression, and Xu Wenze thought he had gone to see Lin Qingyang.
“No, I just… came back to pack my things.”
Xu Wenze looked puzzled.
“My cousin is injured, and the servants can’t take care of him personally. I plan to move in with him.” Chu Lishu stated directly.
Xu Wenze was stunned, his expression becoming awkward for a moment. “You… living together?”
Chu Lishu nodded and began to pack his things without saying a word.
After dinner, when Chu Lishu didn’t show up, Lin Qingyang asked Shuncai to go and find him. In no time, Shuncai returned carrying bags, placing them directly on the opposite bed. Following him was Chu Lishu, holding a stack of books.
Lin Qingyang stared in amazement. “What’s… happening? Are you… moving in?”
Chu Lishu put down the book, walked over to Lin Qingyang’s bed, and said, “Yes, I’ve already requested permission from the head master. After all, it’s not appropriate for Shuncai to stay here at night, considering your condition. It’s better if I take care of you.”
Concerned about the completed task with Xu Wenze, Lin Qingyang asked, “What about Xu Wenze’s side?”
“What does it have to do with him?” Chu Lishu raised an eyebrow.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but ask the system in his mind if it would affect the mission, and the system replied, 【The mission was settled upon completion.】
Lin Qingyang immediately felt relieved. Although having Chu Lishu here was somewhat unnecessary, as he preferred living alone for more freedom, Chu Lishu’s presence would be beneficial for his mission progress. It would also facilitate private meetings between Chu Lishu and his subordinates. Since Lin Qingyang had already demonstrated loyalty, having Chu Lishu here would likely be safer than under Xu Wenze’s supervision.
Thus, the shared courtyard life of Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu officially began.
On that evening, Chu Lishu informed Lin Qingyang about Xu Wenze’s proposal.
As Chu Lishu finished speaking, Lin Qingyang was still trying to recover from the shock.
Just then, a notification sounded in Lin Qingyang’s mind.
【Main Mission 1, Mission 5: Help the male lead gain favor with the Fourth Prince, earn General Zhao’s trust.】
Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned, struggling to grasp the meaning of this.
Meanwhile, Chu Lishu had already spoken, “Are you going?”
Lin Qingyang could only set aside the mission for the moment and hurriedly asked, “Are you telling me to go?”
Chu Lishu smiled gently, “Why would I mention it if I didn’t want to?”
Lin Qingyang looked at him with a hint of disbelief. It seemed that recently, Chu Lishu had been treating him better and better. Lin Qingyang felt like he had embraced the male lead’s thigh.
“Didn’t you used to be quite against it?” Lin Qingyang said awkwardly.
“Can my opposition stop you?” Chu Lishu retorted.
Lin Qingyang chuckled innocently, “No.”
Chu Lishu shrugged, “So, to prevent you from doing anything risky or taking the wrong path, I took the initiative to guide you towards something safer. But you have to promise me, if you really become a study companion, you’ll listen to me in everything, no messing around. The palace… is very dangerous.”
Lin Qingyang’s head was nodding like a tambourine at this moment.
“Alright, this is something to be done during the New Year. You don’t need to bother about it now. Just read your book.”
Lin Qingyang nodded, but he couldn’t focus on reading at the moment. He had already started searching his meager memories for plot points related to this matter.
Oh, he remembered. The male lead befriended Xu Wenzhe, seemingly to get close to the Fourth Prince through his introduction.
The Fourth Prince was only ten years old, easy to manipulate, and least acquainted with the real Yuan Ran. For Chu Lishu, he was the best choice.
Before entering the palace as a study companion, the two were introduced through Xu Wenzhe and met during an outdoor palace banquet.
Could this outdoor palace banquet be referring to Ying Wenlong’s remarriage?
During that occasion, the Fourth Prince was attacked, and Chu Lishu, in an attempt to save him, got injured. This incident earned him the favor of the Fourth Prince. However, because Duke Wei Guo’s residence failed to protect the Fourth Prince adequately, they faced blame. Xu Wenzhe, who was supposed to be the person closest to the Fourth Prince, had his relationship strained as a result.
As for General Zhao mentioned in the mission, he seemed to be the most favored military commander by the emperor now. After all, the Huo family had no capable individuals left, and Huo Luo had chosen not to enter official service. Hence, General Zhao Cheng became the most influential figure among the military commanders.
However, when Zhao Cheng was young, he fell in love at first sight with Concubine Mei, the birth mother of the Fourth Prince. He had built his achievements and reputation with the intention of marrying the daughter of the prime minister, Concubine Mei. However, his master ended up marrying his beloved, forcing him to bury this love. Zhao Cheng, who has remained unmarried to this day, can be considered deeply devoted.
The day he would come was also to ensure the safety of the Fourth Prince, preventing any mishaps that would sadden his beloved.
So, when Chu Lishu saved the Fourth Prince, whom even Zhao Cheng couldn’t save in time, he naturally appreciated Chu Lishu even more. In the end, he treated Chu Lishu as a trusted advisor and almost like a younger brother.
But well… how could the male lead be so kind-hearted?
All of this was actually part of the male lead’s plan.
At that time, the male lead already had the help of Lu Yi and Lu Shi. To ensure the safety of the Fourth Prince and Zhao Cheng, and also to seize the trusted study companion position from Xu Wenzhe by the Fourth Prince’s side after entering the palace, the male lead orchestrated an assassination plot.
With a combination of a pitiful situation, a life-saving favor, and the absence of any background or identity, what conditions could be more likely to make someone be seen as an ally?
Thus, Chu Lishu caught the attention of Concubine Mei and Prime Minister Li.
Certainly, Chu Lishu’s motives were likely more than just that, but Lin Qingyang couldn’t recall it all at once.
Lin Qingyang felt somewhat fortunate. Fortunately, the male lead was willing to take him along. If he hadn’t been informed, he might not have known what to do when he received the mission. However, this mission was something Chu Lishu wanted to do on his own. With his abilities, he should be able to complete it smoothly, and Lin Qingyang only needed to watch out for unexpected situations.
The following days passed very calmly, allowing Lin Qingyang to focus on recovering.
One day, Chu Lishu suddenly brought back an exquisite inkstone and packaged it like a congratulatory gift.
“What’s this for?” Lin Qingyang asked in confusion.
Chu Lishu smiled mysteriously, “The Imperial Academy has already received the invitation to Ying Wenlong’s remarriage. This will be the congratulatory gift that the Imperial Academy is preparing to send to Ying Wenlong.”
“How did it end up in your hands?” Lin Qingyang asked curiously.
“It has always been in my possession, prepared for a long time. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to send it. I had someone recommend it to the head master.”
“By having someone recommend it, you’re referring to Mr. Cao, right?” Lin Qingyang naturally didn’t think Chu Lishu would personally send a congratulatory gift to Ying Wenlong and asked curiously, “Is there any secret to it?”
Chu Lishu smiled, “There is a certain substance in it that emits during ink grinding. As long as Ying Wenlong uses this for writing, within a month, he won’t be able to function as a man for the rest of his life.”
Lin Qingyang immediately looked at Chu Lishu with shining eyes. “Won’t it be discovered?”
“It’s mixed in the ink; no one can detect it,” Chu Lishu explained.
“This is such a good thing! Is there more?” Lin Qingyang suddenly felt excited.
“What do you want it for?” Chu Lishu sighed, “It requires a special material, and there’s only this one.”
In fact, Chu Lishu’s master had developed this method in the past as a means to punish scoundrels discreetly. There was a case where a literary figure had wronged his bonded wife, and he was punished in this way. Since then, he could never “rise to the occasion” again, living a gloomy and nerve-wracking life.
For Chu Lishu, long-term torment was the best punishment. Only those without value, who hadn’t offended Chu Lishu, deserved a swift death. Those who had crossed him would inevitably be tortured to death—this was Chu Lishu’s consistent style.
“Well, I just think this thing is quite useful. In the future, when encountering disgusting villains, we can deal with them like this. But… this wedding banquet really kills two birds with one stone,” Lin Qingyang laughed. Not only did they meet the Fourth Prince, but they also planted a permanent threat for Ying Wenlong. After his extramarital affair and loss of virility, let’s see how arrogant he could be.
No, to be precise, it’s three birds. There’s also someone named Ying Xiaodie, but Chu Lishu didn’t explicitly mention it because the current situation couldn’t be confirmed 100%.
The fifteenth day arrived quickly, and Lin Qingyang’s wounds had already healed. However, he still couldn’t engage in strenuous activities for the time being.
On the first day of the New Year holiday, Lin Qingyang took Chu Lishu back to their new home.
In the new residence, Lin Qinglan had fully taken over the management responsibilities. Nanny Ding naturally became the steward. When Lin Qingyang brought Chu Lishu home and mentioned they would stay for a couple of days before heading back to the Marquis’s residence to celebrate the New Year, it was almost like they were inseparable.
Lin Qinglan looked somewhat helpless but also gave her consent.
Chu Lishu was quite surprised when Lin Qingyang brought him to the new courtyard because the location could be described as perfectly in line with his preferences.
“Look, yours is here, and mine is right next door. Don’t mind the remoteness; I find the courtyard’s scenery good and quiet. You do like peace and quiet, don’t you?” Lin Qingyang said with a smile.
Being just a wall apart from the outside, it was very convenient for someone with strong martial arts skills to come and go discreetly. Moreover, it was secluded, so even if there were any disturbances, it wouldn’t reach the ears of others. It was particularly suitable for Chu Lishu, Lu Yi, and Lu Shi.
Chu Lishu was indeed satisfied with the place. Lu Yi and Lu Shi also liked it when observing from the shadows, so this place later became a frequent resting spot for them. It could be considered their base of operations.
After a few days, they returned to the Marquis’s residence. This time, there was no conflict upon their return. Marquis An Nan showed concern for Lin Qingyang’s injuries and didn’t say much more. The quiet New Year’s festival passed in this manner.
Chu Lishu naturally stayed behind. However, Lin Qingyang repeatedly confirmed with him that they should meet at a designated place every day. Chu Lishu didn’t think much about it and agreed. After all, he was indeed busy with some matters lately, and going out was necessary. Meeting Lin Qingyang could be considered a reasonable and legitimate excuse.
It wasn’t until Lu Shi complained that Chu Lishu realized it seemed like a daily date. How did he agree to this so easily?
But every time he saw Lin Qingyang’s joyful face and that radiant smile, Chu Lishu couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
Soon, the day of Ying Wenlong and Xu Rui’er’s wedding arrived.
Even though it was a remarriage, the fact that the bride was from Duke Wei Guo’s residence made it challenging to keep things low-key.
So, Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang discreetly infiltrated Duke Wei Guo’s residence, and it didn’t attract much attention. After all, it was the remarriage of his former brother-in-law, and Lin Qingyang couldn’t just show up openly.
Xu Wenzhe led them into the residence and directly brought them to his own courtyard, asking them to wait as the Fourth Prince hadn’t arrived yet, and he had other matters to attend to.
Thinking that the courtyard would be quiet, they were soon surprised by the arrival of two unexpected guests: Yue Chen and Huo Luo.
These two entered as if it was their own home, swaggering in, only to find that there were already people inside.
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