Chapter 2: This Prince Doesn’t Want to See a Sickly Fellow

Chapter 2: This King Doesn’t Want to See a Sickly Invalid

Liu Qingci, on the verge of death?

The name fell like an ice bead into the lake of his heart, instantly spreading a chill.

Before Xiao Yan’s eyes appeared a figure—aloof and stubborn.

Even from the written words, he seemed to picture that elegant scholar, like an orchid on a sheer cliff, a bamboo in the frost.

Xiao Yan steadied himself. He asked the system, “As long as I follow the tasks and complete the plot, that’s all I need to do, right?”

Little K said, “Yes, Host! But you cannot act against the original character’s persona, or you’ll receive a severe OOC warning! More than three warnings, and you’ll be eliminated!”

Xiao Yan curled his lips in a cryptic smile.

Little K: “(๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣”

Xiao Yan had the same features as the original character, only lacking the murky cruelty and violence in his brows, replaced instead by a quiet sharpness he himself hadn’t yet noticed.

If the original character was like a gorgeously decorated curved sword steeped in poison,

Then Xiao Yan at this moment was more like a longsword in an ancient, plain scabbard.

When Xiao Yan raised his head, his face resumed its impatient and sinister expression.

“What’s all the noise outside?!” he snapped toward the outside of the hall.

Little K was stunned.

So the host is this good at acting?!

Its KPI was saved! ꒦ິ^꒦ິ

No sooner had Xiao Yan finished snapping than a close eunuch came stumbling in, pale-faced:

“Reporting, reporting to Your Highness—it's about Listening to Bamboo Courtyard, Young Master Liu's young servant… he insisted on barging in… this servant will drag him away and punish him severely!”

“Wait.” Xiao Yan’s voice was icy. He took a deep breath. “He said… what's happened to Liu Qingci?”

The eunuch froze, never expecting the prince to ask about that, and quickly replied, “He says… that he has a high fever that won't go down. That young servant had been kowtowing until his head bled. I’m afraid Young Master Liu really might not make it…”

As he spoke, the eunuch stealthily watched Xiao Yan's face, a look of fear on his face.

This showed how terrifying Xiao Yan usually was in the eyes of these servants.

Sure enough, the next moment, Xiao Yan violently kicked over the gilded brazier beside the bed.

The burning silver charcoal scattered across the ground, sparking tiny embers that made his face look even more sinister.

“Useless!” he cursed angrily, not sure if he was cursing the eunuch or the people in Listening to Bamboo Courtyard.

The kneeling eunuch and the poor imperial physician shrank back in fright, but didn't dare to dodge.

When His Highness Prince Yu was enraged, he had to take it out on someone.

If they tried to dodge, the consequences would only be worse.

But this time, perhaps the prince was too furious and was off target.

The overturned charcoal rolled entirely into a corner,

Without harming anyone.

Xiao Yan got out of bed, pacing angrily barefoot on the soft carpet: “A bunch of good-for-nothings! Can’t even keep an eye on one person!”

He pointed at the trembling eunuch and physician, his voice as cold as ice:

“You, and you! Follow me to Listening to Bamboo Courtyard!”

His eyes flashed with vicious displeasure.

“This king wants to see for himself whether he’s really dying or faking it.”

With that, Xiao Yan grabbed a black outer robe and draped it over his shoulders.

Barefoot, with his hair loose, reeking of alcohol and radiating chilling anger, he strode out of the hall.

The eunuch and physician scrambled to their feet and followed, hardly daring to breathe.

“Host! Yes! That’s the state! Keep it up! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧”

Little K cheered wildly in his head, clearly very satisfied with Xiao Yan’s performance.

The host really had endless potential—playing the madman quite convincingly!

Listening to Bamboo Courtyard was not far from the main hall, but tucked away, growing more desolate the farther they went.

At the entrance, a few sparse bamboo clumps looked listless in the wind, the courtyard walls mottled, exposing decayed gray bricks.

There was a loud bang,

Xiao Yan kicked the gate open, and the rickety door slammed against the wall, causing a loud noise that was especially piercing in the silent night.

The courtyard was dead quiet, as if completely lifeless.

Xiao Yan went inside with his men.

Inside, the room was dimly lit. Only a hard board bed and a worn-out wooden table stood there, making it even more dilapidated and cold than the courtyard. The air was thick with a repulsive stench of blood, mold, and sickness.

And there, curled up on the thin mattress, lay Liu Qingci.

Xiao Yan walked up to him and finally saw his face clearly.

Even though he had mentally prepared himself, he was still stunned for a moment.

The young man’s face showed an unnatural flush, his lips were pale, yet his features were like a painting, with jet-black hair scattered messily over the worn pillow mat—elegant and otherworldly.

Especially his eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, his eyes as pale as colored glass, now filled with humiliation and barely intact stubbornness.

He truly deserved the name “Qingci.”

Xiao Yan's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.

But the cold young man's condition was truly terrible. He was running a high fever.

The whip marks from the original owner were faintly visible as dark red stains through the thin, torn clothes. With this cold, damp environment… if delayed any longer, it could truly become life-threatening.

Liu Qingci seemed to sense someone's presence.

In those pale eyes, the moment they recognized the visitor as Xiao Yan, they were overwhelmed by immense fear and humiliation.

Then they turned into a nearly numb, deathly stillness.

Three days ago, Liu Qingci had just been abducted into the residence, and his resistance had enraged Prince Yu, who had him given ten lashes and thrown into this Listening Bamboo Courtyard to fend for himself.

Prince Yu would not be appeased; since he didn't get what he wanted, he would only take it out on him more severely.

Liu Qingci propped himself up and bowed with difficulty: "Greetings, Prince Yu..."

His voice was rough as sandpaper, barely above a whisper.

Prince Yu looked at him in this state; who knew if he was satisfied or not?

No, of course he wouldn't be satisfied.

He surely wanted to see him grovel and submit, losing all dignity.

Liu Qingci raised his eyes in resignation, waiting in despair for the next round of humiliation or torture.

But before he could make out the cruel expression on that man's face,

a piece of fabric, warm with body heat and carrying an unfamiliar scent, dropped over his head and face.

An unfamiliar warmth, mixed with a faint scent of musk, instantly enveloped him tightly.

The fabric slid off his face, and his vision cleared.

It was a dark-colored outer robe, made of excellent material, warm to the touch, and when wrapped around him, it instantly shut out most of the room's cold and dampness.

Liu Qingci stood frozen still.

What... does this mean?

"This Prince does not want to see a sickly person."

Xiao Yan stood to the side, avoiding Liu Qingci's gaze; as he spoke, his brow was furrowed, as if with extreme disdain.

"Cough, cough..." Liu Qingci couldn't help coughing twice.

It seemed to perfectly confirm Xiao Yan's words, "sickly person."

"What are you standing there for? Why aren't you treating him?!" Xiao Yan said coldly to the imperial physician beside him.

The imperial physician scrambled over with his medical box.

Xiao Yan asked the system mentally: "The task requirement 'completely destroy Liu Qingci's mental defenses'—is that considered complete?"

Xiao K was stunned: "Huh? But Host, you haven't done anything yet!"

Xiao Yan glanced out of the corner of his eye at the pale-faced person on the bed.

"My mere appearance is enough to drive him to mental collapse."

Xiao K scratched its non-existent head.

It was the first time it was guiding a host, and it didn't have much experience with tasks.

Does this count?

It used its program to analyze Liu Qingci's mental state.

"Really! Host, Liu Qingci's mental state is very bad. So in that case... the task is considered 30% complete!"

Xiao K's excited cheers echoed in Xiao Yan's mind.

Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"But Host, the 'first night' plot and the 'forced possession' plot still need to continue. The deadline for this task is tomorrow morning," Xiao K reminded promptly.

Xiao Yan: "Mm."

Meanwhile, the imperial physician had finished taking the pulse and wanted to examine the wounds next.

"This Prince doesn't want to see this disappointing sight anymore. Treat him with the best medicine."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over several stewards, and continued to order:

"Wash him clean and carry him to this Prince's bedchamber tonight."