Chapter 54: General Zhao

Chapter 54: General Zhao

Liu Qingci was not one to be obsessed with food. In the past, when he studied in the Bamboo Listening Courtyard, or even earlier at home, he would often lose track of time and forget to eat when he was engrossed in his reading.

Yun Feng knew his temperament and didn't dare push him too much.

Liu Qingci often wouldn't realize he'd skipped a meal until he felt a dull ache in his stomach.

This habit was deeply ingrained and remained unchanged even during his later difficult circumstances.

But after moving into the Crescent Moon Pavilion, he started eating regular meals.

After a few days like this, he noticed that the dull ache in his abdomen had eased considerably.

“Host~ You sound like such a worried dad, you know (¬_¬”)”

“Shut up.” Xiao Yan thought back at Xiao K.

“Hmph.” Xiao K huffed. “So, I happen to have a health analysis report on Liu Qingci. Don’t you want to see it?”

Xiao Yan became interested. “Quit being cryptic. Send it over.”

Xiao K gave a smug “ding,” and a faintly glowing virtual report materialized in Xiao Yan’s mind.

The report included text and images with detailed data, complete with simple pixel charts made by Xiao K.

Xiao Yan scanned through it quickly.

In general, Liu Qingci’s body had no major issues; even the whip scars on his back had mostly healed.

But there were other problems, such as chronic stress, mild anemia, poor digestion, and disrupted sleep patterns.

Though there were quite a few issues, Xiao Yan felt this was not too bad. All of these problems could be improved with proper rest and care.

After all, in the original novel, Liu Qingci’s

character was that of a delicate, sickly cold beauty.

Just how sickly? In the later stages, he would get a minor illness every three days and a major one every five days. He was barely hanging on by a thread, and any slight neglect could spell disaster.

Xiao Yan also understood the reasoning behind this character setting.

It was for the forced romance in the later half.

The delicate, sickly beauty trope was quite compelling in that context.

One moment it was a small dark room, the next golden chains, then being denied food and water—even a healthy person would be worn down into illness.

Now it seemed that Liu Qingci’s sickly persona wasn’t innate; it was indeed the result of being tormented first by the original Xiao Yan and then by Xiao Jing, one after the other.

“See, Host? Don’t you think your system is super useful? (^▽^)” Xiao K’s voice chimed in, seeking praise.

“Very useful. You’re amazing.” Xiao Yan praised sincerely, then said with a straight face, “So, to thank you, I will help you look after the male lead’s health, making sure he survives all the upcoming plot points.”

“What are you talking about?” Xiao K was confused.

He was the protagonist, after all, blessed with a protagonist’s halo!

Even if he's barely hanging on after all that torment, he wouldn’t die. He would surely hold on until the end.

Why did the host need to help take care of him?

It was obvious that the host himself wanted to take care of him!

Xiao Yan carefully read the recovery suggestions given in the report and silently noted them down.

Just then.

A servant entered to announce that General Zhao had arrived and was waiting in the main hall.

Xiao Yan came back to his senses, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

This man was an important figure in the original plot, and this was the first time Xiao Yan was meeting the man.

Xiao Yan composed himself, resuming the original Xiao Yan’s habitual dissolute demeanor, and followed Fu’an to the main hall.

General Zhao, Zhao Chongwu, stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, dressed in a black casual robe.

He was around forty, tall and sturdy, with a resolute and handsome face. There was a faint resemblance between his brows and Xiao Yan’s, though his eyes had a somewhat murky, unreadable quality.

“Uncle, what brings you here?”

Xiao Yan walked in, his tone casual, even carrying a hint of annoyance at being interrupted. He sat down in the main seat and lounged lazily against the backrest.

Zhao Chongwu turned at the sound of his voice. Seeing Xiao Yan slouching like that, his brow immediately furrowed, his eyes filled with undisguised disappointment and frustration at his lack of drive.

“Look at you! What kind of behavior is that?” Zhao Chongwu’s voice boomed, carrying the authority of a man used to command and the scolding tone of an elder. “Sitting like that—is that any way for a prince to act? All you do is lollygag in your chambers and neglect your duties!”

Xiao Yan’s ears rang from the shouting. He pursed his lips inwardly but wore an indifferent expression on his face, even going so far as to pick at his ear. “Uncle, did you come all this way just to scold me? Aren’t you busy with official business?”

“You!” Zhao Chongwu was speechless at his insolence. It took him a moment to suppress his anger. “Whether I’m busy or not is none of your concern! I want to ask you—are you content being Prince Yu? Do you know what they’re saying about you outside?!”

“What are they saying?” Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, looking eager to hear.

“They say you’re dissolute, tyrannical, and that you abduct men!” Zhao Chongwu grew angrier with every word, his chest heaving.

Xiao Yan remained unmoved.

All those accusations were indeed true.

But they were the truth about the original Xiao Yan.

This General Zhao, a villain in the original novel, was excessively power-hungry. Thus, he was extremely anxious about his nephew’s hopeless nature, even to the point of wishing he could put on the dragon robe himself and seize the throne.

Unfortunately, he never had what it takes to rebel; all he could do was focus on propping up Xiao Yan.

In the original novel, Zhao Chongwu had considered marrying his daughter into the Prince Yu’s mansion. If they produced an heir, Zhao's position would be truly secure.

But the original owner was too useless. Even though Zhao Chongwu tried his best to support him, deep down, he had no confidence in Xiao Yan—or even in himself.

So Zhao Chongwu decided to hold off on sending his daughter—if Xiao Yan ever took the throne, he could still send her then. That way, he wouldn’t let the debauched playboy ruin his daughter in vain…

That shows how utterly useless the original Xiao Yan was.

Zhao Chongwu stepped closer and suddenly lowered his voice. “That only son of the Liu family—are you still keeping him in the mansion?”

Mentioning Liu Qingci made Xiao Yan’s brow twitch.

He immediately adjusted his expression, curving the corner of his mouth into a cruel arc, taking on a sinister air. “Uncle's well-informed. Yes, I still am. Keeping him.”

General Zhao frowned, glanced left and right. The front hall had doors on every side, not a good place to talk. He gave Xiao Yan's shoulder a shove: "Let's go to your study. I have something to tell you."

Xiao Yan had no choice but to get up, making a show of reluctance as he turned to lead the way: "Fine, fine, the study it is."

The two walked one behind the other, through the corridor, toward the study.

At that moment, the study was not empty.

Liu Qingci had returned to Lanyue Pavilion on this occasion, but Xiao Yan still did not restrict his movements, allowing him free access to the study.

He had come to the study after lunch to read, and was now pulling a book from the shelf by the door.

At this moment, he faintly heard footsteps and voices coming from outside—it seemed to be Xiao Yan and... an unfamiliar middle-aged male voice.

Realizing the two were about to come in, Liu Qingci lightened his steps and slipped into a narrow space on the inner side of the study, partially partitioned by a curio cabinet—a spot used for occasional rest.

Almost at the same time, the study door was pushed open, and Xiao Yan and Zhao Chongwu walked in.

Liu Qingci's view was obstructed by the curio cabinet; he could only hear the sounds outside.

First, the sound of footsteps as the two entered, then the sound of the door closing.

"Uncle, what's all the secrecy about?"

This was Xiao Yan's flippant voice, different from how he usually talked to Liu Qingci.

Liu Qingci couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different; the tone was still lazy, but he felt that right now... it was a bit fake.

Liu Qingci didn't think too much; he focused entirely on the content of their conversation.

He heard Xiao Yan call the other middle-aged man "uncle," so the other person's identity could only be General Zhao Chongwu.

At this point, Zhao Chongwu also spoke, his voice serious and urgent: "That Liu Qingci, you can't keep him in the mansion any longer. Get rid of him right now!"

Xiao Yan: "Get rid of him? How?"

"Kill him," Zhao Chongwu said harshly. "Or hand him over to me today, and I'll kill him."