Chapter 55: Too Rough with Him

Chapter 55: I Was Too Rough on Him

Zhao Chongwu's cutting, murderous tone sounded less like a suggestion and more like an order you couldn't refuse.

When Xiao Yan heard "kill him," his eyes went cold.

"Xiao K, I don't remember this part in the original, do you?"

Xiao K let out a long sigh: "Ugh, yeah, why did the plot go off the rails again!"

After analyzing, Xiao K concluded that Zhao Chongwu's motive for wanting to kill Liu Qingci was to nip the problem in the bud.

Zhao Chongwu had framed Liu Wenyuan, but Liu Wenyuan's son was still alive and well in the capital, which was a big threat for him.

The reason this part wasn't in the original is because the original owner had tortured Liu Qingci so badly that word got back to Zhao Chongwu. He figured at that rate, Liu Qingci would kick it on his own without him having to lift a finger.

And now—

Xiao K sighed again.

Now with the host as a variable,

With the host subtly influencing things, the plot quietly shifted.

Zhao Chongwu felt he had to take care of this threat himself to feel safe.

Xiao K somehow felt it had found a big loophole in the system's task-giving.

And it seemed the host was taking advantage of that loophole...

Looks like after this world's mission, the main system will definitely need a major upgrade.

"You're not giving me a task? Then I'll just wing it?" Xiao Yan said coldly.

"Whatever..." Xiao K replied weakly, "Just make it convincing, okay? (T_T)"

Just then, Zhao Chongwu pressed him: "Yan'er, where is Liu Qingci now? Bring him here quick."

"Uncle, what's the rush?" Xiao Yan's voice rang out, his face still wearing that cynical smile, "You're always going on about killing and fighting—such a buzzkill."

"Besides..."

Xiao Yan drew out his words, rubbing his chin and smacking his lips like he was savoring something delicious,

"I was way too rough on him last night, he probably can't even get out of bed, let alone come see anyone. If you insist on seeing him, Uncle, you'd have to have the servants wrap him in a blanket and carry him here, though I'm afraid that'd be an eyesore for you."

Zhao Chongwu frowned, looking skeptical: "I heard you've been going easy on people lately. Is Liu Qingci really that bad?"

"Lenient?" Xiao Yan laughed like that was the funniest thing he'd heard, shaking his head as he spoke, "Didn't think anyone would use that word to describe me. Interesting."

Zhao Chongwu snorted, also seeming amused.

"Ahhhhhhh—"

Just as Xiao Yan was about to continue proving his point, he heard Xiao K's sharp shriek in his head.

Xiao K screamed: "Host! How could you say that where Liu Qingci can hear you?!"

What "tormented too harshly"? What "can't get out of bed"?

Now Liu Qingci knows you lied to your uncle to protect him!

This... the persona is completely blown!

Xiao Yan looked confused: "When did I say that in front of Liu Qingci?"

He only dared to say it because he thought Liu Qingci wasn't listening, okay?

"I forgot to mention something," Xiao K said, suddenly feeling guilty.

Xiao Yan: "What?"

Xiao K said: "Actually, Liu Qingci is in the study right now, and he can hear everything you said..."

Xiao Yan: "???"

Xiao Yan's expression cracked a little.

"You mean he heard everything I just said?"

Xiao K: "Yeah..."

Whatever, since he already heard it, let's deal with the problem at hand first.

Xiao Yan asked casually, "What did Liu Qingci do to piss you off, Uncle, that you have to kill him?"

Zhao Chongwu's expression flickered, and he said evasively: "You don't need to worry about that. Just remember, Uncle is doing this for you!"

Zhao Chongwu had never told the original owner about his dealings, because even if he did, the original owner wouldn't care.

Xiao Yan tsked: "Uncle, I'm not done having fun with him yet, so I can't give him to you."

Zhao Chongwu thought for a moment, then still tried to persuade: "Yan'er, there are so many people in this mansion, why do you have to keep this Liu Qingci?"

"Isn't he just fun?" Xiao Yan's tone grew a bit impatient, "Besides, even Father Emperor agreed to let him stay at Prince Yu's mansion. Uncle, wouldn't it look bad if you just took him away and killed him?"

Zhao Chongwu's face twisted with conflict at that.

"Even the Emperor knows?"

Xiao Yan: "Yeah, Father Emperor asked about it."

Zhao Chongwu's face went rigid.

"It wasn't a big deal that the Emperor knew, but the fact that he brought it up himself changed everything."

Zhao Chongwu thought, whatever, his nephew was such a degenerate that anyone in his hands probably wouldn't last long anyway.

"Consider this never happened."

Xiao Yan sighed in relief internally.

The two chatted about some trivial matters and then left the room.

Liu Qingci waited until he couldn't hear anything outside, then quietly stepped out.

He stared at the closed study door, his gaze fixed on nothing, his expression complicated.

After a moment, as if coming back to reality, he saw no one outside and walked out of the study.

Liu Qingci walked through the corridor toward the front gate.

At a distance, he saw Xiao Yan escorting Zhao Chongwu out the door.

Liu Qingci didn't dare approach further; he hid around the corner and watched from afar.

It was his first time seeing the legendary General Zhao.

He had previously been skeptical of Xiao Jing's words, but judging by how eager Zhao Chongwu was to get rid of him today, Xiao Jing's words were highly credible.

But the only thing different from what Xiao Jing said was... Xiao Yan was indeed an outsider.

If his enemy were Zhao Chongwu, then at least it had nothing to do with Xiao Yan.

Liu Qingci was lost in thought when he vaguely caught sight of a familiar figure flash by Zhao Chongwu's side.

His pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently in that direction.

That familiar figure was right beside Zhao Chongwu, and by now the two had already left the Prince Yu's mansion, one after the other.

Xiao Yan walked back after seeing off his guest, still discussing the matter with Xiao K.

"Even with such a serious mistake, no OOC?" Xiao Yan asked.

Last time, just saying 'I'm sorry' set off the alarm for so long, but this time there's still no response.

Is this system a bit buggy?

Xiao K explained, "This time there is no OOC probably because ignorance is not a crime, and you said those words to correct the derailed plot, so it's not your fault."

Xiao Yan: "...You do have a conscience."

As he reached the corner of the corridor, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a corner of a green robe flashing by the wall.

Liu Qingci?

Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt a bit guilty.

But he didn't stop walking, continuing to stride forward calmly.

After all, Liu Qingci didn't know that Xiao Yan already knew he had been eavesdropping in the study.

Xiao Yan could only pretend nothing had happened.

As he rounded the corner, he was startled to see Liu Qingci standing right there.

Neither hiding nor leaving.

As if he had been waiting for him on purpose.

Xiao Yan's gaze lifted, and he met a pair of red-rimmed eyes.