Chapter 89: Nothing Beats the Beauty by the Window

Chapter 89: None Lovelier Than the One by the Window

Xiao Yan said, "Uncle, do you know that General Weiyuan Xu Zhen has been visiting the residence of Prince Rui very often lately?"

Zhao Chongwu's eyes blazed with terrifying intensity. "What did you say?!"

General Weiyuan Xu Zhen was a trusted confidant he had personally promoted, commanding thirty thousand elite troops of the Northern Camp in the capital!

Seeing Zhao Chongwu's utterly shocked expression, Xiao Yan knew he was completely unaware.

This General Xu Zhen was defecting at a critical moment, serving as a powerful ally for the male lead in the later stages.

"If you don't believe me, Uncle, you can investigate for yourself," Xiao Yan said finally.

Zhao Chongwu looked as if struck by lightning. He had no desire to stay any longer, only wanting to verify what Xiao Yan had said.

With Zhao Chongwu's angry roars gone, the study suddenly fell silent.

Xiao Yan sat before the desk, took out a sheet of rice paper, and spread it flat.

Little K muttered in a low voice, "Host, what are you up to now?"

He had already tipped off the big bad about the plot!

"According to the original novel's timeline, it's at least two more months before Xiao Jing brings down Zhao Chongwu and clears the Liu family's wrongs," Xiao Yan said.

"So?" Little K asked.

"Isn't it almost New Year's?" Xiao Yan said, leisurely grinding his inkstick. "I want to give him a present..."

"Ah..." Little K trailed off.

It didn't need to think twice to know that the "him" Xiao Yan referred to was none other than Liu Qingci.

"What present do you want to give?"

Little K's electronic brain whirred, and then it suddenly dawned on him, exclaiming in shock:

"You want to talk Zhao Chongwu into turning himself in?!"

Wasn't that what Xiao Yan had just been telling him—making him realize how dangerous his situation had become?

Everyone already had proof of Zhao Chongwu's crimes, and even his own subordinates were betraying him.

If Zhao Chongwu went to the emperor himself to confess and lay everything bare, at least his punishment might be lighter.

Moreover, Chancellor Liu's reputation could be cleared sooner, allowing him to return early from exile up north.

That might be the present Xiao Yan wanted to give Liu Qingci.

Xiao Yan had already started writing.

Little K looked closely—and indeed, the letter was addressed to Zhao Chongwu.

Xiao Yan wrote down all the information he had as an omniscient reader of the original book, specifically the schemes behind Xiao Jing's plans.

Given the current situation, even if Zhao Chongwu knew all this, it was already too late to turn things around. But telling him could still scare him.

"Before Xiao Jing comes to power and takes him down, if Zhao Chongwu is willing to surrender, it's still better than what's coming."

Having finished writing, Xiao Yan put down the brush, picked up the letter, and set it out to dry.

Little K said, "Host, this is also interfering with the villain's plotline."

Xiao Yan replied matter-of-factly, "I only interfere within my capabilities."

Little K: "And you're sure Zhao Chongwu will do as you expect?"

Making a major villain from the original novel voluntarily give up everything and confess.

"Originally, no," Xiao Yan said.

The function of a major villain is to throw obstacles in the hero's path.

"If he gave up so early, how would the plot progress?"

"But now it's not certain," Xiao Yan said with a shameless, almost proud look. "Now they've got me, this plot wrecker."

Little K: "(=°Д°=)"

So the host knows he's being a troublemaker?!

What kind of host did they get?!!

But it still couldn't do anything about him anyway!!!

Anyway, Xiao Yan had the letter sent to General Zhao's mansion.

For the next few days, he waited patiently.

He waited for the plot to change.

Xiao Yan's earlier remark—that after the OOC warning, the evaluation threshold would be lowered—clearly held true.

Because even after all he'd done, he hadn't triggered another warning.

On the fifth day after sending the letter, it was the twenty-fourth of the twelfth lunar month.

Outside the window, delicate snow was drifting quietly, and several red plum trees in the courtyard were just starting to bloom, dotting the pure white expanse with elegance and tranquility.

Liu Qingci loved snow, but he loved admiring plum blossoms even more.

This was something Xiao Yan had noticed lately.

Liu Qingci's love wasn't the exuberant kind; instead, it was like a quiet little animal observing the world from the snow.

Right now, in the warm pavilion of Lan Yue Xuan, Liu Qingci was standing by the window again.

He wore a simple cyan cloak trimmed with white fur, wrapped tightly around him, revealing only his handsome face and a few strands of hair stirred by the wind.

His eyes were fixed on the snowy scene outside.

Xiao Yan leaned against the doorframe between the warm pavilion and the inner chamber, his attention drawn as if by an invisible pull.

No matter how beautiful the snow or how brilliant the plum blossoms, none were as lovely as the person by the window.

But the peaceful atmosphere was soon broken.

From outside the door, Fu'an's voice came, barely hiding his shock and urgency: "Your Highness! Your Highness! News just came from the palace!"

Xiao Yan's brow twitched, and he swiftly looked away from Liu Qingci, his eyes regaining their clarity.

Liu Qingci was also startled by the sudden noise, instinctively turning his head toward the door, then back to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan said in a low voice, addressing the door: "Come in."

The warm room door was gently pushed open, and Fu'an stumbled in, nearly tripping, with beads of sweat on his forehead, clearly having sprinted all the way here.

"Your Highness! Something big just happened in front of the palace! General Zhao... General Zhao took off his crown and armor an hour ago, bound his own hands behind him, and knelt before the palace gates! He says... he says he's come to confess to Your Majesty! To admit his crimes!"

Xiao Yan's face showed no expression, and his voice betrayed no emotion: "Oh? He... what crimes did he confess to?"

Fu'an swallowed hard, struggling to recall the snippets he had heard: "It seems... embezzling military funds, raising private troops, framing... framing Premier Liu, and also... lying to the emperor and forming a faction. My old heart was pounding too hard to remember the details! The palace gates are in chaos now! The Imperial Guard has surrounded the area, and His Majesty... His Majesty already seems to have summoned General Zhao into the palace. The specifics are still unknown!"

A soft clunk sounded.

It was the small hand warmer Liu Qingci had been holding, falling onto the carpeted floor.

Fortunately, the carpet cushioned the fall; it didn't break, just made a dull thud.

Liu Qingci's eyes were wide open, reflecting both Fu'an's panicked face and the snowflakes silently falling outside the window.

Zhao Chongwu... bound and confessing?

Those words clashed in his mind, leaving him unable to react.

Xiao Yan took in Liu Qingci's response, his heart clenched.

He waved for Fu'an to leave: "Keep investigating. Report immediately with any news."

Fu'an quickly bowed and retreated, carefully closing the door behind him.

The warm room fell silent again.

Xiao Yan turned to face Liu Qingci, still frozen in place.

He reached out and lightly grasped his arm, speaking with concern in a soft tone: "Qingci?"

Liu Qingci's eyelashes fluttered violently, his unfocused gaze slowly centering on Xiao Yan's face.

His eyes held a disbelieving hope, like a drowning man spotting a final floating log, yet fearing it's just an illusion.

He stared at Xiao Yan intently, as if trying to pierce through his eyes into the deepest soul.

His voice was as light as a sigh, trembling:

"Xiao Yan... Xiao Yan, was it... you?"