Chapter 162 Visit

Chapter 162: A Visit

Outside the window was a corner of the imperial garden. Several old plum trees were still in bloom, some of their petals scattered by last night's rain, dotting the bluestone path like a thin layer of snow.

"Xiao Jing is dead. The mission is complete," Xiao K said. "My mission in this world is over."

Xiao Yan gazed at the plum trees outside the window, watching a few windblown petals spin on the bluestone path before settling down again.

"So the entire plot is over?"

Xiao K: "That's right."

"Host, you can stay in this world forever now, together with Xiao Liu. You two still have a long, long future ahead of you!"

Xiao K's voice sounded again, this time with a smile—lively and chattering as before, but beneath the liveliness was a barely concealed reluctance. "From this moment on, this world no longer has any plot. No one's fate is written on paper anymore. They can live however they want, love whomever they want, go wherever they want. You don't have to worry about OOC anymore, because there's no 'C' left to 'O'."

It paused, its voice softer now. "This world is free."

Xiao Yan's expression turned unusually serious, and he said sincerely, "Thank you, Xiao K."

"Oh dear, how sentimental!" Xiao K's light orb bounced up and down noisily. "Host, you're a little reluctant to let me go too, aren't you?"

"Hmm, of course." Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said, "Qingci has always been curious about what kind of being you are. It's a pity that he never got to speak with you before you leave..."

Xiao K: "..."

I'm not a toy for you lovebirds!

"But it is a bit of a pity o(╥﹏╥)o," Xiao K still lamented. "I never even said hello to Xiao Liu. Host, please say goodbye to him for me~"

Xiao Yan nodded. "Alright."

"Host, let me, the all-powerful and invincible one, help you one last time!"

Xiao K's light flashed once, and Xiao Yan felt a faint sensation brush across his palm.

Xiao K said, "The wound's healed. From now on, just stay away from others and pretend you're putting on the medicine yourself!"

Xiao Yan clenched his bandaged hand—there was no stiffness or pain; it really was as good as new.

"...Thank you."

"Time's up!" Xiao K's voice was laced with a smile. The orb of light in his head grew brighter, then fainter, as if melting into the morning light. "Host, take good care of yourself! Together with Xiao Liu, live a long life and grow old together happily!"

"I'm gone!"

As those last three words fell, the warm light, along with the ever-chatty system, vanished completely from Xiao Yan's perception.

——

The Prime Minister's mansion, afternoon.

In the heated study, calming incense was burning. Sunlight filtered through the fine bamboo blinds, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Madam Liu sat on the soft couch by the window, holding a needle and thread but barely moving it, her gaze fixed on her son sitting across from her.

Liu Qingci had changed into his casual clothes. The light-colored robe accentuated his handsome profile, but his eyes were slightly downcast, holding a book scroll in his hand without turning a single page for a long time. His fingers unconsciously fidgeted with the edge, clearly not focused.

"Qingci," Madam Liu put down her sewing and spoke gently, breaking the silence. "You've been out of sorts since you got back from court. Is something on your mind?"

Liu Qingci instinctively curled his fingers, smoothing the page he had wrinkled, and replied in a gentle, deliberately calm voice: "Nothing, Mother. It's just that there was a ton of complicated stuff at court today. I'm just a bit tired."

"Ahem..."

Liu Wenyuan had entered at some point. He wore an expression that wasn't entirely serious, even looking a bit embarrassed, and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "I'm guessing you're worried about His Highness Prince Yu?"

Liu Qingci's fingers tightened a little on the scroll as he looked up at his father.

"His Highness Prince Yu?" Madam Liu jumped up in alarm.

"What happened?" She looked at her son, who had his head slightly lowered, and quickly asked, "What happened now?"

"At court today, Prince Yu caught a blade with his bare hands to protect Qingci and was injured," Liu Wenyuan answered for his son.

"What?!" Madam Liu gasped, her face going pale. She quickly walked over to Liu Qingci, looking him up and down, her voice trembling. "Caught a blade with his bare hands? Qingci, are you hurt? How bad is His Highness Prince Yu's injury?"

Liu Qingci quickly took his mother's arm and soothed her, "Mother, I'm fine, really fine."

He helped his mother back to the couch and settled her down, only omitting the really gruesome parts, and recounted how Xiao Jing went crazy and grabbed a knife, how Xiao Yan intervened to stop him and was injured, and how Xiao Jing ended up impaling himself on the blade.

Even with him heavily simplifying it, the thrilling scene still made Madam Liu's heart pound with fear and lingering terror.

Liu Wenyuan listened from the side, feeling it even more deeply.

He'd seen it all with his own eyes at court.

His Highness Prince Yu protected Qingci like he was some precious treasure.

The emotion in that instinctive move was unmistakable.

Although he didn't know the specifics of the past entanglements between Qingci and Prince Yu, today's life-and-death protection sealed with blood in the Golden Throne Hall was enough to explain everything.

It was a bond that had long gone beyond ordinary limits, engraved deep into the bones.

"Ahem..." Liu Wenyuan reminded him, a bit awkwardly, "In that case, Qingci, you should go visit him."

"That's right, that's right, you definitely must go!"

Madam Liu also patted Liu Qingci's hand and quickly said, "Earlier, your father mentioned that His Highness Prince Yu also saved your father's life. Such a great kindness, we should go and show our gratitude!"

Liu Qingci had been worrying about finding an excuse to slip over to the Prince Yu's residence, and unexpectedly his parents brought it up themselves. He was naturally delighted. "Yes! Father, Mother, I'll go right away!"

"Take that century-old ginseng from the mansion's storeroom." Liu Wenyuan waved his hand. "Even though His Highness Prince Yu doesn't lack fine things, we must be thorough in etiquette and not lose propriety."

Liu Qingci agreed to everything.

Finally, Liu Wenyuan added with lingering concern, "After the visit, if there's nothing else, return home early."