Winning the male lead

The training grounds were scorched under the blazing sun, with the intense rays casting a golden glow on the young man’s jade crown. Zong Yan held his breath, focusing intently as his fingers moved slightly. The arrow soared through the air, hitting the bullseye.

“Good!” Zhu Chuchu jumped up with joy, clapping her hands.

Zong Yan glanced at her with a disapproving look and said, “That’s not proper.”

In just three months, Zong Yan had undergone a remarkable transformation. He had grown taller, his skin had darkened, his eyes shone brighter, and his entire presence had undergone a drastic change, becoming sharp and full of energy.

Zhu Chuchu smiled, her dimples showing, as she stepped forward to gently wipe the sweat from his face with a handkerchief. “Your Majesty, you truly are a genius.”

Zong Yan suppressed a smile, lightly snorting. “No need for you to say that.”

From a distance, Han Qi watched the two children, his cold expression resembling a statue.

Behind him, a member of the Jinyiwei approached with a report. “Lord Han, there’s news about the private salt case.”

He took the report, scanning it swiftly, then asked in a calm voice, “Does His grace know?”

“He is recuperating and doesn’t want to get involved.”

Lin Le Tian had been recuperating at the Xiaofu Temple outside the palace for more than a month. On the surface, he had completely withdrawn from the politics of the Yong Dynasty and handed over power to Zong Yan. However, his influence remained strong, and reports still flowed into Xiaofu Temple. Lin Le Tian claimed to ignore them, but he had subtly given advice on major issues like the private salt case, which helped Han Qi find a breakthrough.

Han Qi exhaled deeply, his tone cold. “Pretentious.”

Behind him, the Jinyiwei members were silent, well aware of the ongoing rivalry between Han Qi and the Eunuch. The two had been secretly fighting, but no one could predict the outcome.

Han Qi had been promoted by Lin Le Tian, but once in power, he immediately turned his back on his former patron. This ruthless shift had made the Jinyiwei members uneasy, believing that if Han Qi succeeded in his rise, Lin Le Tian would fall, and a harsher leader would take his place.

Now that Han Qi was in control, Lin Le Tian’s apparent withdrawal wasn’t entirely genuine. Han Qi had control over most of the Jinyiwei, but Lin Le Tian must have some hidden forces. Otherwise, how could he still keep track of court matters from within Xiaofu Temple?

Without holding official power, yet able to decide outcomes from afar, Lin Le Tian was a dangerous figure. Han Qi closed the report and bowed to Zong Yan. “Your Majesty, there are urgent matters in the Eastern Factory that I must attend to. Please allow me to take my leave.”

“Go ahead,” Zong Yan replied, setting down his bow. He suddenly remembered something and, with concern, asked Han Qi, “How is little Lin?”

“He is in good health,” Han Qi replied indifferently.

Zong Yan nodded. “Tomorrow is his birthday. I want to go visit him.”

Zhu Chuchu fidgeted and whispered, “I also want to go.”

“Wherever I go, I will take you. Don’t make a fuss,” Zong Yan said impatiently.

After a brief silence, Han Qi spoke again in a low voice. “He does not wish to see anyone. Your Majesty, please reconsider.”

Zong Yan knew this already. When Lin Le Tian had left the palace, he hadn’t even bothered to bid farewell, leaving only a letter saying he was exhausted and no longer wanted to handle court matters. He asked Zong Yan, if he still cared for their past relationship, to let him live in peace.

Zong Yan lowered his hand, his sharp features now resembling Han Qi’s. After some thought, he said, “Tell him that I’m not visiting as the emperor, but simply as the child he raised.”

The eunuch hadn’t been entirely wrong when he said their bond was deep. Han Qi felt a pang in his heart, and softly said, “I will deliver your message.”

At Xiaofu Temple, the trees were tall and dense, providing welcome shade. Even in the heat of summer, it was pleasantly cool. Lin Le Tian leisurely sat by the stream in the back courtyard, enjoying a melon.

The Persian melons had been sent as tribute, and he had immersed a basket of them in the well for half an hour before cutting them open. The sweet, cool fragrance wafted from the fruit as he happily finished one, only to spit out a mouthful of blood afterward.

Looking at the dark red stain at his feet, he commented to the system, “It looks like strawberry jam.”

His body was strange—his blood had a faint strawberry scent, his sweat smelled of strawberries, and even his breath had the same fragrance. It was as though he had turned into a strawberry spirit.

System: …That’s kind of gross.

Now alone at Xiaofu Temple, Lin Le Tian was living freely. He had donated a chest of gold to the temple for incense offerings, and the abbot treated him like a living Buddha.

Sighing, he thought to himself that it was another day when he craved his own body, though it was unfortunate that the Yong Dynasty didn’t grow strawberries, nor did any tributes come in.

Just as he was sighing, the system alerted him. “Someone has arrived.”

He quickly tossed the leftover melon rind into the stream. With a splash, it disappeared from sight. He closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

It was a member of the Jinyiwei. He bowed as he entered through the small round archway. Seeing Lin Le Tian lying under the tree with his eyes closed and a tired expression, the man quietly approached, tiptoeing until he was right in front of him and softly called, “your grace?”

He called three times before Lin Le Tian slowly opened his eyes. His gaze seemed a bit unfocused, but the visitor’s heart tightened, and he quickly delivered Han Qi’s message.

“No need,” Lin Le Tian interrupted. “Tell His Majesty to stay at the palace and not worry about me. My bond with him is stronger than mere mountains and rivers, so please reassure His Majesty.”

When he lowered his head, he saw a dark pool of blood beneath Lin Le Tian’s indigo boots. His heart skipped a beat, and he slowly retreated.

Han Qi had arrived, but he didn’t know how to face Lin Le Tian. He feared that seeing him would either drive him to draw his sword and kill him or make him so furious he would be at a loss for what to do. So, he chose not to meet him and instead stayed in the main hall, gazing at the Buddha statue, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a Buddhist chant echoed from behind, “Amitabha, the donor has a strong killing aura.”

Han Qi turned around and saw an old monk with snowy white brows and beard. The monk pressed his palms together and performed a standard Buddhist greeting. “I apologize for disturbing the Buddha, please forgive me, Master.”

“I didn’t expect the donor to also be one who respects the Buddha,” the monk said. He was none other than Wufang, the abbot of Xiaofu Temple.

Han Qi replied calmly, “I was once helped by monks in a time of hardship.”

Wufang nodded. “A great kindness.”

Han Qi added, “I arrived in haste. Tomorrow, I will send someone to donate incense offerings.”

Wufang nodded again. “A great kindness.”

He glanced at Han Qi, then smiled, “Are you here to see Lin Le Tian? He is probably in the backyard.”

Wufang guessed this based on his attire—he wore the uniform of the Imperial Guard, which made his presence unremarkable to the monk. Han Qi, usually indifferent, frowned slightly at the mention of Lin Le Tian but said nothing.

Wufang smiled again. “Do you have a grudge?”

Han Qi thought for a moment, then replied indifferently, “Yes.”

“A grudge from life?” Wufang asked.

“A grudge from death,” Han Qi answered.

Wufang smiled and shook his head. “That is not good.”

Han Qi remained silent, his gaze rising to the Buddha, whose serene expression seemed to hint at a smile, but he felt that it resembled the expression of someone he knew. He then shifted his gaze to the eternal flame in the hall.

Wufang noticed Han Qi’s silence, raised his hand, and lit another eternal lamp with a lotus-shaped lamp, murmuring a Buddhist chant: “Amitabha, may the donor Zong Yi be blessed with happiness and health.”

Han Qi was taken aback. He almost doubted his ears. His eyes sharpened as he asked, “Did you just say Zong Yi?”

Wufang turned his head. “Yes, do you know him?”

Han Qi froze… Zong Yi. After a long pause, he replied, “Just an old acquaintance. May I ask, Master, about this lamp?”

“This lamp was offered by Lin Le Tian, to pray for this donor’s well-being. It has been here for several years now,” Wufang sighed, turning the prayer beads. “It’s all due to the karma of killing.”

Han Qi froze, about to ask more, but the Imperial Guard who had gone to meet Lin Le Tian returned. As he stepped into the hall, Wufang disappeared like a wisp of smoke. Han Qi fixed his gaze on his retreating back, his body frozen, but his mind reeling. When he finally heard, “his grace keeps coughing up blood, and his time might be running out,” he looked at the newcomer, his eyes sharp as knives. The man broke into a cold sweat and quickly swallowed his words.

Wufang slipped into the backyard and saw Lin Le Tian lying in a chair, playing with a leaf. He approached and said, “Lin Le Tian, your foresight is remarkable.”

Lin Le Tian smiled. “Master Wufang, a monk should not lie, but I thank you for your efforts.”

Wufang squinted and smiled back with a lively energy, “Lin Le Tian, you have donated so much incense money. The Buddha will forgive my little lie. Besides, if, as you say, we can prevent a killing, it is a great merit.”

The old miser, Lin Le Tian brushed the leaves off his clothes and lazily stood up. “Master, your wisdom is the true Buddha.”

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting. As Lin Le Tian walked back to the courtyard, the ever-quiet system suddenly spoke, “You are plotting something.”

This time, the system’s tone was firm and certain.

Lin Le Tian protested innocently, “What are you talking about? Haven’t I been obedient? I just need to wait, and the task will be completed.”

The system was no longer fooled. It ground its teeth and said, “You’re still obsessed with Han Qi.”

Lin Le Tian laughed cheekily. “Ah, you saw through me.”

The system was furious. “You, you, you won’t succeed! Han Qi has already torn his relationship with you. He’ll never like you!”

“Then why are you still worried?” Lin Le Tian shrugged nonchalantly.

The more indifferent he seemed, the more the system panicked. Could it be that Han Qi was really that foolish? Even if Lin Le Tian wasn’t scheming, he had genuinely killed him once. If Han Qi wasn’t completely brainless, even if Lin Le Tian was as beautiful as a flower, he wouldn’t be so easily fooled!

It had to stay calm. It had to trust the main character’s judgment and willpower!

Han Qi had been promoted and moved into a bigger mansion. All the furniture and supplies had been upgraded. Under the window of his bedroom, two small fish happily swam in a crystal tank.

The red-scaled fish had originally been a tribute from Jinan to be eaten, but after being raised for a while, they had grown plump and fat, struggling to leap around in the tank.

After returning from the temple, Han Qi’s eyes were fixed on the two affectionate fish. Suddenly, he said, “Someone, call the cook.”