Liu Muzhi thought for a long time, and in the end still made up his mind to go find Xie Yi.
“I want to go to Jiang City.”
Xie Yi raised his head, but only waved his hand, signaling everyone else to leave. The study quickly became empty, leaving just the two of them.
Liu Muzhi swallowed, then spoke out the words he had prepared for a long time: “You want to support certain people to contend against the Zhou family and others, but those people may not necessarily withstand pressure. And human hearts are easily changeable. Even if they later replace the Zhou clans and families, there’s no guarantee they won’t develop other ambitions during times of chaos. If you want to keep Jiangnan from falling into disorder, then among these people, you definitely need your own people…”
At the beginning, Liu Muzhi still lacked confidence, but the more he spoke, the smoother he became.
After meeting Xie Yi yesterday, he had been thinking about this matter the entire time.
Xie Yi was busy with affairs and would not casually come to chat with a minor figure like him.
It was just that he had been shocked by the ambition in Xie Yi’s words, and only after returning did he slowly piece everything together.
“I am alone in the world, with no利益 entanglement with the Zhou family. I grew up in Jiang City, and my parents ran a cloth shop. I learned from them, so I understand all the intricacies involved…”
Liu Muzhi’s eyes burned with determination. “I only have one request—that one day, I will be able to personally take revenge on my enemies.”
Xie Yi’s expression did not change. He glanced at Liu Muzhi, who was trying hard to suppress his nervousness, and said: “I agree.”
Liu Muzhi had imagined many possible reactions from Xie Yi, but he did not expect him to agree so easily.
After all, Xie Yi already had many capable people under him. Even that Scholar Luo’s business methods were astonishing—things beyond imagination.
Although Liu Muzhi had formed his judgment based on Xie Yi’s previous approach to him, he still had no real confidence.
And now, Xie Yi had agreed.
The weight in his heart finally fell away, and he made the most important decision of his life.
With a solemn expression, he knelt directly. “Liu Muzhi pays respect to my lord.”
A ripple finally appeared in Xie Yi’s eyes. After a pause, he asked: “Have you thought this through?”
Liu Muzhi nodded forcefully.
He had indeed been tempted by Ru Boqi’s words, but after calming down, he gradually understood—he did not have such ambition.
Compared to that illusory identity of a seventh prince, and becoming merely a tool used by the emperor to pressure the King of Qi and the Crown Prince—
He would rather remain Liu Muzhi of Jiang City, the one his parents loved, free and unrestrained.
“Good.” Xie Yi said slowly. “In a few days, I will send someone to take you to Jiang City. If you need anything, tell Luo Zhitang. I will try my best to satisfy you.”
“Nothing else is needed…” Liu Muzhi hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should mention his identity and Ru Boqi’s matter.
But Xie Yi seemed to see through him and said: “Rest assured. I will deal with Ru Boqi.”
Liu Muzhi’s eyes widened.
Although he had considered that Xie Yi’s abilities were great enough to make Qingxi City as tightly controlled as an iron barrel, and that Ru Boqi might not be able to conceal himself, speculation was one thing—hearing it directly from Xie Yi was another.
Moreover, judging from Xie Yi’s calm expression, this was clearly not something he had only just learned in the past few days.
Thinking of this, Liu Muzhi suddenly felt a trace of fear.
If he had failed to understand this in time, what fate would have awaited him?
But then he realized—since Xie Yi already knew Ru Boqi had entered Qingxi City, he must also already know his identity.
Yet Xie Yi, with such ambition, neither used him as a puppet, nor imprisoned nor killed him. And even later, when he began involving himself in political affairs—any other person would have long since been executed.
Cold sweat broke out on Liu Muzhi’s back. The last trace of unwillingness in his heart also completely dissipated.
—
That same day, Lin Zhiji learned from Xie Yi that Liu Muzhi had requested to go to Jiang City to open a cloth shop.
Lin Zhiji was completely stunned.
He had still been thinking of ways to slowly persuade Liu Muzhi, step by step—but before he even began, it was already done?!
Xie Yi glanced at him, smiling yet not smiling. “What, not satisfied?”
“Satisfied, satisfied!” Lin Zhiji nodded repeatedly.
How could he not be satisfied? This was extremely satisfying!
Seeing the undisguised joy on Lin Zhiji’s face, Xie Yi’s expression darkened slightly.
Ever since Liu Muzhi appeared, all of Lin Zhiji’s attention had been revolving around him.
He had previously suspected that Lin Zhiji still had another mission.
Yet this person, who normally would not even tell lies, kept his mouth tightly shut on this matter.
Xie Yi was angry in his heart, yet helpless.
So after seeing Lin Zhiji’s intentions, he still couldn’t help but step in to help.
But even after helping, seeing Lin Zhiji’s reaction still left him unhappy.
At that moment, Lin Zhiji ran over and wrapped his arms around Xie Yi’s waist, looking up at him with bright eyes. “Thank you.”
Xie Yi sneered. “One ‘thank you’ and you think that settles it?”
Lin Zhiji’s dimples deepened.
Although he felt embarrassed, a jealous Xie Yi was really… kind of cute.
A year ago when he first met Xie Yi, he never would have imagined he would one day describe him that way.
Seeing Lin Zhiji’s smile deepen, Xie Yi’s frustration had nowhere to go. He pinched his chin, about to kiss him.
But Lin Zhiji stood on tiptoe first and kissed him lightly. “Consider that interest.”
Xie Yi narrowed his eyes. “Trying to fool me again?”
“How can you not trust your bed companion like that?” Lin Zhiji turned the accusation back on him, then kissed him again. “See? Interest is already compounding.”
Then he slipped out of Xie Yi’s arms like a fish. “I’ve got something to do. I’ll repay the principal tonight.”
Xie Yi: “…”
Fortunately, Lin Zhiji had always kept his word, so the creditor Xie did not immediately collect the principal.
After all, there was still a long night ahead—more interest could be added.
Lin Zhiji felt the dangerous gaze behind him and shivered slightly.
He could only comfort himself:
Just a little longer. As long as the plan succeeded and that enormous burden above Xie Yi’s head was removed, everything would be fine.
But he soon had no time to dwell on it.
Although Liu Muzhi had been sent to Jiang City according to his plan, main mission six still had not been completed.
Having gone through previous missions, Lin Zhiji was no longer panicking.
He handed over the preparations he had long prepared to Liu Muzhi.
Not only supplies needed for Jiang City, but even a full development plan for establishing the cloth business there.
After all, he did not know how far this “support” needed to go. He could only prepare everything he could and leave the rest to fate.
Liu Muzhi was moved to tears.
Although he had spoken confidently to Xie Yi, he was still uneasy inside.
Lin Zhiji’s sincerity perfectly soothed that anxiety.
Lin Zhiji himself felt a little guilty from his reaction.
But soon, everything he had done reached Xie Yi’s ears.
That night, he came back and was thoroughly “paid back” with interest multiple times.
On the day Liu Muzhi departed, Lin Zhiji was even too exhausted to see him off.
He was so angry that he ignored Xie Yi for several days afterward.
Until the weather gradually turned warmer.
Xie Yi became even busier than before.
Somehow, he had managed to get the imperial court to agree to send a troop from Qingzhou.
After the decree was issued, the atmosphere in Qingxi City suddenly grew tense.
More guards appeared in their residence, and Xie Yi no longer allowed him to go out alone.
Lin Zhiji did not act willfully and stayed obediently at home.
But he was not idle—he was writing letters to Liu Muzhi.
Fortunately, Xie Yi was busy; otherwise, if he found out, the “principal” would probably grow again.
Main mission six took longer than any previous mission. Lin Zhiji slowly returned to calm.
Days passed like this.
Just when Lin Zhiji began to suspect the system was broken, it started flashing again.
[Main mission six completed—completion rate—static—static—]
Lin Zhiji’s heart tightened.
In fact, after Liu Muzhi wrote to tell him that he had now replaced the Zhou family and unified the cloth shops and dye workshops in Jiang City, and was preparing to extend control to surrounding counties, he had already sensed this day was coming.
After a long series of static noises, the system finally reluctantly announced:
[…Mission completion rate: 75%.]
It actually succeeded!!!
Lin Zhiji jumped up in excitement.
This meant their greatest crisis had been resolved!!
He had successfully changed Xie Yi’s fate!!
Xie Yi was no longer destined to be that stepping-stone villain!!
They really might have a future together!!
He could no longer wait—he wanted to see Xie Yi immediately, even if he couldn’t say everything yet. He could at least hold him and share the news.
But the moment he stepped out the door, he heard 03’s furious voice: [Are you insane?! Do you even know what you’re doing?!]
Lin Zhiji stopped, his smile fading slightly. [Of course I know what I’m doing.]
03 almost screamed: [The protagonist is supposed to become emperor! How can you let the villain turn him into some merchant instead?!]
Lin Zhiji quietly rolled his eyes: [Why not? The mission system never said it’s impossible!]
He was not afraid of 03 either. After completing several missions, he had already figured it out—the mission system’s judgment was what truly mattered. 03 could at most complain and throw a fit; it could not actually do anything.
[Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking!] 03 was furious. [You think being good to the villain is useful? He’s only using you! There’s no way he would ever trust a system that once tried to kill him!]
Lin Zhiji froze.
What… tried to kill him?
03, completely unaware of his reaction, continued venting: [Back then he was only in his teens, and already sinister, ruthless, and cold-blooded. Not only that poor host, even this system almost got killed by him. After so many years, he’s only become more terrifying—how can you trust him?!]
Lin Zhiji stiffened.
At that instant, it felt as if all the blood in his body had turned ice-cold.
He suddenly remembered that Xie Yi had once said his first killing was at the age of twelve.
If his guess was correct, then back then it was 03 who had bound a host and tried to kill Xie Yi—only to be counter-killed. 03 must have been injured or terrified in that incident, which was why it fled the moment it saw Xie Yi again.
And that was also why it had found him afterward, and made him take over the mission.
His voice turned stiff: [Why?]
[Why what?] 03 snapped impatiently. [Didn’t I already say it? The system’s calculations show that he will eventually destroy the world. If he can’t be controlled, then we replace him with someone who can. Think about it—he can even kill a system. How terrifying is that…]
Lin Zhiji could no longer listen to the rest.
Anger, heartache, guilt—all kinds of emotions flooded his chest at once.
Perhaps because both of them were too emotionally agitated.
Neither noticed a tall, slender figure in the distance, nor the pair of gray eyes watching them in silence.