During the following period of time, Lin Zhiji fully experienced the benefits of having an external brain.
Xie Yi didn’t need him to nag him into doing missions. On the contrary, he completed missions with even greater efficiency, leaving Lin Zhiji to merely sit around counting points.
Besides farming points, Xie Yi also didn’t neglect proper matters.
Originally, Lin Zhiji had thought that after offending the Crown Prince so badly before—and after the incident where he was injured in the Eastern Palace—even if it hadn’t technically been Xie Yi’s fault on the surface, it had still damaged the Crown Prince’s reputation. The Crown Prince didn’t seem broad-minded at all. Even if he didn’t deliberately make things difficult, he probably wouldn’t show Xie Yi a pleasant expression anymore.
And indeed, that was exactly what happened.
When Xie Yi’s “injuries healed” and he returned to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince’s attitude had indeed turned much colder.
“If there’s nothing else, then withdraw.”
Xie Yi said nothing more. After bowing, he left.
Only after exiting the hall did Lin Zhiji finally speak up. 【Host, you’re just leaving like this?】
He knew that Xie Yi had plans within the Eastern Palace. If the Crown Prince continued disliking him like this, it would affect those plans. He had thought Xie Yi would find some way to reverse the Crown Prince’s attitude.
Xie Yi asked with interest, 【Then tell me, what should I do?】
Lin Zhiji recalled those strategists from TV dramas who would open with something like, “My lord, a great calamity is about to befall you,” before launching into a long speech, after which the lord would immediately bow in admiration.
After listening, Xie Yi curved his lips. 【Interesting indeed. But that line shouldn’t be spoken by me.】
【?】
Xie Yi lifted his eyes and glanced at the vermilion gates of the Eastern Palace before saying lightly, 【Words alone don’t carry enough weight. The Crown Prince must witness it personally—】
【That the Eastern Palace may soon change owners.】
Even though Lin Zhiji didn’t understand political schemes, he could still hear the feeling of gathering storms in those words.
And indeed, afterward, the Crown Prince’s faction was impeached again and again.
What was more, every accusation precisely struck the Crown Prince’s weak points. Without sufficient understanding of the Eastern Palace’s internal affairs, such accuracy would have been impossible.
For a time, everyone in the Eastern Palace was in danger.
Not only did they have to scramble to recover losses, they also had to guard against the internal traitor who still had not been identified.
The Crown Prince himself had mediocre talent to begin with. He only occupied the position because of his status.
The moment something like this happened, he completely lost his composure. And after several rounds of investigation, he still failed to root out the traitor.
The Crown Prince looked at the ministers filling the room, yet he had no idea beneath whose respectful and loyal facade the traitor hid.
At this point, he could no longer truly trust even his confidant, Ge Yan.
Under this panic and fear, he became increasingly suspicious and his temper more violent.
At times like this, Xie Yi’s arrogance and insolence instead reassured the Crown Prince.
But in Lin Zhiji’s eyes, it only once again proved just how terrifying Xie Yi’s ability to understand human nature truly was.
On one hand, he moved in and out of the Eastern Palace, effortlessly gaining the Crown Prince’s trust.
On the other hand, he kept dangling Prince Qi along from a distance.
Clearly he was doing the work of a double agent, yet he remained calm and composed, manipulating both sides in the palm of his hand.
He accepted benefits from both the Eastern Palace and Prince Qi’s residence without missing a single thing, did absolutely nothing for either side, and yet neither side developed even the slightest suspicion toward him.
The only person trembling in fear was probably Lin Zhiji.
Countless times, he thought to himself that he actually dared to hide things in front of someone like this. He truly had guts!
He didn’t think himself smarter than either Prince Qi or the Crown Prince, nor did he think his petty schemes could fool Xie Yi.
Yet strangely, not only did Xie Yi never question him, he was even rather indulgent toward him.
Not only did he earn points for him to exchange for a body, he even carefully explained his schemes regarding Prince Qi and the Crown Prince to him in detail.
Often, Lin Zhiji would be wary of his cunning one second, only to relax the next because of the hidden gentleness and indulgence beneath it.
If he hadn’t already witnessed Xie Yi’s brutality and madness back when they first bound together, he might really have been moved by him.
Moreover, Lin Zhiji knew that once the mission was complete, he absolutely had to leave.
Just as 03 had warned him before, forming connections too deeply with people from a book world was not a good thing.
Besides, for the current him, nothing was more important than obtaining a body.
Every day, Lin Zhiji counted points and visited the system store several times.
The more he looked, the more he felt that 03 had been excessively meticulous.
This body not only had birthmarks and such, but even the scar on his calf from childhood mischief existed in the exact same spot.
As long as he deliberately avoided thinking about this being a system-produced body, it felt no different from his original one.
It was just that he always felt he had forgotten something.
Just as Lin Zhiji was racking his brain, he saw Xie Yi write down a string of somewhat familiar numbers on paper before handing it to Qing Li.
“Go to the cloth shop and order a few sets of clothes according to these measurements.”
Lin Zhiji froze, suddenly realizing that this familiar string of numbers was his clothing size!
And he finally remembered what he had forgotten.
He had completely forgotten to prepare clothes for himself. If Xie Yi hadn’t been so attentive, he would have ended up running around naked right after exchanging for his body!!!
Qing Li took it, and at a glance knew these were not her master’s measurements. She immediately froze for a moment.
Still, she asked no questions and carefully put the paper away. “Does Master have any preferences for the style or colors of these clothes?”
Xie Yi frowned slightly.
But Lin Zhiji suddenly perked up. 【Host! I do! I have preferences!】
Come on! Who hadn’t draped bedsheets around themselves pretending to wear ancient robes as a kid?
Now this was a perfectly legitimate chance to wear historical clothes! Of course he had to indulge himself properly!
Although Qing Li asked out of habit, according to Master’s usual behavior, these kinds of details were generally left for her to decide.
But this time, she waited and waited, yet no answer came from him.
Confused, she raised her head, only to catch the fleeting trace of a smile at the corner of his lips.
The next moment, she heard Xie Yi list an entire string of clothing styles, colors, and even accessory details.
Half an hour later, Qing Li walked out of the study in a daze, holding a paper crammed full of requirements.
Song Lü saw this and waved a hand in front of her face. “What’s wrong with you?”
Qing Li snapped back to herself.
Song Lü asked in confusion, “What did Master tell you to do? Why do you look so absent-minded?”
Qing Li pressed her lips together, her voice drifting slightly. “Have you noticed that Master has seemed different lately?”
Song Lü thought of how often Master had praised and encouraged him recently and said awkwardly, “N-no… not really different, I guess? At most, he’s just a bit more approachable than before…”
Qing Li’s temple twitched. “That’s not what I mean. Don’t you think Master has become even more unfathomable lately?”
Like occasionally issuing orders that left them completely baffled.
Song Lü looked blank. “Hasn’t Master always been mysterious and hard to understand?”
Qing Li looked at him speechlessly.
She never should have asked Song Lü. His level of obliviousness was practically on par with Cang Feng.
Song Lü asked in confusion, “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing. You’re fine just the way you are.” Qing Li patted his shoulder sincerely. “Keep it up.”
Song Lü: “…?”
—
Qing Li worked extremely efficiently and quickly returned with the finished clothes.
Lin Zhiji had already earned enough points to exchange for a body. However, he had good self-control and restrained his desire, not disturbing Xie Yi while he handled important matters, simply waiting until he finished.
Instead, it was Xie Yi who stopped on his own initiative. 【Let’s go.】
【Eh?!】
Xie Yi returned to the room and immediately saw the new clothes placed on the couch.
Bright colors. Novel designs.
Completely unlike his own.
Yet Lin Zhiji had no mind to pay attention to the new clothes right now. He impatiently entered the system shop, staring intently at the body he was about to exchange for.
He rubbed his hands together, took a deep breath, and was just about to press exchange when he suddenly realized something. 【Um… Host, could you turn around first?】
Xie Yi withdrew his gaze from the clothes. 【Why?】
Lin Zhiji: ?
Xie Yi raised his eyes. 【Is there any part of your body I’m not allowed to see?】
Lin Zhiji: !!!
Even though he knew that wasn’t what Xie Yi meant, don’t say things that could be misunderstood like that!!
Half embarrassed and half angry, Lin Zhiji fumed.
Watching the little puffball explode in the consciousness space, Xie Yi seemed to think of something and said lightly, 【Forget it.】
After speaking, he actually turned around, facing away from the couch.
Lin Zhiji was a little surprised.
Though he had no idea what had changed Xie Yi’s mind, he couldn’t be bothered to think about it now.
Almost trembling, Lin Zhiji pressed exchange.
【Ding—】
【Exchange successful.】
Accompanied by dizziness in his head, Lin Zhiji felt his body suddenly become light before heavily dropping downward.
Unlike when he first bonded with Xie Yi, it was a very strange sensation.
His five senses no longer seemed as sharp as when he had been in Xie Yi’s body, yet he could once again feel the existence of his own limbs.
Lin Zhiji raised his hand and examined it carefully, as though he had never seen it before.
After staring at his hand for a while, he cautiously tried lifting a leg, only for his body to tilt and his knee to knock against the edge of the couch.
A sharp yet unfamiliar pain shot through him.
Lin Zhiji instinctively hissed.
Only then did the reality of having a body finally sink in.
The next second, he saw his own completely naked body.
Lin Zhiji: !!!
Flustered, he scrambled to grab the clothes on the couch.
But his body felt like that of a rehabilitation patient—his limbs refused to cooperate. After much effort, he finally dug out the inner shirt and trousers from the pile.
Lin Zhiji let out a breath and simply sat down on the couch, shakily pulling on the underpants.
Once he had pants on and escaped his overly exposed state, his embarrassment finally eased.
Subconsciously, he glanced at Xie Yi’s back.
This was the first time he had looked at Xie Yi from this angle, and it felt entirely different.
He was taller than Lin Zhiji had imagined, with broader shoulders and a straight back. His sky-blue brocade robe wrapped around his whole body, exposing only a section of cool porcelain-like neck and a pale jaw half-hidden beneath black hair.
Sensing the movement behind him stop, Xie Yi asked, “What’s wrong?”
Not like before, communicating inside his mind.
In reality, Xie Yi’s voice sounded lower and deeper.
Lin Zhiji suddenly felt his ears itch a little. He shook his head, then remembered Xie Yi couldn’t see him and hurriedly added, “N-nothing.”
He didn’t dare look any longer and lowered his head to continue battling with the clothes.
Only, these garments were much harder to put on than he had imagined.
Worried Xie Yi might lose patience, Lin Zhiji grew anxious.
But the more anxious he became, the slower he moved.
By the end, he felt as though his fingers were practically tying themselves into knots.
He felt deeply frustrated. Normally, watching Xie Yi get dressed always looked so simple!
Fortunately, Xie Yi was unexpectedly patient this time and showed no intention of urging him.
By the time Lin Zhiji awkwardly put on the last piece of clothing, a thin sheen of sweat had already formed on his forehead.
He looked up at Xie Yi’s back.
For some reason, nervousness suddenly set in. He tugged awkwardly at his sleeve and took a deep breath.
“Host.”
Xie Yi slowly turned around.