Xie Yi lightly passed through several alleys and arrived at a secluded small courtyard.
There were two people in the yard—one was Zang Feng, who had lost an arm. The other was a frail-looking scholar who seemed extremely afraid of the cold; not only was he heavily wrapped inside, he also wore a gray squirrel-fur cloak outside.
If any court official were here, they would immediately recognize this frail scholar as Shen Xian, the recently favored strategist of the Prince of Qi.
Seeing Xie Yi arrive, both immediately bowed respectfully: “Master.”
Xie Yi’s expression did not change at all, he only said lightly: “How is the situation now?”
Shen Xian cupped his hands: “As Master predicted, after the fire last night, Minister Wu’s residence was quite lively. Both the Prince of Qi and the Crown Prince sent people over. I followed Master’s orders and left ‘gifts’ for both sides. Now both sides firmly believe the other killed Minister Wu and took the account books from the secret chamber……”
Zang Feng also stepped forward: “As for the Chiji Guards, subordinate has also handled it. Both sides believe the Chiji Guards saw something they should not have seen, and were killed to silence them.”
He paused. “Also as Master predicted, this morning the Crown Prince used my severed arm as an excuse and reassigned me from the Chiji Guards into the Training and Guard Office.”
Shen Xian sighed: “The Training Office is under the Eastern Palace. It seems the Crown Prince’s intent to kill the Prince of Qi is no longer even hidden……”
He changed tone: “However, it must be said, Master truly sees through everything. Who would have thought that Minister Wu, seemingly neutral, was actually playing both sides between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi, and even held such important evidence. Now that he is dead, the court is in turmoil. Both sides will likely be so alarmed they suspect everyone around them……”
“The Prince of Qi holds military power. We must guard against him acting rashly out of desperation.” Xie Yi said meaningfully, casting a cold glance at them. “The timing is not yet right. We cannot let them start fighting yet.”
Both of them felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.
The faint satisfaction they had felt from manipulating court officials and nobles like pawns instantly vanished under Xie Yi’s pressure.
Cold sweat appeared on their backs as they straightened immediately: “We obey, Master.”
Xie Yi balanced authority with grace, stopping at the right point.
He soon moved on to the next arrangements.
Lin Zhiji listened, only half understanding, but roughly realizing that Xie Yi had set up a massive scheme, and all those in the imperial court were merely pieces on his chessboard.
No wonder the book said he rose abruptly and quickly seized power.
But at that moment, he suddenly heard Xie Yi say: “Go investigate someone named Liu Muzhi.”
Shen Xian and Zang Feng were slightly confused, but still immediately obeyed.
Lin Zhiji, however, suddenly felt uneasy: 【Host, why are you looking for the protagonist?】
Xie Yi already had his own plan, but hearing Lin Zhiji care so much about the other person, he felt a faint displeasure: 【You care about him?】
Lin Zhiji answered matter-of-factly: 【Of course!】
Xie Yi paused.
Shen Xian, though not knowing what was happening, keenly sensed Xie Yi’s mood turn bad and immediately fell silent, even pulling Zang Feng back before he could continue reporting.
Before Xie Yi could act, Lin Zhiji continued: 【If he dies, this world will disappear. Both of us will die too!!】
To emphasize the importance, he even stressed the last sentence heavily.
And then Shen Xian noticed—his master’s mood improved again.
Although outwardly there was no obvious change, Shen Xian, who had followed him for many years, could still detect the subtle difference.
He marveled inwardly.
He was one of Xie Yi’s earliest followers and knew his master’s heart was like iron, unmoving. When had he ever seen him so emotionally fluctuating?
Xie Yi gave them their instructions for what came next, then left the courtyard.
After he left, Zang Feng also prepared to go, but Shen Xian pulled him back.
Zang Feng looked at him in confusion.
Shen Xian lowered his voice: “Don’t you feel that Master seems a bit different today?”
Zang Feng looked blank: “Different how?”
Shen Xian: “For example… Master seems to be in a pretty good mood today?”
Zang Feng said blankly: “If the plan is going smoothly, of course Master is in a good mood.”
“Not that.” Shen Xian frowned. “Forget it, it’s useless talking to a brainless brute.”
Zang Feng: “……”
Shen Xian tightened his cloak and looked at the overcast sky, muttering to himself: “Such changes… I wonder if it is fortune or misfortune……”
—
Only when Xie Yi returned to the street did Lin Zhiji finally exhale the breath he had been holding.
Originally, he planned to trick Xie Yi into doing tasks, earn points and completion rate, then escape.
But just now, in the courtyard, with a few casual words, Xie Yi had already determined the shifting tides of the court.
The more Lin Zhiji listened, the heavier his heart became.
Someone like that—so intelligent it was almost demonic—how could he possibly deceive him? If discovered, he probably wouldn’t even know how he died.
As he was feeling dejected, he suddenly heard Xie Yi say: 【Why so quiet?】
Lin Zhiji took a deep breath, swallowing the retort he was about to make, and muttered: 【I’m not mute.】
The young voice sounded listless.
Like the weather at this moment, covered in a layer of clouds.
Xie Yi even felt the light cluster in his consciousness space had dimmed slightly.
His brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and he said calmly: 【I have no intention of killing Liu Muzhi for now.】
Lin Zhiji didn’t understand why Xie Yi suddenly mentioned Liu Muzhi and froze for a moment before replying hesitantly: 【Then… thank you?】
Xie Yi: …
He immediately realized he had guessed wrong. Lin Zhiji was not in a bad mood because of Liu Muzhi.
At that moment, he noticed Lin Zhiji’s attention drifting toward a noodle stall by the roadside.
Lin Zhiji watched as the stall owner skillfully lifted noodles with a strainer, placed them into a celadon bowl, added a spoon of lard, a bit of scallions and salt, then scooped hot broth over it.
The aroma of lard mixed with scallions instantly burst forth.
Although Lin Zhiji no longer needed food to survive as a system, he still couldn’t overcome the instinctive craving for delicious food.
It would have been fine if he hadn’t smelled it—but Xie Yi’s heightened senses made the shared sensation impossible to ignore.
In his mind instantly played the BGM of “A Bite of China,” and his stomach honestly growled.
Unfortunately, he had no autonomy at all while inside someone else’s body.
A big villain like Xie Yi would never go to a street stall just to eat a bowl of plain noodles.
He could only sigh and forcibly suppress his desire.
Thus, Xie Yi noticed that Lin Zhiji, who had just become slightly more spirited, curled up again and returned to his earlier dim state.
He said nothing, but the steps he had intended to take back to the general’s mansion shifted direction.
Lin Zhiji was still lamenting his miserable system life when he suddenly smelled food again.
Only then did he realize Xie Yi had actually walked into a food street.
For a moment, he was confused.
Was there even a route home that passed through this street?
But he quickly gave up trying to reason it out.
At a nearby bun stall, the vendor lifted the steamer lid, and clouds of steam rose. One by one, slightly yellowed buns sat round and tightly packed together. One bite revealed a rich lamb filling, the strong meat aroma mixed with wheat fragrance rushing out.
Lin Zhiji subconsciously swallowed.
However, Xie Yi clearly had no intention of buying anything and walked straight past without hesitation.
Before Lin Zhiji even had time to feel regret over the lamb bun that had just brushed past him, they had already passed the richly fragrant zhousha wontons, the crisp and savory pepper-salt pastries, and the sweet, soft osmanthus honey milk curd……
Lin Zhiji was already on the verge of losing his mind from the aroma.
Seeing it and smelling it but not being able to eat it—this was pure torture!!
Xie Yi shouldn’t be so bored as to use this method to punish him, right……
Just as Xie Yi was about to walk out of the street, Lin Zhiji hurriedly called out: 【Host!】
Xie Yi’s brow moved almost imperceptibly, but his steps did not stop: 【What is it?】
Lin Zhiji said earnestly, full of concern: 【You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, right? As the saying goes, people are made of iron and rice is made of steel—skip a meal and you’ll feel hungry. Breakfast especially is extremely important. If you don’t eat it properly, the whole day will be affected…… so, buy two buns.】
Seeing through his intent, a faint trace of amusement flashed in Xie Yi’s eyes, though his expression remained unmoved: 【No need. We’ll reach the general’s residence soon. The kitchen will have steamed buns.】
Who would eat dry steamed buns when there are lamb buns right here!!
Lin Zhiji quickly improvised: 【Th-there’s actually a very easy daily mission!】
【Oh?】 Xie Yi stopped walking.
At this point, Lin Zhiji could only grit his teeth and continue making it up: 【Yes…… Mission Seventeen: the host feeds the villain something……】
He closed his eyes—he was going all in.
Worst case, Xie Yi would discover it. He couldn’t kill him anyway; at most it would hurt a bit.
Otherwise, living every day under this kind of high-pressure environment and not even being able to eat good food—what was the point of living!
When you’re about to die, you should at least eat a full meal!
But what Lin Zhiji didn’t expect was that Xie Yi actually agreed.
He almost didn’t react in time.
Xie Yi saw the little light ball instantly perk up and raised an eyebrow.
No one had ever dared to play tricks in front of him before, so Lin Zhiji’s kind of obvious-at-a-glance scheming did not offend him—in fact, he found it interesting.
He turned back and bought two lamb buns.
The buns were wrapped in oiled paper, the thin skin already showing faint oil stains, emitting the rich aroma of lamb.
Lin Zhiji, through Xie Yi’s fingers, felt the elastic texture and slight warmth of the buns and urged eagerly: 【Host, eat while it’s hot! Lamb buns aren’t good when cold!】
Xie Yi took a bite.
Lin Zhiji happily narrowed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.
For Xie Yi, food existed only to fill the stomach.
Whether it tasted good or bad made no difference.
But seeing Lin Zhiji enjoy it so much, he strangely seemed to experience a different kind of feeling as well.
After finishing both buns, Lin Zhiji still felt somewhat unsatisfied.
Then he heard Xie Yi ask: 【Mission completed?】
【Uh?】 Lin Zhiji froze for a moment before responding hesitantly: 【C-completed.】
Xie Yi asked leisurely: 【Oh? Then how many points did you get?】
Alarm bells rang instantly in Lin Zhiji’s mind.
He almost forgot—completing missions gave points!
But he currently had nothing. If Xie Yi asked him for points, how was he supposed to produce them!!
【Hm?】
Xie Yi raised an eyebrow and lightly tapped him, startling him so much that his whole body bounced.
Lin Zhiji stammered: 【Not… not many.】
Xie Yi pressed further: 【How many is “not many”?】
Lin Zhiji: 【F-five…… no, three points……】
【Oh.】 Xie Yi paused deliberately, until Lin Zhiji looked like he was about to bury himself in embarrassment, then slowly said: 【What use is this little amount of points? Take it and play.】