Winning the male lead

Lin Le Tian stared at the plain porridge and small dishes in front of him, finding it difficult to swallow. “System, I really want to eat some meat buns.”

His body, inside and out, was fragile; he couldn’t eat anything greasy, or else he’d suffer from severe stomach issues.

The system, clearly not a good one, encouraged him, “Go ahead and eat, have the Imperial Kitchen make it for you. You’ve reached this position, so you can eat whatever you want.”

However, like anyone who enjoys arguing, once the other party agrees with your point, you instantly become hesitant. Lin Le Tian decisively said, “I won’t eat it.”

The system was quite satisfied. For it, either outcome worked well. If Lin Le Tian had chosen to ignore his stomach and gorge himself on a rich meal, he would have suffered from exhaustion, which would have pleased it. But now that he chose not to eat, it indicated that the system had learned a little more about how to communicate with him.

It judged that he was a bit tricky and couldn’t be indulged. If the system went against him, it might achieve its goals.

Lin Le Tian ate without tasting the food, fed by the cute little eunuch. He opened his mouth and ate, not picky, because every dish, regardless of the ingredients, was consistently bland and tasteless. As the eunuch continued feeding him, he felt a sense of peace. Recently, His Excellency, the Nine Thousand Years eunuch, wasn’t as cold as before. He seemed much more approachable.

“Your Excellency, Zhang, Lord Han has arrived.”

Lin Le Tian, still holding a spoonful of tasteless tofu, mumbled, “What’s he here for?”

Zhang, fiddling with his medicine box, earnestly said, “Your Excellency, your injuries are severe, and you need to change the dressing twice a day. Lord Han is a martial artist, and his strength and skill can push the medicine to its full effect.”

Lin Le Tian: “…” He felt like crying but couldn’t.

The medicine was strange; it only hurt a little when being changed, but after it was applied, his body would become numb, and he wouldn’t feel the pain. He only felt like a zombie.

Han Qi arrived quickly. As soon as the words were spoken, he bent down and entered the room. Lin Le Tian no longer looked at him with the same level of desire as before. He was too ruthless, and just seeing him made his waist ache.

“Your Excellency.”

Han Qi’s tone was calm. Lin Le Tian blinked, and the little eunuch understood, quickly wiping the corner of Lin Le Tian’s mouth clean and standing aside, subtly watching Han Qi.

This Captain of the Jinyiwei was indeed handsome, full of masculinity, something rarely seen among ordinary people. The eunuch admired and envied him, thinking, “So this is what a real man looks like.”

Lin Le Tian muttered to the system, “This little bastard seems in a really good mood.”

The system feigned ignorance, “Does he?”

As soon as the system agreed with him, Lin Le Tian immediately became alert. “Wait, he’s deliberately trying to hurt me, to take revenge, and even to plot my demise!”

The system replied, “Really? Logically speaking, you two might end up torturing each other and eventually become an exemplary true love.”

This was Lin Le Tian’s own theory, and now, as he thought about it, he felt like he had shot himself in the foot. He turned to Zhang, who was slowly preparing the medicine, and said casually, “I don’t want him to press it.”

Zhang, seeing him acting a bit childish, patiently explained, “If we don’t push the medicine’s power away, it might take seven days to heal.”

Lin Le Tian, furious, but constrained by his persona and voice, didn’t yell, instead muttering under his breath, “Bastard.”

It wasn’t clear whether he was cursing Zhang or Han Qi.

In the end, he still gave in, and once again found himself in Han Qi’s lap, getting pressed down to the point of near suffocation. Han Qi seemed to be enjoying it, using even more force than before, and Zhang thoughtfully provided a soft mallet for Lin Le Tian to bite on. So, he endured the pressing but didn’t hurt Han Qi in any way.

Afterward, Lin Le Tian, deeply irritated, weakly told Han Qi, “Look down.”

Han Qi knew he was about to be slapped, but of course, the slap wouldn’t hurt. It was more the humiliation of receiving a slap from a eunuch like Lin Le Tian that made him feel uncomfortable.

However, perhaps because he had used too much force this time, Lin Le Tian’s hand trembled and barely grazed his face. He couldn’t muster the strength to slap him, and his hand slid down his cheek.

Han Qi, unexpectedly touched by Lin Le Tian’s almost playful gesture and the scent of him as he lay in his arms, felt his face redden. It was unclear whether it was out of anger or embarrassment.

Lin Le Tian noticed the flush on his face and became terrified. “He wouldn’t really fall in love with me because of hatred, would he? Would we really end up in a passionate, tortured love affair?”

His fear was genuine. The system, confused, asked, “Don’t you want that?”

“I don’t,” Lin Le Tian replied honestly. “I’m afraid I’ll die from the pain.” Given the hatred between Han Qi and Lin Le Tian, if Han Qi truly wanted to take revenge using his body, it would likely be very intense, and Lin Le Tian’s delicate body wouldn’t stand a chance.

The system asked, “Are you serious?”

Lin Le Tian responded, “More serious than the feelings between us.”

The system: “…Well, that’s not very serious either.”

Despite this, the system still judged that he wasn’t lying. He really did enjoy luxury, and this fragile body of his greatly limited his ability to enjoy life’s pleasures. Therefore, the system felt it could safely admit, “Actually, Han Qi is the true male lead in this world. He will ascend to the throne one day.”

Lin Le Tian was stunned. He looked at him with wide eyes, which was rare for him. Usually, due to his sinister nature, he would squint when looking at people, but now his eyes were round, like a cat, though the cat had malicious intentions. Han Qi avoided his gaze, and said, “If you have no further orders, I’ll take my leave.”

“Han Qi,” Lin Le Tian said, his tongue rolling over his name as he half-threatened, “The Emperor is still young. Be careful. If the Emperor is harmed in the slightest, I’ll take your life.”

No matter how much he seemed cruel, it was clear he genuinely cared for the Emperor, something Han Qi had to acknowledge. However, both of them understood the hidden meaning behind this care. Han Qi cupped his hands and said, “Rest assured.”

After he left, Lin Le Tian sighed gloomily, “Do you think he will usurp my son’s throne?”

The system responded, “Actually, you are the one who will usurp it. He is just clearing the path for the Emperor.”

Lin Le Tian asked, “What about my daughter? Should I pair her up with Han Qi?”

The system replied, “Completing the task doesn’t limit the object. As long as the conditions are met, it’s fine.”

Lin Le Tian understood. It could be the Emperor’s son, but only after the throne was secured.

He sighed deeply, feeling pessimistic. In a script like this, characters like him usually end up dying a tragic death.

Martial arts required wearing tight-fitting clothing, and the palace had prepared it in advance. Han Qi stood outside waiting, feeling quite complex. Upon closer inspection, he felt more joy than anything.

Zong Yan emerged in a snow-white tight-fitting outfit, swaggering arrogantly, completely forgetting the hardship he had endured that morning with. He put his hands behind his back and asked, “So, how do we practice?”

Han Qi turned around, ready to salute, but upon seeing his appearance, he froze.

Zong Yan, dressed in a waist-tight outfit, now sported a rounded belly and soft, uneven flesh. With a bright green jade crown on his head, he looked like a transformed radish.

Han Qi, who had always had a cold expression, finally couldn’t help but crack a smile.