Chapter 23

Handsome Broken Legged Little Military Advisor [10]

The alteration of a person's destiny begins with just a few details.

Yan Zhiyao woke up early from hunger. When she woke up, she touched her shrunken stomach and began to ponder about where to get today’s food.

However, before Yan Zhiyao was able to figure it out, she smelled the fragrant smell of cooked rice.

The fragrant smelled appetizing, warm, and cozy. Just from smelling it, Yan Zhiyao seemed to be able to taste the soft rice.

Yan Zhiyao swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva——she knew that this was all just her own fantasy, it was impossible for those servant to go deliver her a hot meal.

'Since you can't eat it, might as well smell it for a while.' Thinking so, Yan Zhiyao lay back in bed and looked at the curtain overhead with blank eyes.

"Royal Princess." Someone called her, but Yan Zhiyao didn't want to respond. She didn't know if it was because of her sever hunger, but she seemed to feel that the fragrance in the room was becoming stronger and stronger.

"Royal Princess." Someone pushed the door open, with a carefulness that had never appeared in their voice before, the person said, “I cooked some porridge for you… Would you like to drink some?”

Yan Zhiyao was silent. She felt like she was still dreaming.

But when that person brought the food before her, Yan Zhiyao came to realize——she really wasn't dreaming.

“What are you doing?” Yan Zhiyao sat up from the bed and looked guarded. She would always remember this face, it was this person who had snatched away the last thing she had left.

"Royal Princess." The servant's face held some guilt. She didn't know how to explain the sudden change in her attitude to Yan Zhiyao either and could only smile falsely, "Royal Princess, this slave was wrong, asking Your Highness to forgive this slave."

Yan Zhiyao looked at the servant and muttered, “Then give me back the hairpin you stole from me.”

When Yan Zhiyao mentioned the hairpin, the servant's expression became stiff. She remembered the faint smiling face of that Lord and suddenly felt a chill crawl down her spine. She stammered a few times, searching for an excuse, "That, that hairpin, this slave accidentally lost it."

How could Yan Zhiyao believe this? But what could she do if she didn't believe? Yan Zhiyao gulped as she looked at the steaming food before her.

The servant said, "From, from not on, this slave will never let Your Highness go hungry." This was the only thing she could guarantee……

When Yan Zhiyao heard this, the black eyes on her thin face immediately lit up.

At this time, it had been more than a month since Yan Jingyi last visited the Ji Manor.

In this month, Chen Liguo was invited once by the Emperor and once by the Second Prince.

The Emperor asked him about his physical condition, but looking at his meaningful appearance, it was clear that he knew what methods Yan Jingyi had used. However, the Emperor apparently thought that Yan Jingyi was intentionally destroying Ji Shang's image in front of the Second Prince, and did not know that Yan Jingyi really did have a relationship with him……

Not long after meeting the Emperor, Chen Liguo met the Second Prince.

This time, the Second Prince showed no mercy either. Pointing at Chen Liguo, he scolded him with harsh and vulgar words——the more difficult his circumstances were, the more his mentality collapsed, and he went as far as to vent his anger about his failure on Chen Liguo.

Chen Liguo sat in the wheelchair and let the Second Prince curse him as he pleased. His face was slightly pale, but his expression was indifferent as if those insulting words were not directed at him.

It wasn't until the evening that Chen Liguo was permitted to leave.

The Second Prince deliberately made things difficult for Chen Liguo and didn't call for anyone to send him back. The Second Prince said, "Lord Ji should return, the road is dark at night, hoping that Lord Ji pays extra consideration to safety."

Chen Liguo didn't say anything, turned around in his wheelchair, and left.

The imperial palace was large, and the Second Prince did so on purpose. And so Chen Liguo could only slowly push himself. When the sky was completely dark, he had only traveled half of the distance.

Fortunately, Chen Liguo was squabbling with System the entire the way, so it wasn’t boring.

As the sky darkened, the road became more and more difficult to travel on. On the way, Chen Liguo met with a team of imperial bodyguards. Some of them asked Chen Liguo if he needed help, but Chen Liguo refused.

Seeing the guard’s face puzzled, Chen Liguo laughed and said, “If the Second Prince found out, you will be blamed.”

Only then did the imperial bodyguards understand and they showed apologetic looks to Chen Liguo.

Chen Liguo's expression was still indifferent, undisturbed either by favor or disgrace[1].

In the palace, there were some places that were very remote. Chen Liguo was traveling alone and was slightly scared. He said: "System, there won't be any ghosts here would there?"

System: "I've heard……"

Chen Liguo: "Huh?"

System: "The Palace is a place with strong Yin[2] energy."

Chen Liguo: “…” He was unexpectedly naive enough to think that System would comfort him.

System: “Countless concubines have hanged themselves to death, countless eunuchs have thrown themselves into the well.”

As he said this, Chen Liguo just happened to pass by a well. Who knew if it was Chen Liguo's imagination, but he inexplicably felt a cold chill.

Chen Liguo: "….. Don't say any more."

System: “There are even more dead and miserable people. Late into the night, one could hear women crying in the palace.”

As a result, the moment it uttered these words a woman's sobbing came from not far away.

Chen Liguo："……"

System: "It wasn't on purpose."

Chen Liguo listened to the cry and goosebumps appeared on his hand. He didn't advance or retreat, his entire person stiff on the wheelchair.

Chen Liguo: "What to do? I'm going to pee myself."

System: “… In theory, the world does not involve supernatural elements."

Chen Liguo: "Can you guarantee that?"

The system simply said: “I can't.”

Chen Liguo: “Does the female ghost want to kill me?”

The system earnestly thought about it: "You can use your beauty to lead her back to the right path."

Chen Liguo: “… The sky is too dark, she won't be able to see.”

Deliberately talking to the system to divert his attention, Chen Liguo still braced himself and slowly wheeled his wheelchair over.

As he went over, he whispered softly: "Who's there?"

As soon as he said this, the crying stopped.

Chen Liguo watched as a white figure slowly appear before him, his scalp nearly exploding, he said, "Who?"

"Lord, it, it's me." It was a little girl’s voice.

Chen Liguo took a closer look and found that it was Yan Zhiyao——the gleaming progress bar above her head, was only be vaguely visible under the cover of the night.

But even if it’s not clear, Chen Liguo still sees a number two on the progress bar.

Chen Liguo said, “It’s already late. Why are you here?”

Yan Zhiyao stammered, "I, I am looking for something that I lost….."

Chen Liguo sighed softly and said, “It’s too late. Remember to go return earlier.”

Yan Zhiyao said, "Mmm…..Thank, thank you for the money you gave me before Your Excellency. Yo, Your Excellency, I can push you to the palace gate……"

Chen Liguo was stunned, he immediately wondered if Yan Zhiyao knew that the Second Prince was trying to make things difficult for him and came here to help him. He looked at the little girl’s face and asked, “What kind of future do you want?”

Yan Zhiyao was confused: "What do you mean?"

Chen Liguo gently repeated, “I’m asking you, what kind of life do you want to live?”

Yan Zhiyao smiled bashfully and said, “To be able to eat till I'm full and dress warmly… That would be good.”

Chen Liguo nodded: “You go back first. It’s too late. A girl out alone isn't safe.”

Yan Zhiyao was somewhat disappointed and wanted to say something, but her deep sense of inferiority made her unable to oppose what Chen Liguo said.

Chen Liguo looked at Yan Zhiyao's back with concern in his heart.

"I never expected that Lord Ji could be so affectionate." This voice came out of nowhere and rang in Chen Liguo's ear. Chen Liguo so frightened he shrunk his head into his shoulders.

Yan Jingyi looked at Chen Liguo's reaction and found it rather funny. He didn't think that this lofty and unyielding man would be afraid of ghosts.

From when Chen Liguo first left the Second Prince to now, he followed Chen Liguo the entire way. It wasn't until Chen Ligong met Yan Zhiyao that he revealed his existence.

"Third Prince." Chen Liguo's voice carried a hint of anger. "Why are you here?"

"Have I interrupted Lord Ji's good deed[3]?" Yan Jingyi stood behind Chen Liguo and said with a smile. "I had asked why Lord Ji had not taken a wife, it turned out it was because Lord Ji actually likes this type of woman."

Chen Liguo: “…” You’re wrong. Actually, you're the type that I like.

Yan Jingyi saw that Chen Liguo wasn't talking anymore and then pushed Chen Liguo forward slowly from behind him. He said, “Lord Ji, take a look, the moonlight is not bad, how about we have a heart-to-heart chat for the whole night.”

Chen Liguo looked up and found that the sky was clouded over and not a single star could be seen. He couldn’t help but admire Yan Jingyi’s ability to tell lies.

As a reserved person, Chen Liguo naturally had to decline. He said, “It’s too late. Let’s schedule to another day.”

Yan Jingyi narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Alright, let’s change the day then.”

At this time, Chen Liguo had not realized the vastness and profundity of Chinese. When Yan Jingyi forcibly took him home and pushed him down on the bed, he realized what this phrase “another day” meant: let’s not talk, let’s go to bed instead[4].