I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 4

Qi Yannian erupted in a furious tirade, “You ungrateful brat!”

Back then, that wretched woman had outmaneuvered him. Before she died, she bound himself and the child in her womb with a Life-Binding Pact. As long as Qi Ye lived, he would live; if Qi Ye died, he would perish as well. It was for this reason alone that he was forced to tolerate this “vile creature’s” existence until now!

He never expected Qi Ye to possess a Pure Primordial Spirit Root to be a cultivation genius. Worse, even after that spirit root was destroyed, the boy found other ways to survive and dared to threaten him at every turn.

Did the boy truly think he wouldn’t dare move against him?!

Qi Anning was visibly shaken, his eyes misting over as he cowered behind Qi Yannian. Watching Qi Ye leave with the Seven-Leaf Kalpa Grass, he tugged resentfully at his father’s sleeve. “Father, what should we do now? Are we really going to let him keep it? I heard that herb can reshape one’s spirit root. It’s only right that Brother wants it, but considering his attitude toward you and the family, I’m worried that if he succeeds.”

If Qi Ye truly reshaped his spirit root and returned to his status as a genius, Anning would never be able to compare to him again!

He bit his lip in frustration. Why? The “Book of Fate” said many elite men would fall for him, including Young Master Shen. Why had Shen Qingzhuo given the herb to Qi Ye instead of him?

I know why, he thought. It’s because Young Master Shen hasn’t met me yet. The Book says he will annul the engagement at the palace banquet and fall in love with me at first sight! It must be so!

Qi Yannian considered Anning’s words, his own mind racing with the same fears. He didn’t dare gamble his life against Qi Ye’s, but Qi Ye was a madman with nothing left to lose there was no telling what he might do.

He could never allow Qi Ye to reshape his spirit root.

Qi Yannian patted his adopted son’s head. “Don’t worry, Anning. Father will get that herb back for you.”

Three days later: The Palace Banquet.

Emperor Huangfu Chicheng of the Kingdom of Yun hosted a lavish feast, ostensibly to celebrate Shen Qingzhuo’s return. However, everyone knew the emperor was using this as an opportunity to court the Shen family.

While the other two great clans were directly under the crown’s jurisdiction, the Shen family the head of the three had always remained independent of imperial politics. Even the Kingdom’s Priest, Shen Shuangyi, was a mercurial figure whom even the emperor struggled to see once a year.

With the old Patriarch obsessed with the martial path and rarely seen in public, Shen Qingzhuo’s influence was absolute. Securing his favor was synonymous with securing the Shen family.

Dressed in dragon robes and a twelve-tasseled crown, Emperor Huangfu sat at the center of the high dais. Below him, the two primary seats were reserved for Shen Qingzhuo and Crown Prince Huangfu Ying, showcasing the Shen family’s status.

Since the Emperor had prepared this feast specifically for him, Shen Qingzhuo arrived early. He wasn’t one for tardiness, and his anticipation of seeing the protagonist drove his punctuality. He responded to the sycophants and well-wishers with a polite, practiced smile neither too distant nor warm enough to invite further conversation.

However, after sipping two cups of tea, the protagonist was still nowhere to be seen.

A thought occurred to him. Could the protagonist also believe I’m here to annul the engagement? Is he avoiding the public humiliation? Did he not receive the herb? Or was he truly so arrogant that he refused to meet a male fiancé?

Someone shared his curiosity. A guest turned to the empty seat beside the Qi Patriarch and asked with a chuckle, “Master Qi, everyone is here except for your son. Why hasn’t he arrived?”

“Master Qi, surely you aren’t mistreating your own son by barring him from such an event? That wouldn’t be right. Even if the boy is ‘useless’ now, the marriage contract with Young Master Shen still stands. It’s quite disrespectful to the Shen family, don’t you think?”

The speaker continued to stir the pot, grinning obsequiously at Shen Qingzhuo as if seeking approval. “Young Master Shen, wouldn’t you agree?”

Shen Qingzhuo simply offered a polite smile and continued drinking his tea.

The man persisted. “Honestly, Master Qi’s adopted son here seems much better suited—refined and well-behaved. If only the engagement had been with the Second Young Master instead of Qi Ye, it would have been a perfect match!”

Sitting beside Qi Yannian, Qi Anning lowered his head as if embarrassed, his cheeks flushing pink. He had woken at dawn to prepare. He was wearing “Peacock Plumage,” a garment his father had bought for a fortune the only one of its kind in the kingdom.

He had been stealing glances at Shen Qingzhuo. This was his first time seeing the man, and he realized the “Number One Beauty” title was well-deserved. He felt slightly overshadowed.

But he noticed Shen Qingzhuo had looked his way and even smiled.

Remembering the Book of Fate’s prophecy of “love at first sight,” Anning’s heart hammered. He’s already looked at me does he love me already? If he could lure the man away later and use a few tricks to make him take back the herb he gave Qi Ye, it would finally be his!

However, he was also conflicted. He had been eyeing the other noble heirs and princes. Several princes were his type, especially Crown Prince Huangfu Ying, who was dashing and eloquent. More importantly, Huangfu Ying was the heir apparent; if he married him, he would one day be Empress.

But the Shen family was so powerful, and Shen Qingzhuo was the only person in the kingdom to reach the Sky Profound realm before adulthood not even the Prince could match that.

Anning was torn. He lowered his head, then realized that by doing so, Shen Qingzhuo couldn’t appreciate his beauty. He stood up, clutching his hem, and gave a shy, feminine bow. “Greetings, Young Master Shen.”

“Greetings,” Shen Qingzhuo replied simply, his fingers still wrapped around his teacup.

The chatter continued until Emperor Huangfu gave a sharp cough, silencing the hall. The time had come. Though the matter concerned both Shen Qingzhuo and Qi Ye, everyone knew only Shen Qingzhuo’s word mattered. Whether the marriage was dissolved was his choice; Qi Ye’s presence was almost irrelevant.

Shen Qingzhuo brought the tea to his lips, feeling a pang of disappointment. It seemed he wouldn’t see the protagonist today.

Suddenly, heads turned toward the entrance. Whispers broke out again.

“He actually came? I thought he’d hide.”

“He knows he’s only here to be humiliated. Why would a noble like Young Master Shen actually marry him? If I were him, I wouldn’t show my face just to be insulted.”

Shen Qingzhuo looked up. A youth in black stood at the palace gates. He was painfully thin, looking as though a stiff breeze might knock him over. Yet, as he arrived, a sudden gust of wind swept through the gates, tossing his dark hair.

As their eyes met, Shen Qingzhuo’s mouth parted in surprise.

The person I met in the Illusory Mist Forest three years. No, three days ago was the protagonist, Qi Ye?

He felt a sudden flush of embarrassment. He had used his family’s name to pressure the boy into giving him the herb, only to send it right back to him later. How mortifying.

He watched the boy. Qi Ye’s gaze was hard to read not exactly hateful, but certainly not joyful. The youth’s eyes flickered; he pressed down his wind-blown hair and walked inside.

Qi Yannian scowled with blatant displeasure. Qi Anning gripped his sleeves, his ears turning red with rage. How dare that waste come here and stare at Young Master Shen for so long? The Young Master hasn’t even looked at me like that!

He calmed himself. It doesn’t matter. The Book says Shen Qingzhuo only has eyes for me. The engagement will be broken today. Even if I don’t choose him in the end, he isn’t allowed to like anyone else!

Once the youth was seated, Shen Qingzhuo regained his composure and looked back at his tea with a faint smile. A courtier hurried over. “Young Master Shen, the tea is cold. Shall I replace it?”

“No need,” Shen Qingzhuo replied.

Emperor Huangfu let out a chuckle from above. “Xiao Zhuo, have you met him before?”

Shen Qingzhuo had no memory of the emperor, but the original host seemed to have been close to him as a child. He looked up at the dignified, middle-aged man. For some reason, he felt a sharp, heavy gaze boring into the back of his neck.

“To answer Your Majesty: yes, we have met,” Shen Qingzhuo replied respectfully.

The emperor’s smile froze. The nobles in the hall were stunned. Qi Anning’s reaction was the most visceral, he accidentally tore a hole in his priceless Peacock Plumage. He clenched his fists, refusing to believe it.

They knew each other? Impossible! Shen Qingzhuo hadn’t been in the kingdom for years, and he had only returned three days ago. How could he have met Qi Ye?

“Oh?” the emperor asked. “And when was this?”

“Three days ago,” Shen Qingzhuo answered truthfully.

Anning was baffled. Three days ago, was the day Shen Qingzhuo returned and his father went to the forest. Shen Qingzhuo had clearly been in the forest; how could he have met Qi Ye? Did Qi Ye go there too?

No, a talentless waste like him would have been eaten before even reaching the entrance, Anning thought, shaking his head. Unless, someone protected him. Did the Young Master protect him?

Emperor Huangfu frowned. “I heard that you were the one who retrieved the Seven-Leaf Kalpa Grass three days ago. If that is so, how did you meet Young Master Qi?”

Shen Qingzhuo smiled. “I did go to the forest. However, the Seven-Leaf Kalpa Grass, was something we obtained together.”