Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Husband? Husband! The more I call him, the more addictive it gets.

Lyu Shuyao suspected he had misread the characters. “Wh… what?”

Su Cheyue’s face remained urgent as he tapped on the bamboo tablets again: Call me husband.

??? How was he, a full-grown man, supposed to say that out loud??

Seeing no reaction, Su Cheyue reached out and tugged on his sleeve.

[Visitor, to stabilize the Hatred Value, it is recommended that you follow the male lead’s instructions as much as possible,] the system reminded him.

Lyu Shuyao bit the tip of his tongue and pinched his thigh hard. “Hus…”

Su Cheyue turned his gaze over. Even though he couldn’t see, he made a show of looking directly at him.

Lyu Shuyao took a deep breath. “Husband.”

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!! Someone kill me, please send a bolt of lightning to strike me dead right now!

The bamboo tablets were rearranged: Again.

“…Husband.”

Su Cheyue’s brow relaxed, and a faint glimmer moved in his eyes. He put away the tablets and quite naturally and intimately reached out to grab Lyu Shuyao’s hand, interlacing their palms.

“Look! They’re holding hands! If that isn’t a loving couple, what is?!”

“I think I just heard Young Master Lyu call the Second Young Master ‘husband’…”

“This isn’t just a sect alliance! This is mutual affection, a match made in heaven!”

“So the Second Young Master really likes men? Wuu wuu wuu… then we have no chance…”

[Congratulations, visitor! Male lead Su Cheyue’s Hatred Value has decreased by 20. Current Hatred Value: 880. Keep up the good work!]

Eh? Calling him ‘husband’ twice drops the hatred by 20?

That actually seems doable!

“Husband? Husband!”

[Congratulations, visitor! Male lead Su Cheyue’s Hatred Value has decreased by 20. Current Hatred Value: 860. Keep up the good work!]

“Husband husband husband.” The more he said it, the more addictive it became.

[Congratulations, visitor! Male lead Su Cheyue’s Hatred Value has decreased by 30. Current Hatred Value: 830. Keep up the good work!]

Their palms were pressed together, feeling warm. Su Cheyue’s hand was rarely ever not cold; after walking for a while in the late winter/early spring season, a bit of sweat even broke out.

Lyu Shuyao glanced down and noticed the tips of Su Cheyue’s ears were a bit red.

…

Zhuohua Palace was like a hidden paradise, and it wasn’t easy to find. Along the way, they frequently had to ask for directions. Every time they asked a young lady, Su Cheyue would lean in and squeeze Lyu Shuyao’s palm, pretending to be very clingy.

Su Cheyue like this was actually quite cute.

Once they finally reached the secluded outskirts of the city where no one was around, Su Cheyue shook off Lyu Shuyao’s hand like it was a hot potato.

“Kicking the helper aside once the job is done,” Lyu Shuyao grumbled.

After winding through forests and rivers, they finally arrived outside the gates of Zhuohua Palace. Huailing truly lived up to its reputation as the “springtime of Jiangnan.” Even though winter wasn’t fully over, there were already signs of budding life. Though called a “Palace,” it wasn’t built on a high pedestal. Instead, it sat by a mountain stream. Deep within the ravine, one could faintly see four pavilions built on all sides of the water. They varied in height, with the tallest standing atop a cliff, looking cold and unreachable.

On the cliffs outside the ravine, flower trees stood in abundance. A waterfall cascaded down, the water gurgling as it washed fallen blossoms away, drifting them toward the four corners of the world.

“The Master of Zhuohua Palace is truly a romantic,” Lyu Shuyao remarked.

You also know that Chang Huichen is a man.

“Hmm? What did you say his name was?” Lyu Shuyao looked at the bamboo tablets Su Cheyue had laid out.

Su Cheyue cleared the other tablets, leaving only three.

CHANG. HUI. CHEN.

Chang Huichen, Chang Huichen… that name sounded familiar.

The Master of Zhuohua Palace?

Had this name appeared in the original book? It must have only appeared once or twice without any actual plot development; otherwise, Lyu Shuyao wouldn’t have so little memory of it.

Su Cheyue pulled his sleeve: The waterfall is a barrier.

“Mm.” Lyu Shuyao stepped forward, picked up a few fallen petals from the ground, held them in his palm, and blew them into the waterfall.

This was the rule of Zhuohua Palace. When outsiders sought an audience from outside the waterfall, they had to send a message in this delicate, feminine way.

This Palace Master’s tastes are truly unique.

A moment later, a female attendant floated out from within the waterfall. An orchid mark was painted on her forehead, her eyes were like ripples, and she looked like a hibiscus emerging from the water.

Lyu Shuyao whispered, “Are all the disciples of Zhuohua Palace at this level? Chang Huichen is quite the lucky man!”

When the attendant saw the two of them, she froze for a second before politely asking, “Who are you two gentlemen? What business brings you to Zhuohua Palace?”

“I am Lyu Shuyao, and this is Young Master Su Cheyue.”

The two had discussed this on the way; there was no need for aliases. Given Su Cheyue’s history, appearance, and physical condition, someone would recognize him wherever he went. Rather than having their “masks” pulled off in public, it was better to admit their identities openly. After all, when asking for a favor, a little sincerity and fewer tricks usually offered a better chance of success.

The attendant was greatly surprised. “Young Master Su? The Young Master Su from the Baoshan Sect?”

“Precisely.”

She began to steal glances at Su Cheyue in the wheelchair with a “no wonder” look. When she spoke again, her tone carried a hint of excitement: “Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I will report this to the Palace Master immediately.”

With that, she lifted her skirt and flew back into the waterfall with barely contained anticipation.

Lyu Shuyao joked, “Looking at this, once the Second Young Master arrives, Palace Master Chang’s luck with women is going to be cut in half.”

Su Cheyue promptly threw a bamboo tablet at Lyu Shuyao’s face.

The attendant returned quickly, and she didn’t just bring news—she brought an even more stunning beauty.

This woman had a face that could put the moon and flowers to shame, even surpassing Lyu Qingcheng. Emerging from the water curtain, she was tall and slender, her black hair contrasting with her white dress like a starry river against a polar night. Her teeth were white, her lips red, and a floral mark adorned her full forehead. Compared to the attendant behind her, her makeup was more complex and exquisite, resembling both a peach blossom and a lotus.

“Distinguished guests have graced us. Zhuohua Palace apologizes for the lack of a proper welcome.” When the woman spoke, her voice was melodious but not thin like an ordinary woman’s; it was clear, bright, and resonant.

“The immortal lady is too kind,” Lyu Shuyao said.

The woman glanced at him. “This must be the Second Young Master’s newlywed husband, Young Master Lyu Shuyao of Xifeng Crossing.”

“Thank you for your concern, lady. That is me,” Lyu Shuyao replied naturally. “Might I ask your name?”

“I am Jiang Zhiqing, the humble head disciple of the Palace Master.” She smiled charmingly. “The Palace Master was overjoyed to hear of your visit and specifically ordered me to welcome you personally. Please do not stand outside; follow me.”

They entered the waterfall, passing through the mist without a single drop of water touching their clothes. The view opened up suddenly to the forest of blossoming trees they had glimpsed from the cliff. Peonies, roses, lilies, hibiscus, gardenias, hyacinths… everything was there, blooming vividly and without gap.

As they walked, Lyu Shuyao marveled, “Winter is bleak, yet Zhuohua Palace manages to keep a hundred flowers in bloom.”

“You flatter us,” Jiang Zhiqing explained from the front. “The Palace Master loves flowers; the blooms in Zhuohua Palace are never allowed to wither.”

Chang Huichen really is a romantic. Lyu Shuyao was already eager to meet this flamboyant character.

After passing through the dizzying forest of flowers, they finally reached one of the four pavilions.

“What is that tallest pavilion used for?” Lyu Shuyao asked, pointing to the nearby building.

Jiang Zhiqing looked over calmly. “That is the Palace Master’s residence.”

He lives in that entire tall building alone?

She led them into the palace. It was clear this pavilion was for receiving guests. Everything was as Jiang Zhiqing had said—Chang Huichen took their arrival very seriously. From the moment she met them outside to their walk to the palace, the Master had arranged for the entire Zhuohua Palace to come out and receive them. Currently, every seat in the hall was filled, with only the guest seats closest to the main throne remaining empty—one side for the two of them, and one side for the head disciple, Jiang Zhiqing.

Lyu Shuyao nodded to the room. Every female disciple, without exception, wore a floral mark. When they saw him look over, some blushed and lowered their heads, some smiled back, and some whispered to one another.

Lyu Shuyao pushed Su Cheyue to his seat. Chang Huichen had not yet arrived.

Jiang Zhiqing personally poured wine for them. “Peach blossom wine brewed by the Palace Master himself. I hope you do not find it beneath you.”

“Of course not.”

“Why hasn’t the Palace Master arrived yet?” one of the female disciples sitting across from Lyu Shuyao asked. “Sister Zhiqing, the Master always makes us be on time, yet he’s late himself.”

Jiang Zhiqing smiled dotingly at her. “Qinzhu, do not speak recklessly of the Palace Master.” She took a plate of rose cakes from her own table and placed them before the girl with an oval face and a cherry blossom mark. “Hungry? Eat this first.”

Qinzhu’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Sister Zhiqing!”

She then shared the plate of rose cakes with the girls in her row, each taking a piece and eating happily.

Curiously, the disciples sitting in the same row as Lyu Shuyao hadn’t said a word from start to finish. When Lyu Shuyao peeked over, he saw that they all sat with dignified posture, waiting quietly with smiles on their faces, not uttering a word or making a single move.

“Are the immortal ladies on this side hungry too?” Lyu Shuyao asked tentatively.

Jiang Zhiqing turned back with a smile. “I forgot to introduce them. This side consists of senior disciples of Zhuohua Palace. By seniority, they are already Elder Sisters.”

She then looked helplessly at the group happily sharing cakes. “That side consists of the new junior sisters who joined this year.”

The newcomers were playful and lacked perfect etiquette, yet Zhuohua Palace did not punish them, choosing instead to guide them gently. Meanwhile, the older disciples were solemn and self-restrained, proving that this method of teaching was effective.

It seemed the upbringing at Zhuohua Palace was quite good.

Maybe… borrowing the Reward Order will go smoothly?

Lyu Shuyao actually felt a bit uncertain. He had spent the whole trip thinking hard, but he still hadn’t decided on a way to ask for the Reward Order.

Ask directly? Drop hints? Take it without asking? Or use someone else’s hand?

Everything would have to be decided after meeting Chang Huichen in person and gauging the temperament of this famous, rumor-plagued Palace Master.

Why hasn’t he appeared yet?

Just as he was wondering, a commotion erupted outside the hall.

“The Palace Master has arrived—!”

“He’s here, he’s here! The Master is finally here!”

“I joined Zhuohua Palace just for the Master! But I haven’t even seen him yet!”

“I’ve only seen him once! This time, the two great beauties of the cultivation world—no, including Young Master Lyu, it’s three beauties all in one room. My eyes are in for a feast!” Qinzhu said excitedly.

A figure strolled in from outside the hall with a tall stature and a playful gait. Clad in red robes, he looked like an enchanting red lotus from the underworld, exuding an air of otherworldly glamour.

Jiang Zhiqing rose quickly and bowed in the center of the hall to welcome him, and everyone else followed suit.

“Greetings, Palace Master!”

“Greetings, Palace Master.”