Chapter 28: Ancient Palace BL (I)

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Chapter 28: Ancient Palace BL (I)

∇ Congratulations, Challenger, for completing the mission. You have received 2,000 points as a reward, giving you a total of 2,000 points. Would you like to use the system store?

Miao Lichen rubbed his temple. Unlike last time, he felt no pain, but he could see blood gushing from his body. He could also clearly feel the sensation of his soul being torn free from his body. For a doctor, the sight of blood was commonplace, but remaining calm while watching it flow from your own body was another matter. Then there was the weakness and powerlessness—perhaps he should call it the feeling of dying.

His fingers brushed over his skin. The fair skin bore all the signs of a pampered life, so pale that the flush of blood beneath it was almost visible. Truly a fragile body, incapable of withstanding external force even with Qixiu internal energy. Of course, part of the blame lay with that so-called Lovely System, which had abruptly transported his body from the Miao Company building to the middle of the street, leaving him unable to react in time.

He recalled the pain in Qi Yingfeng’s eyes and the emptiness that had flashed through them at the very end. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, they were filled only with warmth.

He opened the system store and checked the bloodline exchange. Aside from the First-tier Angel bloodline, which had been replaced by the Second-tier Angel bloodline, everything else remained unchanged. The Second-tier Angel bloodline required 3,000 points, which exceeded his budget.

∇ Dear Challenger, you have two options now. The first is to stay in the system space for a day. Lovely will provide you with the most luxurious service, allowing you to enjoy the comforts of an emperor. The second is to proceed to the next challenge world.

“Send me to the next world.”

∇ The third challenge world has been drawn.

∇ Main Mission: Capture the Male Protagonist, Xuanyuan Zihao (Favorability 100).

∇ Reward: 4,000 points.

∇ Failure Penalty: 4,000 points.

∇ Friendly Reminder: If your points drop into the negatives, you will be considered dead.

“Didn’t you say you loved me the most? Then why did you allow him to exist? Wasn’t he just a shield? Then why did you hurt me for him in the end? Zihao, tell me it isn’t true. I am still the one you love the most, right? Right?”

As soon as he entered the body, Miao Lichen felt a deep sorrow and heard a heart-wrenching cry. Accepting the original’s memories meant experiencing his emotions. Although those feelings could not truly affect him, the momentary impact was unpleasant.

Those thoughts were the final heartfelt cries of a court musician. He had fallen in love with another man, the current Emperor’s only younger brother and the most beloved prince of the late Emperor. This man was known as the War God, Xuanyuan Zihao. He was like the moon itself, carrying the seductive allure and dangerous charm of the night. Everyone knew he appreciated beauty, but he was never one to cherish them. Almost no one he fancied had a good ending.

Xuanyuan Zihao had always used a doting gaze when interacting with the original, and treated him as an equal despite his lowly status as a court musician. This misled him into believing he was special. But the Prince had lavished him with affection only while pursuing him. Once he had him, he cast him aside like a worn-out shoe.

Miao Lichen opened his eyes and moved his stiff body. His body had recently been sentenced to flogging for accidentally running into a Consort. The Consort was also a man, proclaimed the most beautiful in the Xuanyuan Empire. He was a man of unparalleled talent, renowned for his rendition of “Prelude to Water Melody,” which had spread throughout the country. By accessing the memories left by the original, Miao Lichen discovered that the Consort was a transmigrator. This was a transmigration novel?

He did not immediately pull out the elegant Beauty Album. Instead, two gleaming weapons appeared in his hands. Using the Fluttering Snow skill, he fully healed himself and stood up once the heavy sensation dissipated. The room reeked of blood and carried a faint hint of decay. It wouldn’t have been like this without a long period of neglect. Miao Lichen raised an eyebrow. It seemed the original didn’t have great interpersonal relationships.

To his surprise, the image on the Beauty Album had changed slightly. It still depicted a Qixiu holding two swords, but more details appeared around him. The light pink feathers were particularly conspicuous, clearly a sign of his angelic bloodline. As he flipped through the pages rapidly, he gradually pieced together the plot of this world.

This was indeed the story of a transmigrator. Before the transmigration, the main character was a reclusive liberal arts student, well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as poetry and songs. He had achieved high proficiency in calligraphy at a young age and was accepted as a disciple by a local calligraphy master. He never lacked admirers, and to escape them, he secluded himself at home with his books and never went out. But he injured his finger one day, and the blood dripped onto an ancient jade. It sent him to this world as an unremarkable existence—the eldest son of a local official.

It was as if he had become the family’s lucky star. Since his arrival in this world, his father had risen through the ranks and was now a Second-Class Official serving at the imperial court in the capital. Although the capital was a quagmire teeming with nobles, it was an excellent place for advancement. By unintentionally revealing his beauty and talent, he became the Empire’s most beautiful man. A melody he played on a whim was hailed as a masterpiece. He did not want to use the works from his previous life, but was repeatedly forced to do so due to unavoidable circumstances.

His reputation as the most beautiful man in the Empire led him into circumstances similar to his modern life. While he could escape in modern times, he had no way to do so here. The Prince took a liking to him, and he had to submit for the sake of his body’s original parents. What followed was a succession of forced encounters and periods of confinement. Spending day and night together eventually gave rise to genuine feelings.

The body he now occupied belonged to the Prince’s former lover. He was born of humble origins but possessed exceptional talent with zithers. It is said that a gentleman is as free as the wind and as elegant as ink. Outwardly, he embodied all these qualities, yet he knew very little about calligraphy and painting.

Zither instruments were the source of his fame and his sole redeeming quality. Although he served as a court musician for royalty, he could not escape the identity of an entertainer. Beautiful women surrounded him, but they were all thinking about seducing a high-ranking official from the palace rather than a lowly entertainer like himself.

No matter how elegantly he carried himself, he could never hide the fact that it was only a facade. He was terrified when Xuanyuan Zihao showed him affection, but the other’s consistent behavior gradually eased his guard. He began to reveal his flaws bit by bit, and Xuanyuan Zihao’s attitude remained unchanged. Feeling reassured, he allowed his feelings to flow freely and fell in love. He was even willing to marry him as a man. However, the ending he received was an imperial decree stating that Xuanyuan Zihao was to marry the most beautiful man.

Xuanyuan Zihao insisted that the marriage was merely a shield, dismissing his concerns as making a fuss over nothing whenever the topic arose. Miao Lichen set down the Beauty Album. Naturally, the story ended with the protagonist living happily ever after. The original Miao Lichen should have passed away before his arrival. Feeling the skin with his fingers, although cold, it was not entirely devoid of warmth. It appeared to be a case of possession and reanimation rather than a transformation into a zombie.

His fingers, longer and more slender than those of average men, moved to his clothes and tore off the blue top that clung to his body, revealing crisscrossing bloodied welts. It was clear how harshly the punisher had whipped him—and the one who dealt the punishment was the one he loved. Miao Lichen walked to the side room and stepped into the now-cold tub of water to wash the blood from his body.

Beneath those bloody marks lay a perfectly flawless body. Miao Lichen showed no surprise; it was within his expectations. Without a Qixiu body, he wouldn’t be able to use the sect’s internal energy.

“Mr. Miao, are you ready? The Azure Dragon Empire has sent an envoy today, and His Majesty has requested that you perform on stage personally.” The young girl outside the door knocked lightly, her voice tinged with caution, as if afraid of startling him.

“I am ready. Come in.” Miao Lichen rose from the bathtub, and his Qixiu robes materialized around him in an instant, as if they had grown from his frame. If someone from this era saw this, they would surely think it was some kind of sorcery or magic.

“AHH! Mr. Miao… y-your hair…”

“Hm?” Miao Lichen turned his head, and a strand of white hair slipped off his shoulder. He was probably the only person in this world whose hair changed color after a single bath. Looking at his reflection in the water, it almost perfectly overlapped with the figure in the Beauty Album. He wondered whether Xuanyuan Zihao could bear the sight of it.

“No matter.” Miao Lichen picked up the guqin outside the side room and gently plucked its strings. He glanced at the still-dazed girl. “It doesn’t seem that urgent. Otherwise, how would you have time to be daydreaming?”

“No… that’s not it…” Qin Yue couldn’t hide her panic. Were the white hair and red clothing really not a provocation toward Mr. Nangong? Would His Highness strike Mr. Miao again later? She wondered if his injuries had healed somewhat. A trace of worry crossed her face, but she did her best to hide it. The more she showed concern for Mr. Miao, the less she could help him.

“Let’s go then. There’s nothing to worry about; don’t overthink it. That immortal-like Mr. Nangong will not care about me.” Miao Lichen’s lips curled into a slight smile, revealing a hint of charm before he quickly regained his gentlemanly composure.

Qin Yue hurried after him toward the area where the performers were gathering, her eyes still filled with worry. The expression on Mr. Miao’s face just now reminded her of His Highness…

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