Chapter 15: Isn’t This Plot Wrong?

Chapter 15: This Plot's All Wrong, Isn't It?

Qu Ying was totally shocked: "How is this possible?"

"I don't know either. I was just trying to get him to change his mind, and in a panic... then National Master Lanhe showed up and chased me off."

"Lanhe??"

"Yeah, he was hanging out with Pei Yuhuai. In the story as we know it, Lanhe, as the male lead, should have been with Princess Ruoning today. How the heck did he find me?"

"Oh crap!"

Qu Ying's face went pale: "Today's a big turning point for the leads' relationship. The female lead took the drug I slipped her, and then the male lead went to save her. What if he didn't run into her?"

"No way, he's already in the imperial garden."

Just then.

Pei Yuhuai returned, and soon Lanhe's figure also came into view.

Qu Ying spotted Lanhe.

"This is bad. Lanhe is back. He couldn't have done the deed that fast. The plot's gone off the rails—he wasn't with the female lead!"

Ji Huaiyu stared at Pei Yuhuai's figure, clenching his jaw: "Could it be because of this wild card, Pei Yuhuai?"

"Beats me."

Qu Ying couldn't sit still. She grabbed Ji Huaiyu and stood up: "The female lead can only sleep with the male lead. If it's someone else, we're screwed. Let's go, we'll split up and look for them. Stay sharp."

"Alright."

The plot seemed to be slowly going off the rails, slipping out of their control.

This wasn't good.

Qu Ying was freaking out.

She had her own mission when she got sucked into this book.

Her mission was to help the leads get together and make sure they ended up as a couple; Ji Huaiyu's mission was to push the villain Pei Yuhuai to the dark side.

Since they were both from the modern world, they'd teamed up to help each other out.

Now both of their missions had gone sideways.

Meanwhile.

Qu Ying made her way to the area near the envoys' side hall when she suddenly caught sight of a woman in flame-red robes emerging together with Princess Ruoning. The two were all smiles, seemingly deep in conversation.

"?"

Qu Ying's heart clenched. She rushed over: "Sis, sis, why are you here? You two...?"

Ruo Ning gave an awkward smile: "I was feeling unwell just now and ran into Her Highness Princess Sangqing. I rested for a while. What's wrong?"

Sang Qing gave a slight bow: "Sang Qing greets Princess Quying."

Qu Ying forced herself to hide her shock and suspicion, putting on a concerned look as she stepped forward and took Ruoning's hand: "Sis, what happened to you? You two didn't do anything, did you?"

Sang Qing was a woman, so there was no way she could help Ruoning with the drug.

If something really had happened... there's no way she wouldn't have seen some sign of it.

Ruo Ning looked surprised for a second, then composed herself: "Nothing's wrong, I just rested for a while. Were you looking for me?"

"Good, glad you're okay. It's just that the National Master just said he couldn't find you and was really worried. I thought something might've happened to you." Qu Ying started playing wingman for the leads.

Ruo Ning recalled the earlier moment—Lanhe had clearly already seen her and even advised her to seek help from the people of Sangguo. Why would he be looking for her now?

"Did the National Master really come looking for me?"

"Really! Hasn't sis noticed? The National Master's eyes have been lingering on you all day. Even a holy monk can't resist a pretty face."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Ruo Ning's face hardened. She snapped: "The National Master is a Buddhist monk. You can't slander him like that. If word gets out, what would people say? We'd both be in trouble."

Qu Ying had said that on purpose, not even bothering to avoid the foreign envoys.

She hadn't expected that Ruoning, as the female lead, would show no romantic feelings toward Lanhe at all—her gaze neither dodging nor flinching, only showing the respect and devotion of a worshipper.

No way, no way.

This plot's all wrong, isn't it?

Shouldn't the female lead fall for the male lead at first sight, harboring admiration from the very beginning?

Qu Ying was completely stunned, but she refused to give up and said one more thing: "The National Master hasn't taken his vows, which means his worldly ties aren't severed. Sis, could it be that you have feelings for the National Master..."

"Silence!"

Ruo Ning's face turned completely cold: "The National Master is not someone we can discuss carelessly. Do not blaspheme the heavenly way and Buddhist law."

With that, she swept her sleeves and left.

Sang Qing couldn't help but smile softly and followed after her. As she passed Qu Ying, she paused and looked at her with a knowing smile.

"Using a potent drug to play matchmaker between your own sister and a Buddhist National Master? That's quite the act of defiance."

"You..."

"Sang Qing takes her leave."

Staring at the backs of the two as they left, Qu Ying gritted her teeth in anger. What she had done was very discreet—in the plot, no one ever paid attention to whether the drug was administered. It was a necessary step in the development of the leads' relationship.

Why, all of a sudden, had a woman appeared who saw through her plan!

Qu Ying clenched her fists, wanting to find Ji Huaiyu to discuss things further, but she couldn't find him anywhere.

Ji Huaiyu was currently following Pei Yuhuai.

Compared to helping Qu Ying with her mission, he naturally cared more about his own progress. So when he ran into Pei Yuhuai alone while searching, he immediately approached him.

Pei Yuhuai was walking briskly with a flushed face, like he was drunk.

Ji Huaiyu attentively followed him, occasionally offering a handkerchief and occasionally steadying his swaying body. His mouth never stopped, chattering on the whole way.

"Yuhuai, I've truly regretted my decision all these days. I'm sorry, I neglected your feelings. Are you alright?"

"How much have you had to drink? Let me take you back."

"I've already arranged it with the princess—we can be together openly now. She'll help us, Yuhuai. Let's get back together, okay?"

"That was just a moment of impulse earlier. I just care about you too much to stand you messing around with others. Give me another chance."

"Careful, don't fall."

He seemed incredibly attentive, without the slightest concern for who might see them—a far cry from how he used to be.

Pei Yuhuai wasn't drunk at all; he knew exactly what was going on with him.

It had happened like this before.

He couldn't spare Ji Huaiyu a thought, couldn't even hear his words, and rushed toward the palace gate with quick steps. Lan He had said he felt unwell and was going to the palace gate—this time, he absolutely had to ask the National Preceptor to brew the antidote.

"Yuhuai..."

"Would you just shut up!"

Seeing the palace gate ahead, Pei Yuhuai yelled at him in annoyance, pushed him away, and quickened his pace toward the exit.

A carriage was waiting at the gate, driven by a young monk.

He looked familiar.

Pei Yuhuai didn't have time to think. He rushed to the carriage and scrambled up into it, saying, "I've had too much to drink—please, National Preceptor, take me back to my residence."

Ji Huaiyu also made to board the carriage.

Before he could get close, with a shout of "giddy up," the carriage took off. The curtain was lifted from inside, revealing Lan He's face.

Lan He nodded expressionlessly at Ji Huaiyu. "Prince Consort, please do as you please."

Ji Huaiyu: "??"

He watched helplessly as the carriage got farther and farther away, feeling like something was wrong but unable to figure out what it was.

Lan He was the male lead, Pei Yuhuai the villain—they were sworn enemies. How could they be riding in the same carriage??