20: Chapter 20 The Tragic Little Prince's Nobleman 2

The System didn't know, but he knew all too well. That kid was a black-sesame-filled rice ball from start to finish, yet he was adept at putting on a facade, acting obedient and pitiful in front of him.

When he first arrived in this Small World, due to the plot, he had a preconceived notion about the Male Protagonist, and there was also Lin Sicheng beforehand.

So he felt the Male Protagonist was just a cute, obedient, kind-hearted, and tragic little thing.

In this world's plot, the Male Protagonist had a tragic and extremely unfortunate childhood.

His biological mother was Noble Consort Liang, Ye Hua, the legitimate daughter of a general's family, who had been pampered since childhood.

His father was the Great General Ye Ying, who held military power. His eldest brother was Ye Yun, and his second brother was Ye Yun; the three father and sons were brave and skilled in battle, guarding the border for years.

However, the world is unpredictable. A traitor appeared in the army, military intelligence was leaked, the great battle was lost, and the army suffered countless casualties.

Both older brothers were either dead or disabled. The elderly general, suddenly hearing the bad news, could not hold on and followed his eldest son.

Only the youngest son, Ye Yun, who was henceforth unable to walk properly, was left to return to the Imperial Capital to plead guilty.

Emperor Jing, remembering their past merits and the current withering of the Ye family, merely reclaimed their military power and gave Ye Yun a wealthy but idle position.

The once glorious General's Residence was left with only Ye Yun, who was also disabled; he couldn't support it alone, and it ultimately fell into decline.

Noble Consort Liang in the palace had grown up pampered at home. After entering the palace, she had the Ye family's military exploits and glory, so everything went smoothly for her, and she received constant favor.

Now that the Ye family had fallen, and the Emperor's heart was unpredictable, this Young Miss was completely unable to fend off the underhanded and ruthless tactics of the harem.

Not long after, she was caught in an affair. Although Emperor Jing knew there were many doubts, he was hindered by the public gaze; feeling that he had lost face and concerned for imperial dignity, he stripped her of her title and threw her into the Cold Palace to fend for herself.

Only after entering the Cold Palace did Ye Hua discover she was pregnant. She wanted to see Emperor Jing, but at that time, she had no power or influence and couldn't even leave the Cold Palace.

The Male Protagonist was born this way, in the broken and dilapidated Cold Palace, and lived with his crazy mother for many years without being discovered.

Days in the Cold Palace were hard to endure. Within a few years, Ye Hua lost her mind; when she was lucid, she would hold the Male Protagonist and coax him gently, but when she wasn't, she would pinch and beat him.

He was a half-grown child, yet pitifully thin, with old wounds never healing before new ones were added. Although he was just a child himself, he was extremely sensible and took care of his deranged mother without resentment or hatred.

But one morning, his mother died—she had hanged herself.

He had always been very lucky; he would scavenge here and there and wasn't picky. Except for living a bitter life, he lived smoothly for another three years.

Afterwards, he was still discovered. The palace servants didn't dare to act rashly and reported it to Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing just glanced at him casually.

He didn't acknowledge his identity, but he didn't ignore him either; he just threw him into a side hall and never asked about him again.

For the following year, the Male Protagonist began a life of misery. After several princes and princesses learned of his existence, they took pleasure in bullying him.

At first, it was just small pranks, but later, seeing that the Emperor really didn't care, they became more and more excessive. One time, in the dead of winter, they pushed him directly into the pond.

Lu Zhan arrived in this world during this period, because after this was the turning point that caused the Male Protagonist's blackening value to rise.

He still remembered the day he first met the Male Protagonist. The weather had gradually turned cold, and the air carried a slight chill. Several princes and princesses, along with a group of eunuchs and maids, pushed the Male Protagonist into the pond.

Holding stones in their hands, they stood on the side watching. Whenever the child tried hard to climb up, he would be hit back down with stones.

After a few times, his whole body ached, his forehead was broken, and blood trickled down the side of his face.

The child's face was blue and purple from the cold, shivering uncontrollably, lips trembling, yet he could only huddle in the icy pond water, not daring to come up.

According to the original trajectory, after coming out of the icy pond water, the Male Protagonist would drag his exhausted, painful, and weak body toward the side hall.

On the way, however, he would be dragged into a secluded fake mountain cave by two or three guards changing shifts. They had just been slighted by several princes, and knowing his situation, they originally just wanted to beat him to vent their frustration.

However, looking at the youth's delicate facial features, the exposed porcelain-white skin, and his thin body, combined with the dimness of the cave, evil sprouted in their hearts...

A panicked face, a covered mouth, fearful eyes, falling teardrops, and tragic, desperate whimpers...

The guards with slightly disheveled clothes left quickly. Inside the fake mountain cave, through the dim light, a broken ragdoll with a blank expression and hollow eyes curled up unconsciously, arms hugging its shoulders.

From then on, the Male Protagonist's blackening value went off the charts. His personality changed drastically; he became ruthless, dark, and perverse, using any means to achieve his goals.

He utilized every person or thing that could be used, cultivated his own faction, and connected with the remnants of the Ye family's power.

When the Crown Prince and the Third Prince were pulling each other down and fighting on par, causing Emperor Jing to feel cold-hearted, he staged an assassination attempt, risked his life to save Emperor Jing, and won the Emperor's favor...

In the end, he killed his brothers and father, becoming a tyrannical emperor. Those who had once been unfriendly to him were all given a good "reception" by him.

After wreaking havoc for two years, he felt it was meaningless. He was dirty, and this world was even dirtier, so let's destroy it together—and the Small World collapsed.

Lu Zhan's arrival successfully cut off what would have happened next. He saved the child, gathered him into his arms, sternly reprimanded the several princes and princesses, and brought the person to his own residence for treatment.

The next day, Lu Zhan went to the palace to see Emperor Jing, stating that the Male Protagonist had an excellent physiognomy, was a person of deep blessings, and had quite a connection with him, so he wanted to take him as a Named Disciple and raise him by his side to teach him.

Emperor Jing understood the ability and knowledge of the Sacred Sect's State Preceptor, but his personality was also famously cold and indifferent, untainted by worldly affairs and not seeking fame or wealth. Now that he had such a rare willingness, naturally, it was not impossible.

Emperor Jing's imperial decree came very quickly, acknowledging his identity as the Fifth Prince, bestowing the name Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan, and as a Named Disciple of the State Preceptor, he would reside in the State Preceptors Residence long-term.

From then on, for five long years, the child was raised by Lu Zhan in the State Preceptors Residence, spending day and night together, teaching him carefully, caring for him, and providing support... Upholding the spirit of the mission, he gave everything he could.

The child himself was also promising, becoming increasingly outstanding, having schemes and means, cultivating influence, and slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the imperial court, but in terms of emotions, he grew increasingly twisted.

If Lin Sicheng was self-abasing, forbearing, and silently devoted, neither daring to speak out nor daring to test his feelings, and would not have had the later paranoid imprisonment if he hadn't been driven to a desperate situation.

Then Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan was undoubtedly perverse and crazy, sparing nothing, regardless of the means; once he set his mind on something, he had to get it. Whether a forced melon is sweet or not, you only know after you twist it off.

Lu Zhan had also patiently taught him repeatedly, but with little effect.

Later, he sternly reprimanded him many times, but he still refused to change. Moreover, his words and actions became increasingly rebellious and insanely extreme; he couldn't be reasoned with, simply troublesome.

Because he didn't want to be involved too much and was afraid that the Male Protagonist's obsession was too deep, harming others and himself, and affecting the mission progress, Lu Zhan later simply avoided seeing him.

When the System judged the mission a success, Lu Zhan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, regardless of how Fifth Prince Qi Yuxuan begged and threatened like a madman.

Lu Zhan still returned directly to the Sacred Sect without looking back, and afterwards left the Small World, leaving a replica to live in the small courtyard.

He carefully reviewed everything in his mind like a fleeting glance, and felt his headache getting even worse.