Chapter 43: Remembering the Three Main Tasks
【I am mentally linked to you and can sense your emotional fluctuations.】
【Your emotions were most agitated when you attached the voodoo doll. After you threw it away, even though it fell on the reviewing stand, your emotions immediately calmed down.】
Wei Wanlan stared blankly.
A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.
He subconsciously didn’t deny it, but only sighed, raising an eyebrow in puzzlement:
“What… does this mean?”
404 answered in his mind: It means you saw the Regent King was sad, and you couldn’t bear it.
But the system didn’t explicitly state this.
Because the little fool was too easy to deceive and too kind.
The system and the host had delayed the task for too long, causing Wei Wanlan and the Regent King to spend too much time together, intentionally or unintentionally. The host had developed inappropriate feelings for the powerful minister. This was the system’s analysis of the origin of this relationship.
However, 404 still had professional ethics and didn’t break the last layer of Wei Wanlan’s understanding. Although the system understood, it didn’t want Wei Wanlan to see through it.
Because 404 knew that when the host fully realized his true feelings for the Regent King, the host would only have death awaiting him.
——Wei Wanlan would never kill someone he liked to complete the task.
This fool wouldn’t even do it to save his own life.
【Host. Forgive me, I can no longer accompany you.】 said 404.
What?
Receiving a message of breaking off the relationship in the middle of the night on his dragon bed, Wei Wanlan quickly blinked, wanting to confirm if he was still dreaming.
404 resolutely said:
【For the host’s deliberate violation of the rules, the intelligent assistant is unable to assist with the cooperative task. I will be offline tonight, and the host will complete the task independently from now on.】
“404…” Wei Wanlan called out in distress.
The conversation involuntarily changed from inner thoughts to spoken words.
The night watchman heard this and quickly responded from outside: “Your Majesty, do you have any commands?”
Wei Wanlan didn’t dare to speak again, covering his mouth and inwardly asking: “Why? Don’t you want me anymore? I’m sorry, woo QAQ…”
He pulled his legs close and curled into a ball.
Wei Wanlan was like an abandoned puppy.
However, 404 was still resolute in its departure.
The intelligent assistant of the Sage Nurturing System possessed absolute logic and rationality.
404 had already seen that assisting Wei Wanlan in the task could not change the fact that Wei Wanlan had already developed feelings for Su Jingzhi. The host simply didn’t realize it, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t there.
If it participated again, it would definitely turn the assassination into a match-making, and the little fool would be completely finished.
Professional ethics made 404 use the most serious tone and the harshest words. It knew Wei Wanlan was easily scared, so it had to keep the little fool alert:
【Listen carefully—】
【From now on, everything he does is to use you. He’s the big bad guy; you’re the little puppet. Remember the Jinling plot; this person can kill you at any time.】
【Remember the three main tasks; you must kill the Regent King!】
Then came the notification of the intelligent assistant’s offline status.
404’s electronic voice gradually lowered, then disappeared from Wei Wanlan’s mind, leaving no trace.
…
Wei Wanlan didn’t sleep well all night.
He couldn’t keep 404, and 404’s words replayed in his mind like a nightmare. He felt helpless and wanted to cry.
He cried in his sleep throughout the night, even soaking a large part of his pillow. He was in a daze all night.
He didn’t know when he finally fell asleep. When he opened his eyes again, the birds outside weren’t singing, and the sunlight shining into the dragon bed was glaring; it was at least noon.
Wei Wanlan didn’t get up after waking up.
Lying down, staring at the ceiling, his wide eyes blinked without a break, his eye sockets still slightly red. He still found it hard to believe that the intelligent assistant had left and needed time to accept it.
【Remember the three main tasks; you must kill the Regent King!!!】
…
Wei Wanlan had previously found the system to be very irritable.
404 always forced him to do tasks, even working overtime. It would also sarcastically mock him, saying things he didn’t understand.
But 404 was, after all, the first friend he had made in this world.
Even though he had messed up so many times, 404 had repeatedly found ways to help him.
Now that 404 had abandoned him and gone offline, Wei Wanlan thought carefully and actually didn’t resent it; he even felt a little guilty towards 404. He had wasted 404’s precious time; it could have used that time to help more valuable hosts.
But as for why he chose to throw away the voodoo doll…
Wei Wanlan chewed on this carefully.
If he really had to give an answer, he could only say that he hadn’t thought about it at all at the time. He just felt that the doll was too hot to handle, so he wanted to throw it away.
Wei Wanlan sighed as he lay on the bed.
The direct result of not getting enough sleep was a lack of energy, dry and dull eyes, confused thoughts, and a slight palpitation.
Wei Wanlan turned over, deciding to sleep a little longer.
But someone approached outside the dragon bed, and An Ruyi’s voice sounded:
“Your Majesty, the Regent King has arrived.”
He heard very brisk footsteps outside the sleeping quarters, accompanied by the rustling sound of a sword.
Wei Wanlan stirred in the dragon bed, his eyelashes suddenly fluttering violently, as if already frightened by the words “Regent King.”
A terrifying monster, a terrifying monster, a terrifying monster.
What did this big bad guy want?
After 404’s parting advice last night, he was truly afraid of Su Jingzhi. Before, with 404, he couldn’t even complete the first task. Now, he was alone…
His priority was survival.
——Be good! He absolutely couldn’t let the big villain see him sleeping in!
Wei Wanlan quickly got up from the dragon bed, taking off his sleeping clothes and calling for An Ruyi: “Eunuch An, Eunuch An, the dragon robe, the dragon robe, QAQ”
An Ruyi was startled, not understanding why His Majesty suddenly jumped up from the bed. He quickly turned to get the dragon robe.
Wei Wanlan was still frantically taking off his undergarments.
In his haste, he completely forgot that ancient clothes weren’t pulled over the head. He folded his sleeping clothes and was caught by the collar, his arms tangled in the clothes, unable to take them off, his vision completely dark.
His chest and stomach were cold.
“Eunuch An, Eunuch An, save me, I can’t get out, QAQ…”
An Ruyi wasn’t there; he had gone to get the dragon robe.
Wei Wanlan was stuck, swaying in the dragon bed.
At that moment, a hand seemed to grasp the edge of his clothes and pulled them down forcefully.
Wei Wanlan could see again; his chest and stomach were covered. He breathed a long sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Eunuch An…”
——Then he saw the big villain’s face.
The tall figure of the Regent King stood before him, bringing with him the cold air of winter. The fur trim on his long coat was thick, with thin gold chains fastening the ends.
His expression was displeased: “What are you doing, Your Majesty?”
Wei Wanlan pulled his small quilt tighter: “I… I was taking off my clothes.”
The Regent King questioned him with his gaze, seemingly demanding a reason for this action.
The little puppet quickly replied: “Because the Regent King has arrived, I had to take off my clothes immediately.”
Su Jingzhi: “…”
Tang Tuan and An Ruyi stood at the entrance of the sleeping quarters, each taking a deep breath.
But the protagonist of the dangerous statement didn’t notice at all; Wei Wanlan continued to prioritize survival:
“I didn’t intend to sleep in; I just didn’t get up after waking up. Besides, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to see the Regent King in my sleeping clothes. Therefore, I need to change before seeing you; please don’t blame me.”
Su Jingzhi: “What time is it?”
An Ruyi answered from behind: “Reporting to Your Highness, it’s past mid-morning.” In other words, it was around eleven o’clock in the morning.
Su Jingzhi: “What time do I usually get up?”
Tang Tuan: “Your Highness usually gets up before the fifth hour, and before the court meeting, he also has to contemplate the matters of the court.” In other words, before 4 AM.
Wei Wanlan knew how to calculate the time.
He now realized that he had slept seven hours longer than the Regent King; it was terrible.
Su Jingzhi: “An Ruyi, have His Majesty get up at the fifth hour from now on.”
——What did you say?!
Wei Wanlan was shocked; his heart sank in his chest, stirring up a chaotic tide of emotions.
Honestly speaking, he wasn’t a person who loved sleeping in, but getting up at 5 AM was too early!
In his third year of high school, he had gotten up at 6:30…
But Wei Wanlan didn’t dare to directly resist.
However, his blinking eyes and the slightly larger-than-usual orbits clearly conveyed his disbelief and silent protest.
Su Jingzhi coldly stated: “Emperors throughout history have gotten up before the fifth hour, because the court meeting is at the fifth hour, also known as diǎn mǎo (to check attendance).”
“But I…” didn’t usually get up at the fifth hour.
An Ruyi didn’t wake him up either. Except for when 404 urged him to do tasks, he could mostly sleep until 7 AM or so.
Su Jingzhi: “You’ll be attending court meetings from now on, although I’m currently in charge. Get used to it for a while.”
How awful!
He doesn’t sleep and doesn’t let me sleep either!
Wei Wanlan mumbled a small complaint, saying: “Well, since the Regent King presides over the court meetings every day, does it really matter whether I’m used to it or not?”
Su Jingzhi: “What if one day I can’t preside over the court meeting?”
“…”
Wei Wanlan’s heart tightened. His words sounded strangely ominous.
Wei Wanlan countered: “How could that be?” Didn’t the powerful minister have absolute power?
Su Jingzhi: “I might go on another expedition.”
“Oh. Okay.”
The little puppet-like obedience.
Five o’clock it is; you’re the boss; you get to decide.
Even if I fall asleep during the court meeting, it’s definitely because I got up too early, Wei Wanlan coldly snorted in his heart, while maintaining a smile on his face.
Su Jingzhi: “An Ruyi, serve the meal. It’s about time; the Regent King and His Majesty will eat in the Purple Forbidden City.”
It was already late morning outside. The sunlight was clear and bright.
But Wei Wanlan had just woken up and had been informed that he had to get up at 5 AM; he didn’t have an appetite and was being told to eat right away. Both things pressed down upon him. The little puppet weakly said: “Can I eat a little later? I don’t really want to eat.”
The person had completely forgotten that from being ill the day before to now, he hadn’t had a proper meal.
Su Jingzhi glanced at Wei Wanlan’s sharp, fox-like chin, his brows slightly furrowed. He had indeed lost weight.
Physician Fang said that the little thing’s mental state wasn’t good, that he had developed a stomach problem from being frightened, and that he absolutely had to be properly cared for; not eating would simply not do.
Therefore, Su Jingzhi said even more coldly:
“Your Majesty is so willful; it must be because you’re not being served well. If Your Majesty doesn’t eat, then An Ruyi and the others aren’t allowed to eat either.”
——What’s the connection between these two things?
Wei Wanlan was inexplicably puzzled.
At this moment, the Purple Forbidden City was already filled with kneeling people. No one dared to defy the Regent King’s authority; all the servants in the sleeping quarters were drenched in cold sweat, unanimously urging: “Your humble servants beg Your Majesty to dine.”
Wei Wanlan: “Fine, I’ll eat.”