Chapter 49

The next second, his mouth was stuffed with a rope.

Ning Xi patted Fu Zhi on the head. “What’s going on in that little head of yours every day? Be quiet for a while!”

Fu Zhi: ???

“Ning Xi, you’re dead!”

With the rope in his mouth, Fu Zhi began to curse indistinctly.

Especially when he thought about the stupid thing he had just said to Ning Xi, his eyes looked like he wanted to kill someone.

Ning Xi automatically tuned out Fu Zhi’s swearing and looked toward Wei Xuan and Ning Mingyue.

“Did you find anything useful?”

Ning Mingyue was standing beside Shen Yibai, still rattled.

Shen Yibai was comforting her in a low voice.

As for Wei Xuan, the moment he entered the room, he went to check on Jiang Sheshe.

But to his surprise, Jiang Sheshe didn’t cling to him right away like she used to. Instead, she stayed by Ning Xi’s side the whole time.

She even deliberately avoided meeting his eyes.

Wei Xuan tugged the corner of his mouth without any real emotion and looked at Ning Xi.

“We found the formula for the Soul Swap Potion-and we made it.”

Ning Xi and Wei Xuan exchanged a bit more information.

Just then, the NPCs threw costumes over.

“Why are you still not changed and rehearsing? The Duchess is waiting to see your performance. If you perform badly, the Duchess will really get angry!”

Ning Xi picked up the outfit the NPC had tossed her. It was a pink-trimmed Manchu-style gown.

“Your role today is the Emperor’s Imperial Concubine. Hurry up and change,” an NPC urged.

Ning Xi: Uh…

European-castle escape room vibes instantly turning into Chinese horror?

Another NPC muttered under his breath as he pushed the plot along. “So strange. Why did the Duchess suddenly start liking opera? She never watched this kind of thing before.”

“Could it be she got provoked by Lucy and her personality changed? After all, the Duke’s attitude toward Lucy was very unusual.”

“But Lucy isn’t in the castle anymore. I heard the Duke sent her to the countryside.”

“How do you know she was sent to the countryside? What if the Duke sent her somewhere else and kept Lucy as a mistress?”

“…”

So Lucy really is gone.

If the diary is real, then doesn’t that mean Lucy might have already swapped souls with the Duchess?

Then the Duchess who’s about to watch their performance-will it be the real Duchess, or Lucy?

Ning Xi changed into her costume while sorting through every clue they had so far.

Only after she finished changing did she realize: her role was the Imperial Concubine, and Xie Lanchen was the Emperor.

Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan were the Princess and the General.

Shen Yibai and Ning Mingyue were the Prince and the Princess Consort.

Only Fu Zhi’s outfit was…

“Oh? Is this Little Fu?”

Ning Xi put on a look of exaggerated shock.

Fu Zhi, now dressed in a Eunuch’s uniform, looked even more resentful than a ghost. He glared at Ning Xi.

“Shut up!”

Ning Xi immediately put on an “I’m scared” face and looked to Xie Lanchen.

Xie Lanchen slipped into character fast.

He loosely wrapped an arm around Ning Xi’s shoulders. “Don’t be afraid.”

Ning Xi promptly put on a dramatic sob.

“Whatever my beloved consort wants, I-this Emperor-will grant it all.”

Xie Lanchen didn’t seem quite used to this kind of over-the-top, on-the-spot acting, but he still did his best to play along with Ning Xi.

Ning Xi said, “Really? Then what if this concubine wants the biggest, brightest luminous pearl in the world-and a house carved entirely out of gold?”

“Even the moon in the sky, if you want it.”

Xie Lanchen looked at Ning Xi, his tone completely serious.

Ning Xi hadn’t expected him to get into it so quickly. She covered her mouth and laughed.

“This concubine doesn’t want any moon in the sky. It’s way more fun to watch Little Fu be a horse.”
Xie Lanchen didn’t even blink. “Sure.”

Then he looked at Fu Zhi. “Little Fu, didn’t you hear the Noble Consort say she wants to see you act as a horse?”

Fu Zhi: ???

[What a pair-a foolish ruler and his favored consort, hahaha!]

[Xie Lanchen’s whole vibe is gradually getting led astray by Ning Xi, hhhhhh.]

Fu Zhi stared at Ning Xi and Xie Lanchen, his eyes already red with jealousy.

“Ning Xi, are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

Then he glared at Xie Lanchen with a grudge.

Ning Xi shrugged. “So what exactly are we performing?”

Out of everyone here, only Ning Mingyue was an actress-and even she was a half-baked beginner. The other Guests were complete outsiders.

With so little time, there was no way they’d act well.

Just then, Shen Yibai, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke:

“Can I use a Privilege Card to swap roles?”

The content of his privilege was:

He could designate two pairs of Guests currently on a date to swap dating partners.

“I want Fu Zhi and Xie Lanchen to switch roles,” Shen Yibai said evenly.

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone fell silent.

Only Fu Zhi planted his hands on his hips and looked at Ning Xi.

After seeing how outrageously smug Ning Xi and Xie Lanchen had been just now, he’d wanted to swap roles with Xie Lanchen and see how Ning Xi would keep acting so cocky.

But his Privilege Card had already been used.

He’d only tested the waters and asked Shen Yibai for help, thinking there was no chance.

Who would’ve thought Shen Yibai would actually agree?

Even the Program Team hadn’t expected someone to use a Privilege Card on something like this.

After a brief consideration-

[Youai Butler: Privilege Card activated. Fu Zhi and Xie Lanchen will swap performance roles.]

And just like that, Fu Zhi became the Emperor.

Xie Lanchen became the personal Eunuch.

Yet when Xie Lanchen put on the outfit Fu Zhi had been wearing, he stood tall and straight, his presence sharp and commanding.

He somehow didn’t lose out at all to Fu Zhi and Shen Yibai, who were now dressed in the Emperor and prince outfits.

The NPC said from the side, “This scene can be freely improvised. As long as the Duchess finds it novel, it’s fine. Alright-now let me see your rehearsal.”

Hearing they could improvise, Fu Zhi grinned.

He turned to Xie Lanchen on the spot.

“Little Chen, go pick the moon out of the sky for me. Otherwise, peeling a layer of skin off you later won’t be a problem!”

[LMAO, is this what male rivalry looks like? Ning Xi was clearly the one who started it with Fu Zhi, but once Fu Zhi becomes the Emperor, he only targets Xie Lanchen.]

[Fu Zhi, you really… I’m gonna cry.]

Xie Lanchen lifted his brows.

Fu Zhi then shot Ning Xi another smug look.

“Concubine Xi, massage my shoulders.”

Ning Xi stared at his self-satisfied face, and her fists tightened.

She looked at the NPC. “Can the plot go a little explosive? I guarantee it’ll feel novel to the Duchess.”

The NPC hesitated. “Uh, this…”

Ning Xi was already looking toward Xie Lanchen, who was leaning off to the side, and put on a shy, coquettish expression.

“Lord Seal-holder, His Majesty’s body has been getting weaker and weaker lately. And those consorts in the harem bully me too. I’m terrified. Hurry and listen-does Your Concubine’s heart sound panicked or not?”

Today, that green hat? The Emperor was wearing it for sure!!!

Xie Lanchen froze for a beat, then a faint smile tugged at his lips.

“Alright. From this day on, I’ll be Her Ladyship’s backing-Her Ladyship’s… sharpest blade.”

Ning Xi immediately put her hands on her hips and faced Fu Zhi. “Me? He’s got my back. Got it?”

Fu Zhi: ???????????

[Hahahahahahahaha!]

[Fu Zhi: When I was the Eunuch, Ning Xi, this was NOT the plot you were running!]

[Whatever, I just shipped Xilan Flower even harder again!]

[Drama-queen favored consort x Lord Seal-holder-this setting is insanely good. Someone, hurry up and write this fic for me!]