Chapter 51

Chapter 51

The seven of them finally managed to hammer out a plot involving a royal banquet.

“Since the Duchess provided us with period costumes, it proves she has a keen interest in history. As long as we can properly showcase the etiquette and grace of the ancients, we’ll be able to satisfy her.”

As the head screenwriter, Ning Mingyue was very confident in this plot.

Fu Zhi was the most satisfied of them all.

In the scenes Ning Mingyue had arranged, Ning Xi’s character was incredibly attentive toward the Emperor, the role he was playing.

Not only would she serve him tea and water, but she would also show concern for whether he was too cold or too warm.

These were things the real-life Ning Xi would never do for him.

The group conducted a brief rehearsal.

Because the plot was simple, they got through it in one take-except for a small mishap at the end when Ning Xi was pouring water for Fu Zhi.

Fu Zhi suddenly moved his hand.

As a result, some of the water from the pot splashed onto Ning Xi.

Fortunately, she was wearing the costume and the water wasn’t scalding, so Ning Xi endured it.

But as soon as Ning Mingyue shouted “Cut!” Ning Xi looked at Fu Zhi with a cold sneer.

“After holding it in for so long, this pile of crap is the best you could come up with?”

Childish.

“Use a tissue to wipe it off.” Xie Lanchen was the first to hand her a napkin.

Watching this scene, Fu Zhi finally realized what Ning Xi meant by her comment.

Ning Xi… thought he had spilled the water on purpose?

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” Fu Zhi said immediately.

He had actually wanted to help Ning Xi pour the water, but she had pulled away from his hand. He hadn’t been able to pull his hand back in time, and the force was too much, causing the pot to tip.

“I wasn’t trying to target you!” Fu Zhi looked at Ning Xi stubbornly.

“Right, right, sure.”

Ning Xi’s tone was dismissive.

Fu Zhi grew a bit angry. “Ning Xi, am I really that kind of person in your eyes? Someone who only knows how to pull boring, petty pranks?”

“Aren’t you?”

This time, before Ning Xi could speak, Xie Lanchen spoke up for her.

His tone was calm, even a bit nonchalant.

“On the first day of the variety show recording, you intentionally didn’t open the door, letting your friends mock Ning Xi while she stood outside. When it came to carrying luggage, you lied and said you couldn’t lift heavy objects, making her carry her bags up over a hundred floors alone. During the styling session, you deliberately gave her the ugliest makeup…”

Case by case, incident by incident, Xie Lanchen laid them all out clearly.

[Holy crap, Xie Lanchen remembers all that so clearly? I barely even remember those details.]

[The things Xie Lanchen mentioned happened before he even arrived at Youai Villa, right? So he was already paying attention to Ning Xi before he joined the show?]

[Ugh, Xi-Lan Flower is such a top-tier ship!]

[I’ve wanted to say this for ages: Fu Zhi is such a bully. He targets Ning Xi with these petty things every time. People might think it’s just friends joking around, but I don’t find it funny at all. I actually feel bad for Ning Xi.]

[Wei Xuan and Shen Yibai both protect their friends, but Fu Zhi is the only one who constantly belittles and targets Ning Xi.]

[Exactly! You all forgot because those were just tiny, insignificant things, but for Ning Xi, those tiny grievances were everywhere.]

[Finally, someone spoke up about my daughter’s grievances! Waaaah, Xie Lanchen, I’ll grudgingly allow you to be friends with my daughter!]

“I didn’t…”

Fu Zhi’s voice grew smaller and smaller.

He had no way to refute those events, but he really hadn’t meant to maliciously target Ning Xi…

That was just how they had always interacted.

Even if Ning Xi misunderstood him, Shen Yibai should understand him!

Fu Zhi looked toward Shen Yibai in a bit of a panic.

However, he discovered that even Shen Yibai seemed to think he had done it on purpose just now.

Even the looks from the others seemed to reflect the same thought.

Fu Zhi felt a sense of bewilderment.

So, everyone thought he would intentionally hurt Ning Xi?

Fu Zhi murmured, “It’s not like that…”
How could he have intentionally hurt Ning Xi?

He obviously liked her!

In that instant, flashes of realization surged through Fu Zhi’s mind.

Because of Shen Yibai, he had never dared to admit his feelings for Ning Xi.

To distance himself while still trying to get her attention, he had resorted to teasing, belittling, and mocking her.

Fu Zhi knew Ning Xi disliked it, but he always felt that as long as Shen Yibai broke off the engagement, he could apologize properly and she would eventually forgive him.

After all, for so many years, he was the only man who had stayed by her side besides Shen Yibai.

But what if Ning Xi had long since become completely disillusioned with him?

What if someone she liked even more had suddenly appeared?

Fu Zhi’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as his past actions played through his mind like a revolving lantern.

After this, everyone noticed a distinct change in Fu Zhi.

He stopped arguing with Xie Lanchen and no longer went out of his way to annoy Ning Xi.

He simply finished his part of the performance in silence, then retreated into his own thoughts.

Everyone was led to a room on the fifth floor.

They performed on a stage while the Duchess watched from below.

A veil covered her face, and the way she looked at them was strangely scrutinizing.

This Duchess was a world away from the beautiful, sickly woman described in Lucy’s diary.

“You, the one who performed well. Come here.”

At that moment, the Duchess suddenly pointed at Xie Lanchen on the stage.

Xie Lanchen paused, his expression unreadable.

The door was suddenly pushed open, and the master of the castle-the Duke-finally made an appearance.

His gaze swept over everyone before landing on Xie Lanchen.

“Is this the one my wife praised for his acting? Indeed, quite good. Reward him!”

A maid standing nearby respectfully handed Xie Lanchen a ring.

“Wait, how is that ring identical to mine?” Jiang Sheshe asked in shock.

Xie Lanchen looked down at the ring but didn’t move.

“Why aren’t you putting it on? Are you dissatisfied?!”

The Duke flew into a rage.

Eerie sounds suddenly echoed from the stage, and the lights in the room dimmed instantly.

The eyes of the Duke and Duchess became as cold and sinister as venomous snakes.

[Holy crap, these two actors are amazing. I feel like I’m actually there.]

Right then, Ning Xi suddenly stepped forward and snatched the veil off the Duchess’s face.

As the veil fluttered to the floor, the Duchess’s expression turned into one of pure panic.

The surrounding servant NPCs were stunned.

“Lucy? How can it be Lucy? How did Lucy become the Duchess?”

“Her body belongs to Lucy, but the soul is the Duchess,” Ning Xi said calmly.

She had already pieced together the entire plot.

“The soul-swapping potion mentioned in the diary was a lie-a distraction meant to mislead Lucy.

“The true catalyst for the soul swap is actually this ring.

“The Duchess chose Lucy to swap bodies with, but the swap could only happen if Lucy put on the ring of her own free will.

“So, the Duchess used the potion as bait to make Lucy believe her body was about to be stolen. Then, she bribed the Witch to convince Lucy to willingly put on the ring that actually triggers the soul swap.

“With that, the Duchess obtained a young, healthy body.

“But the Duke was no longer young. So, the Duchess used her birthday as an excuse to hold a banquet, selecting Xie Lanchen from among the guests.

“They tried to trick Xie Lanchen into wearing the ring by using the reward for his acting as a pretext.

“After that, they intended to set a fire so that everyone who might know the secret would be buried within this castle.

“Meanwhile, they would take their fortune and live on under new identities.

“When they grew old and frail again, they would use the same method to obtain two more young, healthy bodies.

“Am I right, Duke and Duchess?”