Chapter 2: The Prince's Missing Sweetheart (2)
Qi Qiu had many, many questions, but not enough time to listen to the answers.
As he leaned on the door frame with a smile, he almost choked.
This... capture target was almost basically a foreign prince. He was the son of a concubine, and that concubine came from the east.
And it so just happened to be that Wu Hai was also the original body's childhood sweetheart. Of course, the love was unrequited, as Nasrin did not love him, but his older brother.
But, according to the system's information, the affection wasn't as deep anymore. The "deep love" that Wu Hai once held for Nasrin was actually worth eighty in favorability. Apparently, the love had eventually dissolved into a "like" after the original body was injured and fell into a coma for a few years.
As Qi Qiu strode into the room, he really felt that rich people were frightening. Such a large room for such few people.
"How are you, uncle?" flashing a signature celebrity smile, the blond boy's hair fluttered as he sat down.
One of Nasrin's reasons he didn't die in the original story because the emperor loved his personality. The emperor was also unblinded by love as the male lead had been. He had implored his son not to kill Nasrin in his will. This resulted in Nasrin only being exiled.
[Ding! Target Wu Hai's favorability +10! The total favorability is now 35! I'm cheering you on!]
"I'm quite well. I heard of your awakening. I apologise for not welcoming you better, my nephew." The emperor was a handsome middle-aged man, called Theodore Aelius.
The Aelius empire flourished under his care, and he was a perfect ruler. This only made the expectations bigger for the Crown Prince.
"Oh, don't apologise. I couldn't receive a better welcoming!" The princes all watched this interaction with great interest. If this little duke was able to speak so casually, something they can't afford to do, then wouldn't he be quite useful on their side?
Qi Qiu felt slightly regretful. Maybe he shouldn't have come.
Wu Hai, the only person with black hair in the room, kept his gaze on Qi Qiu with interest.
It was incredibly hard to ignore such a burning gaze. Qi Qiu glanced at Wu Hai and smiled.
[Ding! Target Wu Hai's favorability +15! The total favorability is now 50! You're really good at this!]
This... was a little illogical, ah...
The strange points aside, Qi Qiu's heart started beating really hard after seeing Wu Hai in the room.
'Uta, what's going on?'
[Master, the original host was childhood friends with the capture target. Even though Wu Hai's mother was a concubine, the empress was still good friends with her. The empress, which was also the original body's aunt, introduced Nasrin and Wu Hai. They became good friends after that.]
Oh.
But that still doesn't explain why his heart was beating, did it?
[The reason that your heart is beating is that part of the original host's soul still occupies the body. Nasrin is obviously happy to see his old childhood friend after so long. Master will experience the previous host's emotions, such as fear, joy... etc.]
Aiyah.
So if Qi Qiu wanted to stand against the Crown Prince, his knees would fall to the ground and he would start crying?
[Not exactly. The original host can do internal things, such as heart rate, crying, a small smile and such, but cannot physically move you.]
'Alright.'
Qi Qiu decided he would place Wu Hai on the throne, make Nasrin's family happy and then disappear from the empire.
[..Master, I suggest that if you were to go along with that plan, that you do not capture Wu Hai's heart, even if you want extra points for completing the mission. He is already dangerous enough when he just 'likes' you.]
Qi Qiu glanced at Wu Hai once more. 'Why?'
[My data tells me that his mood fluctuates madly when he looks at you.]
Wu Hai gave Qi Qiu a faint smile. Qi Qiu returned it with a blinding grin.
[—and when you look at him- Master, what'd you do!? Wu Hai's mood has fluctuated, madly again!]
Qi Qiu looked back at the little castle on the big board. It was strange because it seemed like the hole under it was too small.
"..Uncle, whose palace is this?"
The Emperor snapped his head to Qi Qiu. His face had been growing darker and angrier throughout the whole conversation.
Qi Qiu scratched the little castle, and sure enough, the paint came off. The piece must've been new.
Eh? But all the miniature structures were supposed to be centuries old, passed down from generation and treated with incredible care.
Qi Qiu pinched the little flag of the castle and tried to pull it off.
Instead of the flag itself coming off, the entire little castle came off and instead revealed a beautiful crystal palace under it.
Coincidentally, the crystal palace looked a lot like the crystal palace that Qi Qiu was currently in, the Imperial Palace.
All the princes, except Wu Hai, all sucked in a cold breath.
They had been ridiculing everything around the crystal palace, ah!!
Qi Qiu sighed. "This palace is still pretty when it's small. Uncle, can you build a castle for me a bit like this?"
The emperor smiled. "Of course. I shall build it right next to my palace so you may come whenever you want."
This was the palace he had designed specifically for the empress, and both the empress and the empress dowager loved it. It was his greatest pleasure to see that someone admired him.
Wu Hai's eyes flashed dangerously at the scene.
[D- Ding... Target Wu Hai's favorability um... -30. the total favorability score is 20.]
Qi Qiu wobbled on his chair, then falling back and accidentally tumbling. What happened to make this guy so angry!?
Uta shed tears for its poor master who couldn't.
[Master, even if you do not capture Wu Hai... please, do not become his enemy.]
'I'm trying not to!!' Qi Qiu wanted to shout into the skies.
As Qi Qiu got up and rubbed the backside of his neck, sitting cross-legged on the floor, he chuckled. "I got a little too excited, sorry, uncle!!"
[D-Ding..! Target Wu Hai's favorability +40! The total favorability score is 60! Master... I can't understand the capture target!!]
Qi Qiu had a guess. What if Wu Hai loved Qi Qiu for being the dumb and carefree person he was? Then what if he was also happier because Nasrin had tears in his eyes from the fall!?
Qi Qiu heard the sound of his little brother crying. He ran out of the room while apologising.
Whilst he was a bad strategizer, Qi Qiu was a great big brother. He wanted to make up for not living for his little sister.
Nobody noticed how Wu Hai's eyes flashed darkly at the sight of Qi Qiu's figure moving farther into the distance.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
pettyprinxe
pettyprinxe Aaaah,, I'm sorry i've procrastinated for so long, ah.. I have so many plans for this arc, but I don't know how to write it out. :(
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