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As for Xiao Zixin, on the other hand, stood as her complete opposite.
He was a gentleman.
A scholar in both conduct and reputation.
Born into the Prime Minister Xiao Household—one of the oldest and most influential families within the Northern Xia Empire—his background was one of refinement, discipline, and intellect.
For nearly eight generations, the Xiao family had served the Empire faithfully, producing tacticians and advisors who shaped its governance.
Their upbringing alone made them incompatible.
Shen Haoran had long anticipated that handling Zhang Hui Ying's case would present difficulties the moment he accepted her as his disciple and decided to proceed with the annulment of her engagement.
According to the original plot, even if the protagonist found the engagement undesirable—having been arranged since childhood—his pride as a noble would prevent him from accepting the annulment so easily.
There should have been resistance.
At the very least, a show of unwillingness.
Yet—
What Shen Haoran did not expect was how readily Xiao Zixin agreed.
Without hesitation.
Without objection.
Not only did he accept the annulment of his engagement with Zhang Hui Ying, but he even offered an apology for whatever inconvenience or damage might have been caused.
More than that—
He gave his word.
A promise to protect Zhang Hui Ying's reputation, knowing full well the consequences that such an annulment carried within the Imperial Capital.
Shen Haoran understood this reality better than most.
In an era governed by rigid traditions and narrow-minded values, a noble lady's reputation could be shattered by a single incident.
An annulled engagement was not merely a broken promise—
It was public disgrace.
If the original storyline had continued as intended, Xiao Zixin would have annulled his engagement publicly, in front of countless eyes, while openly holding the so-called "pure-hearted" girl known as Daiyu in his arms.
A mockery of dignity.
A calculated humiliation.
And in the aftermath of such a scene—
Zhang Hui Ying would have chosen death.
Suicide…
As her only escape from disgrace.
'Wow… What a classic cliché romance plot.'
'Tsk… Almost similar to what happened in my first life…'
His lips twitched faintly in distaste.
'…Though thankfully, I wasn't the one engaged to that f*cking Crown Prince. Eww. Bleh.'
The mere thought sent a visible shiver down his spine. A wave of disgust surged through him so strongly that he nearly felt the urge to retch.
In his original world, relationships between individuals of the same gender were not entirely uncommon—especially among nobility and royalty. Many maintained secret companions or paramours behind closed doors if it suited their desires.
Even so—
That didn't mean he had to find the idea acceptable.
Another involuntary shiver ran through him as fragments of a certain memory surfaced.
That scene…
Felt strangely familiar.
As though he had witnessed it before.
A fleeting sense of déjà vu lingered, tugging faintly at his thoughts.
He shook his head, dismissing it.
Perhaps it was simply another story he had encountered during his travels.
He had passed through too many worlds—too many narratives.
Some of them were bound to blur together.
Most likely, it was from a western fantasy setting…
Or perhaps a modern academic worldline.
Either way—
There was no reason to dwell on it.
After successfully annulling Zhang Hui Ying's engagement and taking her under his guidance, Shen Haoran soon noticed something unexpected.
The relationship between her and Xiao Zixin had changed.
It was no longer filled with hostility.
No longer driven by conflict or rivalry.
Instead—
It had settled into something calmer.
A neutral ground.
A quiet understanding.
Not romantic—
But undeniably platonic.
And for Shen Haoran…
That outcome was preferable.
At the very least, it removed unnecessary complications.
With Zhang Hui Ying's situation resolved, his attention shifted to the so-called heroine.
Daiyu.
According to the original plot, she should have been silently manipulating events while maintaining an image of innocence and purity.
Yet every report he received painted a completely different picture.
Instead of gaining favor—
She suffered setbacks.
Punishments.
Public humiliations.
Over and over again.
And the one responsible for those outcomes…
Was Xiao Zixin.
That alone was enough to raise suspicions.
At the same time, Shen Haoran had already begun executing his plans against the Crown Prince.
To weaken Long Mingyu's control and influence, he chose to make use of Xiao Zixin as a critical piece within his strategy.
With the support of the Second Prince—
The one who, in the original storyline, was meant to ascend the throne as the rightful ruler.
But fate, as dictated by the plot, had turned against him.
Falsely accused of a crime, the Second Prince lost everything.
His position.
His claim.
Even his mother—
The Empress—
Was cast into the Cold Palace, abandoned without the chance to prove her innocence.
A tragic end.
One that had been written long before it came to pass.
And yet…
Now—
That fate was no longer certain.
As events unfolded under Shen Haoran's interference, something else became apparent.
Xiao Zixin had sworn allegiance.
To the Crown Prince, just like what happen in the original plot…
And not long after that—
Scandals began to emerge.
One after another.
All directed toward Crown Prince Long Mingyu.
His reputation declined at an alarming rate.
Too quickly.
Too precisely.
Too conveniently.
Which only deepened Shen Haoran's suspicions.
Now that he had uncovered most of the truths surrounding the protagonist…
There was no longer any reason to delay.
It had already been two or three years since he entered this worldline.
Enough time had passed.
It was time—
To confront him.
Shen Haoran's gaze shifted toward the seemingly harmless basket of fruits and snacks that Xiao Zixin had presented before him.
To an ordinary person, it would appear as nothing more than a polite offering.
But he was far from ordinary.
The faint scent lingering around the items…
Did not escape him.
« Esteemed host, there are potions mixed within these foods. They are not harmful to your body, however… »
His expression remained calm, though his attention sharpened when Silver spoke within his mind.
The slight pause at the end of its statement did not go unnoticed.
'If it's not harmful… then what is it for?'
He had already sensed something was wrong.
But identifying its purpose—
That required confirmation.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Silver answered.
« Esteemed host, the potions used are for… soul restoration… »
For a moment—
Everything stilled.
'…What?'
Then—
His thoughts snapped.
'WHAT?!'
Understanding came instantly.
Shen Haoran didn't need further explanation.
His gaze hardened as it locked onto Xiao Zixin.
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