Chapter 0142: Hu Lai’s New Disguise, and Xie Chengze’s New Persona
At the Hun River ice rink, the brothers from Qianjin Zhai arrived with tools to clear the heavy snow. They piled the white snow into a massive collapsible wooden box, compacting it into a huge, dense snow block to serve as the base for stacking snow sculptures. Artisans would then carve the final snow sculpture based on designs from blueprints.
Another group of workers, composed of former bandits turned auxiliary soldiers and ordinary civilians, cleared the snow to reveal the river’s icy surface, which they cut into large square ice blocks. Another set of artisans used water to bond these blocks together, smoothing them with small iron shovels and other tools to create ice sculptures.
These artisans were all skilled woodcarvers. Although carving ice felt slightly different from woodcarving, after practicing with a few small ice sculptures, they had gauged the required force and began working on slightly larger pieces.
Their quick adaptation was also thanks to their handy new tools.
In his own world, Xie Chengze had no parents to accompany him during holidays, so he would go out to explore. When an Ice Sculpture Festival flourished in a northern region, he took a flight to witness the grand ice and snow spectacle.
He was deeply captivated by the bold and generous city, spending the entire winter break there to experience the local culture. Through this, he learned much about northern traditions: he observed how northern heated brick beds were built, encountered the mighty yet aloof Siberian tigers, and even watched as ice sculptors carved a block of ice into an exquisite rabbit for him…
Those memories were so vivid and impactful that he clearly recalled the tools the artisans used for ice sculpting.
He sketched them all and had blacksmiths work overnight to forge the tools, helping the local artisans adapt more quickly to carving ice.
The results were promising.
Watching the ice sculpture project proceed methodically and smoothly, Xie Chengze felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment—except…
He glanced at Hu Lai, who was pacing restlessly in front of him, and couldn’t help but ask, “What are you wriggling around for here?”
Hu Lai halted, his expression matter-of-fact. “Of course, I’m keeping an eye on you, Your Highness! You took the money along with us, so you should cooperate properly.”
Xie Chengze: …
“Didn’t they urge you to send a reply? Have you mailed it?” Xie Chengze asked. He hadn’t paid attention to what Hu Lai had written afterward—it was simply too much, and he had important matters to attend to, leaving no time to read it.
“No rush, no rush. The heavy snow has blocked the roads—it’s a perfect excuse to delay submitting the draft… ahem, I mean, to stall.” Hu Lai lowered his head and muttered, “This also gives me a couple more days to write. Hmm, I just had a brilliant idea to enrich Your Highness’s persona a bit more…”
Xie Chengze’s ears perked up.
Delay submitting the draft… brilliant idea… persona…
“Hu Lai, you don’t have some other identity, do you? Like the author of a certain popular storybook…”
Xie Chengze narrowed his eyes, recalling how when he first arrived, he had bought all the bestselling storybooks in Jingcheng. Among them was one author renowned for writing unofficial histories of the palace, detailing clandestine affairs between men and women in the imperial court. The writing style, the atmosphere, and certain scenes now seemed as if the author had genuinely witnessed them in the palace…
“How could that be?!” Hu Lai exclaimed in shock, hurriedly waving his hands in denial. “How could this humble official be someone who abuses their position to write about palace scandals in storybooks for extra income!”
Xie Chengze: …
But I never said the author wrote about palace scandals just now.
Realizing he had accidentally revealed his secret identity, Hu Lai silently lowered his head and changed the subject faster than even his master could. “Your Highness, come quickly and see the new character profile I’ve written for you!”
Hu Lai pulled out his little notebook – indeed, his current work “The Second Prince’s Chronicles” had grown so thick it was now bound into a proper book. He dipped his brush in saliva to soften the bristles, then began writing:
【The Second Prince has been acting suspiciously recently, his movements quite questionable. I secretly followed him and astonishingly discovered the Second Prince possesses strange talent for crafting weapons!
Upon closer observation, I was shocked to find the Second Prince has already created multiple bizarre weapons. Among them is a cold, deadly blade with serrated edges resembling the fangs of a wild beast, capable of tearing human flesh to shreds!】
Xie Chengze rubbed his chin. Oh, this must be describing the handsaw for cutting ice blocks.
【There’s another sinister weapon, curved like a coiled blade emitting cold light. When inserted into a human body and withdrawn, it can pull intestines into bloody strips – truly horrifying!】
Xie Chengze scratched his forehead. Oh, this should be the rounded gouge for carving concave surfaces in ice sculptures.
【There’s even a demonic weapon, thin as hair, coiled on an iron plate. It can torture people like death by a thousand cuts, and instantly pierce numerous holes in a person – the cruelty is utterly terrifying!】
Xie Chengze slapped his palm. Aha, this is the fine-toothed ice shovel!
Old Hu, how could you describe such lovely ice carving tools so horrifyingly!
Then he saw Hu Lai continue writing: 【The Second Prince appears quite satisfied. In the dark cavern, only his sinister laughter echoes continuously. Under the faint candlelight, his black shadow on the wall resembles a pouncing tiger, making one shudder with fear!
Terrified, I intended to leave when I heard him spouting arrogant words like a madman: “In all this vast world, I alone am supreme!”
I privately believe the Second Prince intends to rebel!】
After finishing, Hu Lai contentedly licked the brush tip again and boasted: “What a perfect brutal, insane, demon-faced prince! Your Highness, isn’t this character profile domineering?”
Xie Chengze: …
Domineering indeed, truly too domineering.
As expected of a storybook writer – his descriptions leave people stunned. He could almost imagine what expression that person would make when this nonsensical, bizarre storybook fell into their hands.
But speaking of that person…
Xie Chengze pondered slightly. He and Shen Yuan had privately discussed how to overthrow the other party’s faction, but the target had been lurking in the court for eight years. Many matters were handled by subordinates through trusted aides, making it difficult to find leverage.
Moreover, the target was martial skilled, even surpassing Shen Yuan. Using the same methods employed against Yang Qinghui was clearly impossible.
Fortunately, the target hadn’t yet gained control of military power. Attempting rebellion without military support would only end in failure, so he and Shen Yuan still had enough time to plan how to make the opponent reveal their flaws, minimizing losses when overthrowing them without damaging vital arteries.
But he just had a sudden inspiration – why not ask Hu Lai, the most brutal and cunning treacherous minister beside the original villain in the story, if he had any ideas?
To deal with villains, one should use underhanded villainous methods… Hmm!
Xie Chengze rubbed his hands together and wrapped an arm around Hu Lai’s shoulder with ill intent. “Old Hu, I’ve got a tricky situation here and don’t know how to resolve it.”
“Oh?” Hu Lai’s eyes lit up, knowing it was time to prove his usefulness. “Your Highness, please speak!”