Chapter 16 I actually had a health bar? ...
"...Sigh, we can only do some more research." Qi Chengming sighed deeply.
If only those added values attract the upper class, can he add precious fragrances and herbs to the soap after it is made, and ultimately create a high-end luxury product that has both super cleaning power and high price?
If you can't beat them, join them and beat them in their areas of expertise. That should make you money, right?
This is an initial idea.
Qi Chengming wanted to think about it some more.
"Your Highness, this is chrysanthemum cake." Xiao Dezi had returned, holding a box of pastries wrapped in oil paper, with the words "Guixiangju of the Capital" on it.
"...Where did you get these?" Qi Chengming raised his eyes in surprise, taking the small packet of pastries, the bottom of which was still warm. These were actually freshly baked pastries.
He had an absurd guess in his mind:
The convoy hasn't even left the outskirts of Beijing yet. Is Xiao Dezi so arrogant as to have someone ride back on horseback and buy him a package right now?
Surely not?
"No, no, this is..." Xiao Dezi started to say something, but then suddenly swallowed his words. He suddenly peeked out furtively, his eyes lit up, and then reported, "Your Highness, look!"
"Cousin—" a familiar young voice rang out, drawing out the last syllable.
Qi Chengming was startled, but his mood turned to surprise and delight. Without hesitation, he lifted the curtain and said, "Ah, I know what you guys are up to."
In the outskirts of Beijing, a pavilion is set up every ten li (approximately 5 kilometers), which is also known as a farewell pavilion.
The convoy was just passing by the pavilion when Qi Chengming lifted the curtain and saw Old Master Weiyong and his wife, as well as Wang Shuo, who was jumping up and down trying to find someone, and the familiar butler, all of whom had come to see them off at the pavilion.
"Didn't I say we'd met once already, so you don't need to come and see me off today?" Qi Chengming complained in a low voice, but when he bent down to look over, a smile appeared on his face, and his heart felt warm.
He thought it unnecessary for the two elderly people to travel so far to see him off, given their advanced age. But they still came; were they ultimately worried about him?
“Cousin! I just heard you were hungry, so Grandfather bought you some chrysanthemum cakes!” Wang Shuo winked and waved, pointing to the convoy.
Qi Chengming turned his head and saw that it was the old soldier that his grandfather had secretly contacted, who was accompanying him this time as a guard.
He was both angry and amused.
Well, Wang Shuo, you're using this to your advantage, taking advantage of the fact that he hasn't gone too far. You've really gone to great lengths to keep him in touch.
"Okay, I'll remember to write to you," Qi Chengming replied irritably. He felt that Wang Shuo, this young boy, was usually too lonely. Perhaps he was not used to losing both of his older brothers, so when he suddenly met his cousin, he clung to him enthusiastically, completely disregarding his bad reputation in the palace.
"No, no, write it for me when you have some free time!" Wang Shuo cupped his hands in front of his mouth, afraid that his cousin might not understand the importance of the matter. "Take care of yourself first!"
Qi Chengming couldn't help but glance at his infrastructure system panel, puzzled: "..."
His health level is 6, while the average person's is 10. He does have a slightly weaker immune system, but is it already that obvious?
Wait a minute?
Qi Chengming was caught off guard and discovered that his system status now displayed the following:
"Health: 6. (Feverish)" (Healthy peers have an immunity level of 10)
fever?
Is he running a fever?
Qi Chengming didn't feel anything at all. He raised his hand blankly and touched his forehead—it was burning hot.
But it doesn't hurt at all.
He had no weakness in his limbs, no dizziness, no cough or runny nose; he was perfectly fine and could immediately memorize books for two hours straight.
Qi Chengming curiously poked at the panel a couple of times, trying to tinker with it.
He clicked on a system introduction:
[The interaction between the infrastructure system and the world will result in the 'systematization' of some world data. Players are advised to pay attention to the specific details.]
[example:
Health can be affected by illness and injury, and will decrease until it reaches 0, at which point the player dies. Before death, the player will not suffer any negative effects. Health/HP can be restored by purchasing medicine or by self-healing. (Good physical condition is required for infrastructure development.)
Qi Chengming: "..."
The meaning is very simple.
—So he had a health bar?!
Although it's unclear why this infrastructure system has become bound to him and is shining brightly in this succession struggle story, the system consistently refers to him as a "player." And as a player, it's perfectly normal for him to have a health bar, right?
If you have poor health, it must be very difficult to carry out infrastructure construction, right?
So no matter how much damage he suffers in the future, as long as his health bar doesn't drop to zero all at once, he can be saved? And he'll maintain his usual maximum combat power, feeling no pain or discomfort whatsoever.
This situation has both advantages and disadvantages.
In just a few seconds, Qi Chengming had already considered several possible scenarios. He decided to postpone preparing the medicine and instead closely observe and study how his health indicators were changing.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Xiao Chengzi, who was on the carriage shaft, asked nervously when he saw this scene.
"It's nothing." Qi Chengming made up his mind, waved goodbye to his maternal grandfather's family, returned to the carriage, and didn't make a fuss.
It was evening.
The journey was tedious, so Qi Chengming recited his lessons while absentmindedly checking his personal stats every hour. His health bar fluctuated between 6 and 7, making him feel quite secure.
...It seems that the human body can recover slightly on its own; the fever is a struggle against the body.
Qi Chengming pondered.
But Xiao Chengzi couldn't bear it any longer. He had noticed that His Highness's expression was strange since the morning, but His Highness's nonchalant demeanor had misled him. Now, His Highness's face was visibly paler and had an unnatural flush.
"His Highness seems to be ill, but he won't let me interfere... We need to go and find the imperial physician who is with you." Xiao Chengzi grabbed Xiao Dezi and anxiously discussed the matter.
Their prince really doesn't know how to take care of his health!
Xiao Dezi accompanied the carriage. He was startled, but after peeking through the curtain, he agreed without hesitation: "...I'll go! If Your Highness punishes me, just say it was my insistence."
Xiao Dezi usually liked to monopolize the position of the prince's closest chief eunuch, but now it was time for him to shoulder his responsibilities. He was very clear about the priorities of things.
Xiao Chengzi jumped off the carriage and ran away.
"What's wrong?" Song Gu, who was sitting in the back of the mule cart, was also startled by the noise outside.
Upon hearing that His Highness was suspected of being ill but didn't take it seriously and refused treatment, he stood up in a panic, jumped out of the carriage, and hurried over, naturally following the imperial physician to the central carriage.
"Your Highness, please do not conceal your illness and refuse medical treatment!" Chief Steward Song entered and respectfully prostrated himself, speaking earnestly.
"...Understood." Qi Chengming looked at the carriage, which was packed full of people, and everyone's faces were filled with anxiety. Even the imperial physician came over to take his pulse without any room for doubt.
He understood deeply.
Although the health bar would leave him unharmed, all the signs would still be there.
...Then this can be used as a surprise attack in the future!
Showing weakness at crucial moments: For example, when he is assassinated, in danger, or needs to feign illness for a certain occasion (Qi Chengming thought of the scene in the original plot where the new emperor sent people to kill the original owner), these are all useful!
Wonderful!
What kind of infrastructure system is this? This is clearly his ingenious system for seizing the throne!
Qi Chengming was overjoyed.
A note from the author:
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