Emperor’s Grandson died young, causing great grief to Emperor Chu. He decided to go to the Ganye Temple in three days to ask the abbot to perform a ritual for his Grandson’s soul.
He dismissed everyone and wanted to speak with the Crown Prince. Shen Fengyue understood and left, taking Eunuch Shen to chat elsewhere.
“This royal family, unlucky things keep happening one after another.” He sighed softly and stroked the crooked palace flowers on his temple.
Eunuch Shen followed up on his words, “Yes.”
Shen Fengyue suddenly remembered that this person was also a schemer, looked at him suspiciously, and lowered his voice, “Could it be… you?”
This time Eunuch Shen shook his head and said frankly, “It really wasn’t me this time. I even suspect it was Your Majesty.”
Shen Fengyue, “…”
Eunuch Shen, “…”
After speaking, there was a moment of silence. Well, two schemers getting together would sometimes doubt each other appropriately.
“So this time the Chu family is really unlucky. Emperor Chu even released Prince Qi and his family. The Crown Prince must hold a grudge in his heart.” He murmured in a low voice.
Eunuch Shen patiently listened to his rambling and occasionally smiled and nodded.
After being manipulated by him like this, Shen Fengyue always felt that there was something strange between them, especially after experiencing the horse-riding incident last time and knowing that both sides were real men. It was weird to get along again.
Strange, strange, too strange.
Eunuch Shen’s face was unusually white, and he had previously suspected that he had applied several pounds of powder to it, making it look so white that it was almost shining, just like a woman.
He couldn’t help but indulge in his evil thoughts, reaching out and rubbing the other’s face heavily, then using his fingers to rub off the substance that had come off, with a wretch expression on his face, “How much substance did you apply? Doesn’t it bother you to put on makeup every day, Eunuch Shen?”
The beauty’s face showed a wretch expression, which was really pleasing to the eye.
Eunuch Shen, knowing that he was being teased, didn’t mind and just smiled casually. Then, when Shen Fengyue relaxed, he suddenly approached him. They were too close, so when Eunuch Shen’s hot breath approached him, Shen Fengyue couldn’t help but tremble, the skin that was sprayed felt like it was on fire and he instinctively moved backward.
Eunuch Shen pinched his neck like a little cat being pinched by the neck, Shen Fengyue suddenly stopped moving. Eunuch Shen’s thumb gently rubbed up and down on his Adam’s apple, as he whispered in his ear, “The Imperial Concubine applies makeup every day to conceal her identity, so it must be even more troublesome for her, right?”
Shen Fengyue, “…” Tsk, holding grudges, what a petty man!
All his thoughts were clearly written on his face, and Eunuch Shen laughed lightly, using his fingertip to move up and scrape off a bit of lip color from him. Then, he sniffed it at his nose and said, “It’s the smell of strawberries.”
One spot of the lipstick on his lips was missing, and he quickly pressed his lips together to even it out. Shen Fengyue was so angry that he snorted and walked away.
Even in the distance, he could still hear Eunuch Shen’s happy laughter, which made him even more furious.
The system advised him, “Brother, don’t be angry. Would you like a drink?”
Shen Fengyue refused, “No, thank you.”
The system sighed, “You always say you can’t beat others, so why do you go looking for trouble?”
Shen Fengyue was silent. He understood the reasoning, but every time he sees Eunuch Shen, he can’t help but provoke him. Once he get that urge, he couldn’t control himself.
He had dinner with Emperor Chu, who didn’t seem to be in a good state. The departure of the grandson had saddened him, and the recent conflict with the Crown Prince over the matter of Prince Qi had strained their relationship. As a result, he had been frowning and accumulating more wrinkles these past few days.
In ancient times, it was said that one should not talk while eating or speak while sleeping. However, Emperor Chu wanted to talk to someone, so he turned to his Jie Yuhua1Jie Yu hua is a name that comes from a historical story. It is recorded in the “Kaoyuan Tianbao Yishi” by Wang Renyu of the Five Dynasties period. In the story, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang praised his beloved Yang Guifei as “Jie Yu hua,” which means a flower that can express thoughts and feelings, metaphorically referring to a smart and charming woman who can understand others’ intentions., and asked, “Yan Yan, did I do the right thing by releasing Prince Qi and his family?”
Jie Yuhua, which meant “Kind-hearted flower,” was actually none other than Concubine Shen who was serving him food as she consoled him saying, “Sanlang must have had a plan when he did that. It’s only natural that the Crown Prince is still grieving the loss of his son and is at odds with you. After some time has passed, you and your son will surely reconcile.”
Talking about the grandson made Emperor Chu angry.
He was angry that the grandson was short-lived, and he was angry at himself for indulging him too much, which had led to such a disaster.
“As for that child…” he said, “what a pity.”
Shen Fengyue knew that Emperor Chu had too high expectations for the Crown Prince’s son, and had even praised him similarly before. He understood and stopped mentioning him, only obediently and gently serving him food.
Emperor Chu stared at the woman who was serving him food without blinking.
His gaze was too intense, and the old timer couldn’t bear it, so he spoke up “Sanlang?”
Emperor Chu suddenly changed the topic, and his tone was bizarre, “Yan Yan, I heard someone say ‘A hundred years to cultivate a shared boat, a thousand years to cultivate a shared pillow,’2This phrase is a proverb in Chinese, which roughly translates to “It takes hundreds of years to cultivate a relationship where two people can cross a river in the same boat, and thousands of years to create a bond where they can lie down together.” It expresses the idea that it takes a long time and a lot of effort to build a deep and meaningful relationship between two people. which shows the depth of our fate.”
What on earth? What is this old man talking about?
“Sanlang, what does this mean?”
Emperor Chu held her delicate hand and said softly, “I have never met anyone as considerate and lovely as you in all these years.”
Shen Fengyue, “……-_-.”
“Now, other than you, my precious, there is no one else. I hope to have your heart and grow old together. I wish to be like a pair of lovebirds in the sky and a branch of a tree on the ground with you.” He looked at Shen Fengyue and felt that she was even more young and beautiful. “You are much younger than me. I am afraid that if I leave, you will be alone.”
Shen Fengyue was shocked by his words, and vaguely sensed the meaning behind them.
“I want to share the same bed with you in life and death. After I pass away in a hundred years, Yan Yan, Will you stay with me and not leave me behind?”
In other words, he would not forget to take her with him even if he died.
Shen Fengyue was so frightened that he trembled. He lost his appetite and the remaining food felt tasteless. It wasn’t until Emperor Chu had left that he had time to catch his breath.
“Ha,” the system sneered, adding fuel to the fire.
At that moment, Eunuch Shen arrived, saying that he was bringing a gift from Your Majesty.
It was a black lacquer box with a carved dragon pattern, and inside was a lotus jade bracelet with a warm and lustrous glow on top of a bright yellow velvet cloth. The lotus jade was pink, and its light and delicate texture reflected an elegant pattern in the sunlight, shimmering and exquisite.
With the wish to be like lovebirds in the sky and branches of the same tree on the earth… and now the lotus jade bracelet…
What kind of weird things did this old man have in his head?!
Shen Fengyue’s constipated expression pleased Eunuch Shen, who laughed softly, “What can we do? Your Majesty is just too favored, and even if the Emperor leaves, he won’t forget to bring her along.”
“… ”
Not willing to lose, he took the box and put on the bracelet with a smile of unparalleled elegance, saying, “Thank you, Eunuch Shen, for your kind intentions.” He turned the bracelet around, and the entire pink lotus jade was incredibly magnificent.
Eunuch Shen smiled, “Your Majesty is truly virtuous,” and left.
As soon as everyone left, Shen Fengyue’s smile disappeared, and he called out to the system with a fierce expression, “System?”
No one responded to him.
“Brother System?”
“System, come out!”
The system used alcohol to numb itself, getting drunk and dreaming, and laughed loudly at the words, “Hahaha, Shen Fengyue, you’re getting your retribution now! The love and favor of many are not easily obtained. See, the old man won’t let you go even if he dies, hahaha!”
Shen Fengyue felt anger burning in his chest. Before he could retort, the system’s voice suddenly became stuttered and after laughing continuously for a while, it suddenly disappeared. Shen Fengyue sighed, guessing that the guy was probably forced to disconnect due to drinking again.
Tsk, just as he thought, drinking impairs one’s judgment.
Under the cover of dark clouds and cool night, the rebel army was ambushed at the foot of the mountain, ready to act at a moment’s notice, waiting only for the prince’s command. This was his backup plan, and he wouldn’t use it right away. He would first summon his guards to assassinate the enemy.
The Crown prince’s face was haggard, a green stubble had grown out, but his eyes were indescribably sharp and bright.
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