Her dark, beautiful eyelashes curved slightly, her brows and eyes like a painting, "Seventh, I've never thought that way."
This was the truth. Shen Yue hadn't considered how Shen Yaojin might thank her; she merely wanted to ease her own conscience.
It was truly laughable. Shen Yue was only now realizing that she possessed a conscience.
Shen Yaojin took a step forward. His leg was better, but he still limped, likely a lifelong injury. His hawk-like eyes, filled with unfathomable depth, gazed at Shen Yue.
Those eyes seemed to see straight through Shen Yue.
"Perhaps you merely feel the need to compensate me."
Shen Yaojin slowly approached. He was tall, and his height gave him an absolute advantage, pressing down on Shen Yue.
He bent slightly, leaning in. Their eyes met, mere inches apart.
They were so close that they could clearly feel each other's breath. Shen Yaojin could also see Shen Yue's fair, delicate skin, utterly flawless.
He felt a momentary daze but quickly regained his senses.
Then, a trace of gloom appeared on his stern, handsome features.
"Hypocrisy, self-comfort."
"Shen Yue, I just find it disgusting."
She stiffened, her long, thick eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.
A strange sense of pleasure rose in Shen Yaojin's heart. He spoke slowly, "Do you think I don't know what you've done? Giving me a taste of sweetness back then, urging me to trouble the Crown Prince. You knew full well I was beaten by the Crown Prince until I was covered in wounds. Did you ever ask about me? Did you ever show concern for me?"
Seeing her continued silence, Shen Yaojin paid it no mind. "And the sordid things you've done. Do you truly believe that's enough to lock someone down?"
"Even if you lock down the person, can you control their heart?"
Shen Yaojin was adept at hitting where it hurt. He knew what Shen Yue cared about most, and so he jabbed at her heart, sword stroke by sword stroke, determined to make her hurt, to feel satisfied.
"Perhaps you don't know, but the daughter of the Xu Zhou City Lord has arrived in Chang'an City, seeking a marriage alliance with His Majesty. His Majesty has agreed."
"Cheng Qian Gong has also agreed."
"They've all kept it from you. Do you know why?"
Shen Yue listened quietly. The pressure and ache in her chest surged like a tidal wave. A gentle breeze caressed her face. She took a deep breath, trying to alleviate the tightness in her chest, her expression unreadable.
Her eyes were deep, devoid of any smile. After a long pause, she softly asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"
The man's facial features were deep and handsome, his thoughts as complex and unfathomable as his appearance. He said, "People like you will never win genuine affection."
This wasn't the first time Shen Yaojin had said this, nor was he the only one.
Only sincerity could win sincerity.
But even if Shen Yue had dug out her heart, the person she cared for didn't want it.
Pear blossoms drifted past. Shen Yaojin smiled. This was the first time he had smiled in front of Shen Yue since regaining his composure.
But it was a smile filled with malice, laced with deep darkness and cruelty.
"Do you really think you're that lowly? He doesn't like you, and he doesn't have you in his heart. Why are you doing this?"
"Don't drive him mad in the end."
*Slap—*
The man's face was slapped to the side. A muffled laugh escaped his chest, showing no sign of anger. He slowly raised a hand to wipe the blood trickling from his lips, his dark eyes unfathomable.
"What? Angry and embarrassed?"
His voice even carried a hint of cheerfulness.
Shen Yue had used considerable force, her palm tingling. She was truly furious. Her delicate eyelids were flushed pink, tinged with a beautiful, cold detachment. Her brows were indifferent, her full lips a vibrant red. Deep within her eyes lay a profound calm.
Facing Cheng Qian Gong, Shen Yue's emotions were always uncontrollable.
In truth, the moment she slapped him, she felt a flicker of regret.
But Shen Yaojin had spoken too excessively. How could his mouth utter such venomous words?
How could Shen Yaojin… speak to her like that?
The bitterness in her throat felt impossible to dissolve. Gritting her teeth, she swallowed all her emotions.
She donned her invincible mask once more.
Her rosy lips uttered cold words.
"Do you hate me that much?"
Shen Yaojin paid no attention to the slap mark on his face. His eyes, as deep and cold as ice, reflected Shen Yue's beautiful, fair face.
"How can I not hate you?"
That bone-chilling, flesh-scraping resentment pressed directly against Shen Yue.
"Don't you know pain until the stick hits you?"
Shen Yue stared at him blankly, unable to refute.
The man was blinded by intense hatred, his eyes filled with a surging ferocity and madness.
"Shen Yue, even fools feel pain."
He had said that Shen Yue was no longer his Fourth Brother.
Therefore, he would no longer call her Fourth Brother.
His voice was unexpectedly soft. He tightly gripped her shoulders, his eyes reddening, a faint shimmer appearing within them. "I have a heart too. It's not just you who feels pain."
Shen Yue had suffered too much, too painfully, in her childhood. Thus, she was also cruel to others.
She had not treated Shen Yaojin well.
Therefore, it was only right that Shen Yaojin hated her.
But seeing Shen Yaojin spewing harsh words with reddened eyes, she couldn't help but be moved. Her heart ached profoundly.
For instance, even after Shen Yue slapped him, Shen Yaojin had never thought of retaliating.
Her long, thick eyelashes drooped slightly. A faint weariness appeared on her ink-like brows, making her look fragile and distant.
Shen Yaojin's eyes were bloodshot. He slowly released her, taking a few steps back. "Not everything in this world will go as you wish. You will pay the price for your actions, and I will show no mercy then."
The man, limping, departed with uneven steps.
Petals drifted down, carpeting the ground in white. The pure white petals resembled a snow devoid of coldness.
In truth, many things were not as complicated as they seemed.
Shen Yue had never forced Cheng Qian Gong. He had come alone to make a deal for the Crown Prince. If Cheng Qian Gong wished to leave, she would not stop him.
Just as Shen Yaojin said, one could lock down a person, but not their heart.
These past few days, she had gotten along harmoniously with Cheng Qian Gong. She thought he was slowly accepting her.
But Shen Yaojin's words had jolted her awake.
The beautiful dream was shattered, vanishing like bubbles.
Shen Yue raised her hand. A pear blossom landed in her palm.
It had landed there willingly; she had not plucked it.
"Your Highness..."
Fu An, who was at a distance, had not heard their conversation clearly. As he approached, he saw that Shen Yue's complexion was not quite right and couldn't help but worry.
The sky had begun to drizzle at some unknown time, a hazy mist filling the air, making it overcast and oppressive.
Fu An quickly sent a guard to fetch an umbrella.
Shen Yue walked out as if she hadn't noticed. The cold raindrops slid down her cheeks, her eyes also feeling a dull ache.