Cheng Qian Gong's breathing quickened slightly as he painstakingly, slowly calmed the unease and panic in his heart.
His expression unchanged, he turned and walked to the desk.
He didn't reach for the military seal immediately. Instead, he stood there for a long time, his mind a chaotic mess, flashing with countless images, which only made his emotions more uncontrollable.
His breathing trembled uncontrollably.
Because he knew that if he took it, it would be a betrayal of Shen Yue, potentially leaving an indelible scar on their relationship.
For the first time, he felt lost.
His heart was heavy, as if pressed down by a colossal stone, making it almost impossible to breathe, filling him with anxiety.
His handsome face remained impassive, but his molars were clenched tightly, a metallic taste of blood filling his mouth, and a taut vein pulsed on his forehead.
It shouldn't be like this; this was precisely when he shouldn't be soft-hearted.
Everything he had done before was for this very moment.
He knew Shen Yue wouldn't be so foolish as to place something so important on the desk unless she was intentionally testing him.
However, there was no more time; the Emperor's illness grew worse by the moment, with the possibility of him drawing his last breath at any time.
If he didn't take it now, who knew when the next opportunity would arise.
Shen Yue could wait, for she held many trump cards and was in a winning position.
But Shen Yao Jin could not wait. Once Shen Yue ascended the throne, Shen Yao Jin would be the first to be dealt with.
Among so many princes, few were capable of shouldering great responsibilities or achieving greatness.
Only Shen Yao Jin could save the common people from their suffering.
If he had to choose, then...
Cheng Qian Gong calmed himself, his slightly trembling hand reaching for the cold military seal. He then took out a wooden stone from his sleeve that looked exactly like the seal.
In the end, he chose the nation.
The man's handsome eyebrows and eyes became even more somber and indistinct in any light within the room.
And the person who had been asleep this entire time, at this moment, opened their eyes, quietly observing everything in the room.
The moment the man turned, she slowly closed her eyes again. The man's martial arts were likely very good; he moved without making a sound.
Then she felt a warm body heat approach the bedside. The man's long, powerful arms wrapped around her waist, slowly tightening.
Shen Yue pretended to casually turn over. The man's breath hitched, his body stiffening like a sculpture. After a long pause, seeing that Shen Yue hadn't woken up, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The man then cautiously entwined himself again, pressing close as if inseparable.
Her back was against the man's firm, warm chest. After sleeping in the bed for so long, her limbs were still cold. As soon as the man got into bed, he dispelled all the chill and brought warmth.
The man's heart was beating very fast, perhaps because he had just done something intimate, or perhaps due to growing tension and unease.
Shen Yue closed her eyes, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into the night.
--
Shen Yao Jin hosted a banquet, inviting Shen Yue. However, when she arrived, she found only Shen Yao Jin at the banquet.
A Hongmen banquet.
This was Shen Yue's first thought.
Fu An was by her side. After Shen Yue sat down, he remained close, almost never leaving her side.
Shen Yao Jin suddenly spoke, "Fourth Brother, I wish to speak my heart to you. Could you ask outsiders to leave and stand guard?"
The "outsiders" he referred to were clearly aimed at Fu An.
Shen Yue paused for a moment, then said to Fu An, "Guard the door."
Fu An was uneasy. Seeing Shen Yue subtly shake her head at him, he had no choice but to leave.
Shen Yao Jin's expression was calm and unruffled. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were not: "Fourth Brother, I have come to confess my sins."
The title "Fourth Brother" startled Shen Yue for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She smiled, her delicate and beautiful eyes dazzling, "Oh? What sins are there?"
Shen Yao Jin's eyes were distant and aloof, his dark gaze like the deep night. But with a smile, it dispelled that sharp, cold aura.
He raised his wine cup, "The past will not be pursued. Let's consider it a settling of scores between us. Fourth Brother, you are still my Fourth Brother."
With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup in one gulp.
The attendant beside Shen Yue also poured a cup of wine for her. She swirled the cup, her lowered gaze obscuring her expression. As the cup neared her lips, she suddenly set it down.
"Are you speaking from your heart?"
Shen Yue did not look up, still lowering her gaze to gently sniff the heavily fragrant wine in her hand. The aroma was rich and mellow, clearly good wine.
Shen Yao Jin's eyes flickered, then he smiled, "Of course."
Shen Yue let out a light laugh, tinged with sarcasm. Before Shen Yao Jin could discern anything from her laughter, she tilted her head back and drank it down in one gulp.
Holding the empty wine cup, Shen Yue stood up. Her tear mole, exquisitely and vibrantly red, gazed silently at Shen Yao Jin.
"Seventh Brother, I hope you will keep your word."
Shen Yao Jin's gaze was deep, his thin lips pressed into a taut line. He remained silent.
The atmosphere became momentarily tense, but soon Shen Yao Jin broke the awkward silence.
As he continued speaking, Shen Yue listened silently, no longer touching the wine, but instead sampling fresh fruit.
Shen Yue closed her eyes, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into the night.
--
Shen Yao Jin hosted a banquet, inviting Shen Yue. However, when she arrived, she found only Shen Yao Jin at the banquet.
A Hongmen banquet.
This was Shen Yue's first thought.
Fu An was by her side. After Shen Yue sat down, he remained close, almost never leaving her side.
Shen Yao Jin suddenly spoke, "Fourth Brother, I wish to speak my heart to you. Could you ask outsiders to leave and stand guard?"
The "outsiders" he referred to were clearly aimed at Fu An.
Shen Yue paused for a moment, then said to Fu An, "Guard the door."
Fu An was uneasy. Seeing Shen Yue subtly shake her head at him, he had no choice but to leave.
Shen Yao Jin's expression was calm and unruffled. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were not: "Fourth Brother, I have come to confess my sins."
The title "Fourth Brother" startled Shen Yue for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She smiled, her delicate and beautiful eyes dazzling, "Oh? What sins are there?"
Shen Yao Jin's eyes were distant and aloof, his dark gaze like the deep night. But with a smile, it dispelled that sharp, cold aura.
He raised his wine cup, "The past will not be pursued. Let's consider it a settling of scores between us. Fourth Brother, you are still my Fourth Brother."
With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup in one gulp.
The attendant beside Shen Yue also poured a cup of wine for her. She swirled the cup, her lowered gaze obscuring her expression. As the cup neared her lips, she suddenly set it down.
"Are you speaking from your heart?"
Shen Yue did not look up, still lowering her gaze to gently sniff the heavily fragrant wine in her hand. The aroma was rich and mellow, clearly good wine.
Shen Yao Jin's eyes flickered, then he smiled, "Of course."
Shen Yue let out a light laugh, tinged with sarcasm. Before Shen Yao Jin could discern anything from her laughter, she tilted her head back and drank it down in one gulp.
Holding the empty wine cup, Shen Yue stood up. Her tear mole, exquisitely and vibrantly red, gazed silently at Shen Yao Jin.
"Seventh Brother, I hope you will keep your word."
Shen Yao Jin's gaze was deep, his thin lips pressed into a taut line. He remained silent.
The atmosphere became momentarily tense, but soon Shen Yao Jin broke the awkward silence.
As he continued speaking, Shen Yue listened silently, no longer touching the wine, but instead sampling fresh fruit.