After a simple bath and changing into clean clothes, Shen Yue lay on the bed feeling as if her bones had all fallen apart.
Although Cheng Qian Gong appeared refined and gentle, he was fierce in that regard, and incredibly rough. He was like an insatiable wolf, yet he feigned an appearance of having no choice, as if Shen Yue were forcing him.
Overall, his technique was truly lacking.
Shen Yue ached all over, feeling uncomfortable in every part of her body.
The system offered comfort: [I can numb your pain.]
The next second, Shen Yue felt the pain in her body disappear. Only then did she heave a sigh of relief and say indignantly, "One star! Absolutely one star! I never want to be with Cheng Qian Gong again."
The system was silent for a moment: [You are the villain; you wouldn't have a good ending anyway.]
That was indeed true. Shen Yue was the type of person Cheng Qian Gong detested the most: wicked, cruel, and inhumane.
Later, Cheng Qian Gong’s disgust reached the point where merely looking at her made him feel sick. Yet, for the sake of the military tally in Shen Yue’s possession, he had to endure his murderous intent and pretend to go along with her.
Shen Yue loved Cheng Qian Gong; she had loved him since childhood. This love was clandestine. Due to childhood trauma, any touch from others would cause her intense aversion, or rather, fear.
When Cheng Qian Gong voluntarily came to her side, Shen Yue was overjoyed. The person she cherished, whom she dared not even touch, she approached with extreme caution every day, trying to please him lest she upset him.
Anyone else could criticize Shen Yue, but Cheng Qian Gong could not.
The Crown Prince was defeated, impeached for his transgressions.
The imbecilic Seventh Prince, after an accidental fall into a river, coincidentally recovered his senses. With the Crown Prince gone, Shen Yue's influence grew considerably.
Before the Emperor died, he passed the throne to Shen Yao Jin, a fool who had only just regained his senses.
Even the old eunuch by the Emperor’s side was Shen Yue’s man. She altered the imperial decree. With only the final step remaining, Cheng Qian Gong stole Shen Yue's military tally and handed it to Shen Yao Jin. Huo Dao betrayed her, and the situation turned instantly.
From beginning to end, it was all a lie. Did Shen Yue not know this?
She was gambling, betting her entire self and life. Shen Yue had never guarded against Cheng Qian Gong, allowing them to succeed in their plan.
In Cheng Qian Gong's eyes, Shen Yue was an ancient scourge. As long as Shen Yue existed, he could not rest easy. Another part of the reason was that the period spent by Shen Yue’s side, while perhaps a happy and beautiful memory for Shen Yue, was the most shameful and hated time of Cheng Qian Gong's life. The moment he saw Shen Yue, he was reminded of how he had to fawn and curry favor, a time of powerlessness and loathing for him.
Thus, amidst Shen Yue's dying struggles and chaos, he picked up his bow and arrow, firing four arrows at Shen Yue, striking her hands and feet.
The inevitable outcome was being pierced by a thousand arrows, kneeling on the ground, her back riddled with them.
She spent her entire life, gaining nothing, losing everything. Everyone wanted her dead. How tragic.
—
The epidemic in Xuzhou had largely subsided. The sunlight was more radiant than ever, filtering through the dense leaves and scattering into dappled golden spots.
Today, His Highness had uncharacteristically slept in, still not awake by this hour. Fu An arrived at the entrance of the sleeping quarters. It was already past noon. He quietly pushed the door open and entered.
Golden, warm light streamed through the window, casting peculiar yet beautiful patterns on the floor.
Fu An approached the bedside and softly called Shen Yue's name twice by her ear. Receiving no response, his expression changed drastically. He quickly reached out and touched Shen Yue's forehead.
It was burning hot.
The imperial physician arrived swiftly and saw the youth guarding the bedside. On an overly effeminate face, there was a hint of ferocity and panic.
It was a severe cold, with a high fever. The physician administered acupuncture and left a prescription. Ultimately, Shen Yue would have to fight through it herself.
Fu An brought a basin of cold water and placed a wet towel on Shen Yue's forehead to reduce the fever, changing it every few minutes, feeling anxious and distressed.
That night, while wiping Shen Yue's hands, Fu An rolled up her sleeves a little, revealing a scene that made his teeth gnash in fury.
Her delicate and slender wrists were covered in layers of finger marks, bruised and purple. Fu An trembled as he gently lifted Shen Yue's collar, revealing a small patch of collarbone. Deep bite marks were like brands. Fu An’s body turned cold.
As if in disbelief, Fu An leaned closer to examine them.
Shen Yue dazedly opened her eyes. Her eyelashes trembled, like butterfly wings about to take flight. She murmured the word "cold."
Fu An jolted awake, helping Shen Yue put her clothes back on.
Those marks…
Fu An’s spine went cold. He trembled as he stared blankly at Shen Yue, who had closed her eyes again.
Shen Yue fell back into a deep sleep. The exposed skin was pale and translucent. Faint light filtered in, illuminating her exquisitely sculpted face, which, in her sleep, appeared beautiful and harmless.
Even in her sleep, she seemed uncomfortable, her brow slightly furrowed, her lips pressed tightly together.
Like a walking corpse, Fu An stood there all night. Shen Yue’s fever subsided, and she slept until she woke naturally. She opened her eyes, stared blankly for a moment, then turned and saw Fu An, stiff as a wooden carving.
The window was not sealed tightly, allowing a sliver of light to penetrate.
Her throat felt dry and sore, and Shen Yue softly called out, "Fu An."
Fu An’s eyeballs moved, as if he had finally come to his senses. He managed a smile, a very ugly one, because his eyes were red, as if blood would stream from them in the next moment.
"Your Highness."
Shen Yue lowered her gaze. Her eyes were calm, unfathomable, and untouchable. "I'm thirsty."
Fu An immediately went to pour water. His fingers were trembling, quite violently. As soon as he picked up the teapot, he lost control and it slipped from his grasp, clattering back onto the table. Tea spilled everywhere; it was cold.
"Guards!"
The two maids standing guard at the door entered. Upon seeing Fu An's fierce expression, they trembled and knelt down.
"This tea is still cold. No one even changed it. Drag them out and slap them."
Fu An had a very fair complexion, appearing like a reserved youth untouched by the world. His dark pupils were as cold as ice, and the words he uttered were exceptionally chilling.
The two maids flinched and hastily kowtowed, begging for mercy.
Shen Yue, having just woken up, found the noise by her ears unbearable. She raised a hand to press her forehead. Her wide sleeves slid down, revealing a section of her slender, beautiful wrist, and the greenish-purple finger marks, which looked somewhat shocking.
"Fu An."
Her soft voice made Fu An’s entire body tremble.
"You all may leave."
This sentence was directed at the two maids.