"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, don't send me away, I want to play with you." Shen Yaojin's features were sharp and defined, but his eyes were clear and like a child's. He held Shen Yue's pale and cool fingers, like a puppy, nudging his face against her hand to show affection.
Shen Yue looked at the simpleton coldly but did not push him away. Her gaze was distant, conveying a sense of cold detachment.
"I bully you too, why do you always come to me?"
Because he was young and simple-minded, perhaps the Emperor would show some pity, but Shen Yaojin did not have an easy time in the palace. He was pure-hearted, forgetful of pain, easily deceived with just a few words, and would end up beaten black and blue, only to be appeased with a piece of candy.
Shen Yue did not really want to spend much time with such a foolish person. She simply found the simpleton amusing, always trying his best to get close to her. She had hit him, scolded him, yet he remained cheerful and sweet, calling her Fourth Brother.
When she was interested, she would tease him a bit, like one would a puppy.
Shen Yaojin eagerly leaned closer, pursing his lips and smiling, revealing a faint dimple. "Fourth Brother is different from them. I like Fourth Brother the most!"
His affection was intense and unrestrained. He wanted to be close to Shen Yue but was afraid of upsetting her, so he looked at her hesitantly.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her eyes exuding a lazy charm. The tear mole beneath her eyelid was bewitchingly beautiful. After a moment, she revealed a faint smile.
As if bestowing a favor, she touched Shen Yaojin's cheek. He immediately nuzzled closer as if seeking approval, allowing her to pet him more easily. Then, Shen Yue merely touched him briefly before quickly withdrawing her fingers, her cool presence also departing.
The smile on her face gradually faded. Shen Yue's lips curved slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips. "If you truly want to please me, then give me something tangible."
Shen Yaojin did not understand, blinking his eyes in bewilderment, gazing at her with dependence and trust.
She smiled again, her dark, moist eyes darting about. "You know, the Crown Prince and I have never gotten along. Simpleton, so which side are you on?"
Shen Yaojin didn't quite understand the question, but the Crown Prince had given him some pastries, and to him, the Crown Prince was also a good person.
Fiddling with his clothes, Shen Yaojin scratched his head in confusion and blurted out his thoughts, "Crown Prince Brother is a good person."
Shen Yue's expression did not change, but a deep coldness colored her eyes, eventually settling within them like a surging ocean that eventually calmed, leaving no ripple.
"A good person?" She looked at Shen Yaojin with an extremely indifferent gaze, making Shen Yaojin feel a sense of unease and fear from the bottom of his heart.
He couldn't help but murmur, "Fourth Brother..."
"Fine, Crown Prince Brother is a good person. Then why are you still looking for me? Go find your Crown Prince Brother." With that, Shen Yue stopped looking at him and got up to leave.
Shen Yaojin, who still hadn't understood the situation, was startled when Shen Yue stood up to leave. He clumsily hugged her. He was tall and always running around crazily, possessing the strength of an ox. He suddenly pulled Shen Yue into his embrace, his face turning pale with anxiety. He babbled explanations, "Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother is also a good person."
Shen Yue did not move. She turned her head, the sunlight streaming through the open window casting a gentle and exquisite profile. A sense of alienation and coolness emanated from her, her voice betraying no emotion. "Then tell me, who is more important, the Crown Prince or me?"
Without hesitation, Shen Yaojin's face turned red with nervousness. He answered eagerly, "Fourth Brother is the most important. I like Fourth Brother the most."
The simpleton's eyes did not lie. His clean, clear pupils clearly reflected Shen Yue's image.
Shen Yue pursed her lips and smiled. The soft golden light poured down like the sea. Her skin was cold and pale, her tear mole alluring, making her appear otherworldly.
Shen Yaojin nervously held Shen Yue's waist, afraid to let go, like a startled bird.
She extended her slender, jade-white fingers and touched his cheek. "When Crown Prince Brother is happy, I am not."
Her full, vibrant lips curved into an arc, and her dimples deepened. "Do you want me to be happy?"
Shen Yaojin blinked, meeting Shen Yue's smiling eyes. A dark cloud in his heart seemed to part, as if he finally understood something. He curved his eyes and smiled along with her.
---
The Crown Prince's good mood lasted only a few days before it was ruined. As he walked, he was attacked by inexplicably thrown pebbles. At first, he didn't pay much attention, but one hit his forehead and it began to swell.
Soon, the perpetrator was apprehended by guards.
When the Crown Prince saw the perpetrator's face, a surge of anger blocked his chest, making his expression increasingly ugly. "Seventh Brother, did you throw this stone?"
Shen Yaojin, having done something wrong, felt a pang of guilt. He glanced at the Crown Prince's expression and said nothing.
The Crown Prince was not in the mood to argue with a simpleton and didn't think much of it, merely assuming Shen Yaojin had accidentally hit himself with the stone while playing. "Be more careful next time."
Leaving these words, the Crown Prince prepared to leave. After a couple of steps, he flickered his body to dodge a flying stone.
Turning around, he saw Shen Yaojin still standing in his original spot.
The Crown Prince's anger flared. "Seventh Brother, are you crazy?"
Shen Yaojin was frightened by the roar but did not retreat. Instead, he stiffened his neck and said, "Bad guy!"
The Crown Prince truly thought the simpleton was inexplicable and wondered if he had lost his mind. However, after he calmed down, he sensed something was amiss. He had people watching Shen Yue's movements, and he knew this simpleton had been very close to Shen Yue recently. Now, he was inexplicably attacking him. The true mastermind was obvious, as he and Shen Yaojin had no feud, and he had even offered help to the simpleton out of consideration for his condition.
After piecing together the cause and effect, the Crown Prince was no longer angry. His expression became calm. "Did Fourth Sister say something to you? Seventh Brother, I advise you to stay away from Fourth Sister. She is not a good person."
Shen Yaojin was initially guilty, but upon hearing the Crown Prince speak ill of Shen Yue, he immediately became indignant. "Fourth Brother is the best. You are all the bad guys!"
Seeing Shen Yaojin stubborn and unwilling to listen, the Crown Prince snorted and gritted his teeth. "You don't even know when you're being used. I don't know what kind of spell Fourth Sister has cast on you, you simpleton. Truly a vixen, shameless."
Hearing this, Shen Yaojin's eyes turned red with anger. He rushed forward, intending to fight. When the simpleton threw a tantrum, he was like a madman. The Crown Prince simply felt Shen Yaojin was overestimating himself and showed no mercy, striking directly at his weak points.
Before long, Shen Yaojin's arms were seized by guards, forcing him to kneel on the ground, restraining his movements.
Shen Yaojin looked up, his eyes filled with violent rage.