Even if favored by the Emperor, what of it? It would only invite more ostracism and humiliation. In the palace, those without self-preservation or backing are merely trampled upon.
Having vented her suppressed emotions, Shen Yue returned to her expressionless demeanor. Perhaps because Shen Yaojin, sitting on the ground, looked so pitiful, a faint smile touched her lips. Her tears were vibrant, but her eyes remained indifferent.
"Get up."
Shen Yaojin pouted, tears welling up, and guiltily scrambled to his feet.
In fact, Shen Yaojin and Shen Yue were the same age, with Shen Yue being only a few months older. Shen Yaojin was tall and well-built, with a handsome and refined countenance. Had his clear eyes not betrayed his foolishness, he would have appeared as a refined young gentleman.
At this moment, with red eyes and timidly clutching the hem of his robes, he looked at the youth shorter than him, appearing exceptionally pitiable.
But alas, the Fourth Prince was not one to pity the weak.
She slowly raised her hand. Shen Yaojin, thinking Shen Yue was about to hit him again, reflexively closed his eyes in fear and panic, covering his head with his hands, sobbing, "Wuwu, Brother Emperor, don't hit me, it hurts."
That snow-white, beautiful hand stopped mid-air. Then, it roughly gripped the fool's chin. Shen Yaojin tightly shut his eyes. The anticipated pain did not come. Soft, cool fingertips gently brushed across his cheek, like a cool breeze, surprisingly tender.
He cautiously opened a sliver of his eye, revealing a fair face with eyes as vibrant as crabapple blossoms.
Though cold, they were not harsh.
"Does it hurt?"
Her voice, luxuriously opulent, softened slightly when lowered, sounding gentle.
Shen Yaojin's eyes grew warm, his nose prickled, and he instantly felt an overwhelming sadness, his throat burning as he spoke.
His clear, black and white eyes were exceptionally pure. "It hurts, it hurts a lot. I want Brother Emperor to kiss it better."
This foolish boy held no grudges at all. Just moments ago, Shen Yue had been choking him until he could barely breathe, and though he had called her a bad person, Shen Yue hadn't even tried to comfort him. Yet, the fool was already tearfully seeking solace.
Shen Yue, regarding him as no threat whatsoever, had never paid the fool any mind, treating him like a dog to be played with.
"Knowing it hurts, don't come near me again, you idiot."
Not receiving the soothing kisses he desired, Shen Yaojin became even more disappointed and sad, staring at his toes.
Shen Yue's fingers were sticky with tears. She disdainfully wiped them on his clothes, cast a glance at the fool without a second look, and left without turning back.
Chunyu, who had been standing by, holding her breath, let out a sigh of relief and stepped forward to examine the bruise on Shen Yaojin's neck. It was a circular contusion that made her heart ache.
She felt indignant. Everyone in the palace, taking advantage of Shen Yaojin's foolishness and his inability to report them, grew more outrageous with each passing day. To dare act so openly in public was utterly excessive!
Shen Yaojin turned away, unhappy, his back to Chunyu.
Seeing this, Chunyu chuckled and cried, "Seventh Highness, stop fooling around. Come with me, we need to apply medicine."
The fool was crying again, sobbing, "Before, Brother Emperor would kiss it better."
In the past, Brother Emperor didn't bully him like this. In the past, Brother Emperor would put candy in his hand every day, and if he fell, he would comfort him gently, saying, "Kiss it, kiss it, the pain will fly away, one kiss and it won't hurt anymore."
He was truly angry. After Brother Emperor kissed his wound, it really did hurt less.
Chunyu's expression turned complicated. She gently comforted Shen Yaojin, who was crying pitifully, and sighed inwardly.
Indeed, the Fourth Prince of the past was not as volatile, cruel, and indifferent as he was now.
The study, bathed in candlelight.
The sword placed on the sandalwood desk gleamed with a cold light. The person at the desk held a brush, their long, thick eyelashes casting shadows beneath their eyes.
"Fourth Prince, Lord Shi Wei requests an audience."
Shen Yue did not look up, saying indifferently, "Let him in."
Shi Wei was a jinshi who had recently attained the position of third-place scholar. He was a rare man of ambition in the Qing dynasty's court. Within a year, he had risen to the fifth-rank position of Shaoqing, a promotion facilitated by Shen Yue.
The two were, in a sense, partners in crime. While Shi Wei appeared refined and talented, he was merely a rotten core within a beautiful exterior.
Shi Wei's fate was not much better than Shen Yue's, and his ultimate tragic end was solely due to greed.
He would eventually be known as a notorious sycophant.
Shen Yue intended to recruit him, and Shi Wei was exceptionally ambitious, not letting such an opportunity pass. Without much persuasion, he naturally stepped forward.
Shi Wei's position in the court was not yet stable, and he had come to discuss matters with Shen Yue.
However, his demeanor was somewhat ungainly.
Suppressing the coldness surging in her eyes, she paused her brushstroke, staining the white paper with ink. She withdrew the paper and slightly raised her gaze. Her brows were like painted art, her skin more delicate and smooth than lamb fat jade, her lips beautiful and blood-red. A tear mole graced the corner of her eye.
"What's your hurry? I won't go back on my word to you."
Shi Wei knew his words were too direct. Meeting the gaze filled with oppressive power, a chill ran down his spine. "Fourth Prince, I am also thinking for your sake. After all, the Crown Prince is watching covetously. If I am hesitant, I cannot act effectively."
Shen Yue certainly knew that her greatest enemy was the Crown Prince. She lowered her eyes slightly, remaining silent, but her mind was already calculating.
The two spoke for the entire night. When Shen Yue rubbed her temples, Shi Wei, seeing this, wisely took his leave.
Fu An silently stepped forward and gently massaged Shen Yue's temples.
The pressure was just right, neither too light nor too heavy, relieving the throbbing ache in her head. Her tightly furrowed brow relaxed.
"Your Highness, it is very late. You should rest."
She softly hummed in assent. After bathing, Shen Yue went to bed, only to have to rise again before dawn for the morning court.
And she still had to maintain her persona, not even daring to yawn.
The Crown Prince stood nearby. The two glared at each other, unable to stand the sight of one another. With so many people present, they couldn't say much, so they avoided looking at each other altogether.
Shen Yue genuinely couldn't understand why so many people were fixated on the throne. It was tiring and made one cry, and if one sat there too long, their lifespan was shortened.
System: [People strive for progress, just as water flows downhill. This is a societal rule.]
Shen Yue: [Ah, I know. It's all thanks to you~]
Regardless, Shen Yue couldn't comprehend it. The dense characters on the memorials made her head ache, and she didn't understand some of the obscure characters. But she wasn't worried; she had the system's cheat.
The morning court was merely a battle of words. Shen Yue quietly listened as they argued until their faces were red, while the Emperor sat above with an unfathomable expression.
The flowers in the imperial garden had bloomed, a riot of colors, vying for attention, their fragrance filling the air.
Several princes were playing, the Crown Prince surrounded in the center, his complexion still somewhat pale, his expression subtly cold.