Chapter 22 You actually have feelings for your future sister-in-law...
After a period of tension followed by a sudden relaxation, her mind felt as if shrouded in a fog. Shen Xi slumped onto the soft couch, staring intently at the face before her.
It wasn't until the biting cold wind relentlessly invaded her body, chilling her to the bone, that she was instantly jolted awake.
Reason returned, and Chen Xi's breath hitched. She abruptly stepped back, her fingertips frantically searching for the hairpin-shaped short blade, which she then grasped back into her hand, her hands stained with warm, sticky blood.
But she was completely unaware, a faint red tinge spreading across the corner of her eyes, full of wariness.
"Brother."
With her lips slightly pursed, she cautiously uttered the term of address, her tone revealing obvious distance.
She hadn't forgotten that the person before her was Xie Chengyan, the most favored close advisor to the emperor in the Duke's mansion, completely unrelated to the person in her absurd and decadent dreams.
Between them lies an insurmountable chasm; even if they are connected, they are merely elder brother and his future sister-in-law, nothing more.
Xie Chengyan did not approach, but stood still, his figure elongated by the sliver of sunlight streaming in from outside the door, silently enveloping her in shadow.
His gaze lingered briefly on Shen Xi's face, and his figure was faintly visible in her tear-filled pupils.
After a long silence, he lowered his eyes and looked away, his voice calm and devoid of emotion: "Are you hurt?"
Shen Xi's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure: "Thank you for your help earlier, brother."
He didn't answer, but out of the corner of his eye he saw what she was tightly clutching in her hand. The blade was stained with his blood, and as she gripped it, the blood stained her palm.
His eyes darkened, becoming deep and gloomy. He leaned forward, his tall figure completely blocking out the light coming in from outside. His brows unconsciously lowered slightly, silently exuding a chilling aura.
Shen Xi was startled, his spine stiffened, and he gripped his only weapon even tighter, his pale fingertips digging into his palm, the blade trembling slightly.
Xie Chengyan continued to press closer.
The moment he approached, Shen Xi suddenly bit her lower lip and instinctively raised her short blade.
But as if anticipating her move, that clean hand stopped her, its fingertips pressing against her wrist bones, enveloping her tightly clenched fist, prying her fingers apart one by one with a force that was not heavy but irresistible.
Shen Xi remained stubbornly refusing to let go.
Xie Chengyan slightly lifted his eyelids, deliberately concealing his coldness, but his movements were forceful. He only said one sentence: "Let go, it's dirty."
Although he intended to restrain himself, his long tenure in a high position had tainted his behavior and speech with power, and his words seemed to carry a natural air of authority.
Shen Xi froze for only a moment before unconsciously loosening the grip on her hand.
Xie Chengyan easily pulled out the blood-stained short blade. He didn't even care about the wound on his palm. He just casually pulled over the curtain hanging down to the side and wiped the blood off the blade bit by bit.
He only handed it back to her when the thin blade was as clean as new.
His voice was deep and cold, as if suppressing something: "Hold on tight."
Realizing she had misunderstood his good intentions, Shen Xi awkwardly accepted the gift. After a long pause, she pointed to the injury on his other hand and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's alright." Xie Chengyan spread his hands, glancing at the blade indifferently, as if it were commonplace. "The blade is sharp. Remember to kill with one strike in the future, and don't hurt yourself."
The wound was over an inch long, with the surrounding flesh slightly rolled up, and fresh blood gushing out continuously, which still hasn't stopped, showing that she had used a lot of strength at the time.
Shen Xi was stunned when she first saw it; she hadn't expected the injury to be so severe.
For Xie Chengyan, it might not be a big deal, just a minor injury, but she still felt guilty, as she had to clean up the mess she made herself.
Shen Xi finally came to her senses, looked down and searched herself, then suddenly remembered something and paused.
By the way, he is Xie Wenlang's older brother, and the two of them should avoid suspicion.
So she put her handkerchief away, looked up at Xie Chengyan again, and said politely but distantly, "I'm sorry, brother, I can't give my handkerchief to a man. Could you please..."
Before Shen Xi could finish speaking, Xie Chengyan's gaze turned completely cold, and his jaw tightened instantly.
He had never found the title of "brother" so jarring, but wasn't this exactly what he wanted?
Xie Chengyan rubbed his fingertips, suppressing the irritation rising in his heart, and abruptly interrupted her, his voice growing colder: "It's alright to say it, you don't need to worry about it."
Seeing his reaction, Shen Xi's eyelids trembled slightly. After a moment, she looked away and returned his gaze with indifference, but she did not continue the stalemate.
She took a deep breath, straightened her clothes without hesitation, and got off the soft couch. When she looked up again, she was calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.
Shen Xi's gaze passed over Xie Chengyan and landed on Shen Wangchen lying on the ground. His brows furrowed slightly. He didn't know how to face his older brother, but he couldn't let him lie there. Knowing his personality, there would definitely be chaos when he woke up.
Xie Chengyan remained calm and composed, seemingly not caring about the person at all. He stood with his hands behind his back, blood dripping from his drooping fingertips, leaving a dark red stain on the bricks.
His voice was slightly lowered: "You go back to the banquet first, leave this to me."
"he……"
Xie Chengyan gave her no chance to hesitate, his expression cold and unyielding: "If you stay, I don't know what to do with you."
Having hit the nail on the head, Shen Xi stopped worrying and bowed to Xie Chengyan.
"In that case, I'll trouble you, brother."
It turned and left without the slightest hesitation. Only a corner of its garment was fluttered by the wind, lingered for a moment, and then disappeared into the distance with its owner.
Xie Chengyan felt a sudden surge of resentment, unlike before when he could indifferently let her leave. His knuckles slightly bent, and he finally managed to suppress the urge to stop her.
His gaze grew increasingly deep as he watched that figure recede into the distance until Shen Xi stepped into the golden hall and blended into the hustle and bustle of the lights, only then did he withdraw his gaze.
When Shen Xi quietly returned to the banquet, no one noticed her except for Madam Jiang, who frowned and scolded her in a low voice: "Why are you so late? Fortunately, no one cared before the banquet started. If you had behaved improperly in front of the Emperor, the entire Shen family would have been implicated."
"My mother's reprimand is correct; Shen Xi knows he was wrong."
Shen Xi lowered her eyes, concealing all her fear and panic, and obediently agreed.
They're quick to admit their mistakes in these situations.
Jiang swallowed the rest of her words, her face showing displeasure. But since they were in public, it was inconvenient to waste time with her, so she turned her head and continued chatting with the lady sitting next to her.
Before long, the emperor arrived.
Shen Xi knelt down to greet them, and when she stood up, she glanced around but did not see Xie Chengyan and Shen Wangchen. Her heart tightened.
However, the emperor on his throne seemed not to notice their absence and raised his cup to begin the banquet as usual.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, Prince Tan rose to offer a toast: "Your Majesty, I am far away in my fiefdom and have not seen Your Majesty's face for many years. Today, seeing Your Majesty again, I am even more radiant than before. This is truly a blessing for the nation."
The emperor rarely gets to see his younger brother, so he was in high spirits and drank several more cups amidst the flattery and pleasantries of Prince Tan.
The palace was filled with the warmth of incense, and the emperor and his ministers were all in high spirits.
Seeing the emperor on the high platform drinking cup after cup of wine, Prince Tan finally stopped, his gaze subtly sweeping over Crown Prince Chu Chengbo, his smile deepening as he used the act of raising his cup to drink as a cover.
Suddenly, a cold arrow pierced the air from outside the palace. With a sharp wind, it swiftly knocked the wine cup from King Tan's hand. As the arrow grazed past, a bloody gash appeared on the tiger's mouth.
In an instant, a sudden change occurred. The moment the wine cup hit the ground, a sound of wind breaking suddenly rang out, the candlelight in the hall flickered and swayed, and a thousand arrows were fired at once, densely packed and pressing down.
"Protect the Emperor!"
Someone cried out in alarm first, and only then did the others at the table react. A piercing scream belatedly rang out, and they fled in panic.
Tan Wang recovered from his shock, his eyes flashing with ferocity as he clutched the wound on his hand.
If that arrow had been just half an inch off, it would have pierced his throat.
He gritted his teeth: "That Chu Chengbo is something else! He actually wants to kill me!"
The guards quickly shielded Prince Tan and pulled him back, while his retainers hurriedly followed beside him, reassuring him: "Your Highness, rest assured, we were prepared. After the deed is done, you may do as you please with the people."
Upon hearing this, King Tan snorted coldly, but his gaze was precisely fixed on Chu Chengbo amidst the commotion.
The women's quarters were also in chaos. Few of the ladies and noblewomen had ever witnessed a scene of swords and spears, and they scattered and fled like frightened birds.
Shen Xi was jostled and pushed around in the crowd, and barely managed to stand up with Qing Qiu's help.
Suddenly, another noble lady was bumped by someone and fell straight towards her. Shen Xi subconsciously reached out to support her. After staggering a couple of steps, she realized that the person looked familiar. It was none other than the pale-faced Fifth Princess Chu Yi.
"Help me..."
Chu Yi was so frightened that she almost lost her mind. In her panic, she grabbed Chen Xi's wrist and clung to it like a lifeline, her fingertips almost digging into Chen Xi's flesh, drawing out a thin layer of red.
Half of his weight pressed down on her, and Chen Xi's knees buckled, almost causing her to lose her balance.
In the midst of the chaos, another arrow suddenly flew out of the bow, heading straight for the two of them, but Chu Yi was too shocked to notice.
Shen Xi keenly sensed the danger. In her panic, she glanced around and vaguely saw a flash of red on the wrist of the person who fired the arrow.
But she couldn't care less about anything else. She was being dragged down by Chu Yi, who was clinging to her tightly, and she couldn't move no matter how hard she tried.
In the midst of the struggle, the arrow was already close at hand.
The next moment, a figure leaped out.
"careful!"
In an instant, Shen Xi felt a tightness around her waist, and she was tackled to the ground and pulled into a warm embrace. The arrow narrowly missed, only grazing a strand of her hair, but Shen Xi still broke out in a cold sweat.
Chu Yi, who was tightly holding Shen Xi's wrist, was also suddenly shoved by the force and staggered to the ground.
With a clang, the arrow pierced deeply into the palace pillar behind him, its fletching still trembling.
"Xi'er?"
A familiar voice reached her ears, and Shen Xi looked up to see that the person rushing towards her was Xie Wenlang.
He held her head tightly with one hand, his brows furrowed with anxiety.
Shen Xi steadied herself, used his arm for support to half-stand up, and shook her head: "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Xie Wenlang looked her up and down, and only felt relieved when he saw that she was indeed unharmed. He then helped her up.
After the two stood still, they turned around and noticed Chu Yi standing to the side. She had grown up in the palace since childhood, and Xie Wenlang had only met her a few times. They were not familiar with each other, but he still stepped forward and extended his hand: "Is Your Highness alright?"
Chu Yi's gaze was fixed on his face. She paused for a moment before placing her hand in his palm and standing up.
But at that moment, Shen Xi was suddenly pulled back several steps by someone. When she regained her footing, she found that she had been completely separated from Xie Wenlang. Separated by many figures, she dared not move rashly.
The chaos lasted only a moment; after the rain of arrows, there was no further movement for a long time, and the hall fell into a deathly silence.
In the Golden Hall, the Emperor was tightly protected behind a group of Imperial Guards, but his expression showed no panic as his gaze swept over the scene of utter chaos.
But this deathly silence did not last long. Suddenly, a large number of soldiers in full armor and weapons poured into the golden hall.
The atmosphere in the hall was tense, and everyone held their breath, observing the situation. For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
At this moment, Prince Tan, protected by his guards, straightened up and strode forward slowly amidst his supporters. He surveyed the scene with unhurried ease and finally addressed Chu Chengbo: "Your Highness, I have traveled a long way to the capital to lend you my assistance."
In an instant, it was like water being poured into a pan of oil, causing a stir of surprise.
"Father! Don't listen to his nonsense!"
Chu Chengbo panicked and rushed forward to kneel before the emperor. But before he could explain anything, he felt dizzy and his head spun.
Seeing his reaction, Prince Tan's long-suppressed smile finally broke free and appeared on his face: "Your Highness, how are you feeling?"
"What...what did you do?!"
Not only Chu Chengbo, but almost everyone in the entire hall, from the emperor to the palace maids, experienced a severe bout of dizziness in that short period of time.
Shen Xi was also disturbed by the sudden change. Her temples throbbed, her vision went black, and she couldn't help but fall to the side.
Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles reached out from behind and steadily supported her.
Shen Xi fell into a slightly cool chest and subconsciously grabbed the other person's arm, only to find hard, cold black iron.
The cold palm stimulated her mind, restoring her clarity for a moment, but her body suddenly stiffened.
There was clearly no one behind her just now.
She had no idea when this person had arrived.
The person behind her seemed to sense her nervousness, leaned down slightly, and whispered in a voice so soft that only the two of them could hear, "Be careful."
Hot breath swept across my ear, causing a slight ripple.
It was Xie Chengyan.
Shenxi relaxed a little.
Fortunately, it was him; no matter what, he wouldn't lose his life.
"Open your mouth."
Before she could react, he had already fed her a pill. His cool fingertips touched Shen Xi's lips briefly before separating, and before she could even distinguish the sensation, a bitter taste rose on her tongue.
Xie Chengyan's voice rang out again: "Listen to me, swallow it."
Shen Xi frowned slightly. Perhaps her mind was not clear at the moment, or perhaps his words were like some kind of bewitching spell. Her body subconsciously did not resist much, and the pill slid down her throat.
She felt her mind was a blur, unable to think, and could only close her eyes and barely stay upright. Her eyelashes trembled, and in the last moment, her last shred of reason couldn't control her body. She clung tightly to the arm Xie Chengyan offered, barely managing to stand.
This state did not last long. Shen Xi noticed that the discomfort that had been lingering in her mind was gradually fading, and her rationality and thinking were restored. She straightened up, leaned against the palace pillar beside her, and pushed Xie Chengyan away.
Only then did she have the chance to properly examine him.
He had changed into armor at some point, dressed like a soldier, just like the others who had rushed into the hall. Under the helmet, only his eyes were clearly visible, looking at her without any obstruction.
Those eyes were dark and deep, like ink, yet they concealed a sense of gloom, mixed with certain emotions that Chen Xi could not fathom.
Shen Xi was a little confused. Wasn't he just keeping a distance from her?
Seemingly sensing her probing, Xie Chengyan lowered his eyes and looked away, raising his index finger to signal for silence.
Meanwhile, on the golden steps, the standoff continues.
It is unclear what King Tan said, but Chu Chengbo knelt down beneath the dragon robe, enduring his discomfort and trying his best to refute.
Prince Tan sighed and shook his head slightly: "Your Highness, to distance yourself so quickly is a disregard for my years of friendship."
"Shut up!" Chu Chengbo glared at him instantly.
King Tan sneered, "Lord Chu Chengbo, I truly underestimated you. I've supported you as Crown Prince for many years, and I deserve all the credit and credit, yet you dare to turn around and scheme against me. Do you dare say that the first arrow just now wasn't at your behest, wasn't aimed at taking my life?!"
"Father, do not listen to his alarmist words. Your son has absolutely no connection with today's rebellion! And you know nothing of his intentions!"
"What a fine 'I don't know'!" King Tan didn't waste any time on him. "Your Majesty, look at this fine son you've raised."
The Emperor slumped in his seat, frowning and rubbing his forehead. He remained silent from beginning to end, ignoring the excuses of Prince Tan and Chu Chengbo. He only stared at Prince Tan as he stepped up the stairs with his hawk-like eyes and questioned him in a deep voice.
Do you know what you're doing?
King Tan took the sword handed to him by the guard, its three-foot blade gleaming coldly in the candlelight: "Your subject naturally knows, it's nothing more than the victor becoming king and the loser becoming villain."
"It's been so kind of you to keep this a secret for so many years. Tell me, how should I reward you?"
Seeing the situation becoming increasingly dire, Shen Xi couldn't help but glance at Xie Chengyan standing beside her.
The Xue and Xie families are related by marriage, and the Crown Prince is the son of Empress Xue. Xie Chengyan has no reason to doubt that the Crown Prince is supporting him. Even if we disregard the Crown Prince, he shouldn't be acting like this just because of his duty to save the Emperor.
However, Xie Chengyan merely watched the situation unfold with indifference, showing no intention of taking any action. Instead, he had the leisure to ask her, "Where is Xie Wenlang?"
Shen Xi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, but still subconsciously followed his words, glancing out of the corner of her eye to look for Xie Wenlang's figure.
It didn't take long to spot that Chu Yi was with him, who must have been surrounded by Tan Wang's men after they were separated.
Chu Yi, a pampered princess, was terrified by the scene and clung tightly to Xie Wenlang's arm.
Before Shen Xi could speak, Xie Chengyan had already followed her gaze and sighed softly, "So that's where it was."
He appeared calm and composed, showing no sign of panic, as if everything that was happening in the Golden Palace today was from another world and had nothing to do with him.
Shen Xi was completely baffled and couldn't fathom Xie Chengyan's thoughts.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, glanced at the Emperor again, and finally calmly focused on Shen Xi in front of him.
After gazing at her for a moment, he unexpectedly stepped forward, raised his hand to pick up a strand of hair that had fallen beside Shen Xi's ear, and slowly and carefully tucked it behind her ear, his fingertips lightly touching it before instantly separating.
Shen Xi paused, her eyes trembling. Before she could react, he had already swept past her. She only had time to hear a whisper: "Stay here, don't move."
Her heart skipped a beat, and she glanced around in a panic. Fortunately, she was standing in a corner that no one would notice, and she was hidden by a palace pillar, so she wouldn't be discovered.
Subconsciously following his movement, she stroked her hair, only to realize then that her hair ribbon had been left somewhere in her panic.
No wonder her hair was down.
He probably just didn't like it and acted on impulse, after all, he had said before that the two of them should avoid suspicion.
As Shen Xi thought this, she looked up again, only to find that the figure had already quietly disappeared into the crowd.
But at that moment, on the high hall of the golden steps, Prince Tan's eyes darkened, and he raised his sword.
"Since Your Majesty has spoken, then let the throne be bestowed upon your younger brother!"
In an instant, a cold light flashed, blood gushed out, and a scream echoed throughout the golden hall.
Two figures rushed forward. One of them, without thinking, lunged straight at the throne and shielded the emperor with his body.
The other man swiftly chopped off Tan Wang's sword-wielding arm in the blink of an eye, then struck him squarely in the chest with his palm. His movements were clean and decisive, a deadly move from the start.
Immediately following, the sound of neat and powerful footsteps rang out, and the clash of armor shattered the stagnant atmosphere, enveloping the entire hall in a dense, impenetrable atmosphere.
The situation is constantly changing, and the balance of power shifts between offense and defense.
"Your Majesty, I am late in coming to your aid. Please punish me."
The man who suddenly appeared and repelled King Tan raised his hand, took off his helmet, and knelt down. It was Xie Chengyan.
As a military general, he naturally had the responsibility to protect the emperor in the face of treason, which was not surprising. What was unbelievable was that the person who had just protected the emperor was the fourth prince, Chu Chengji.
Prince Tan swung his sword down, full of killing intent, and Chu Chengji took the blow. A wound that ran across his entire back was clearly visible, spreading with blood. If it weren't for his intervention, the wound would have landed on the Emperor.
A moment later, the guards, realizing what had happened, rushed forward and carried the person aside.
The Emperor's unpredictable gaze fell on Chu Chengji, and he finally snorted coldly, "A fool's courage."
But he didn't say much. He waved his hand to dismiss Xie Chengyan's formalities, then looked up at Prince Tan, who had lost an arm and was surrounded by the Imperial Guards, and said in a deep voice, "My brother is still so impatient. Why don't you ever think about why I insisted on coming to Chengyang Mountain?"
A buzzing sound echoed in his mind, and Tan Wang, who was being held aside, felt his scalp tingle instantly. Belatedly, he realized that everything seemed to have gone too smoothly.
From the moment he entered the capital, every step, even with occasional unexpected events, was ultimately resolved smoothly. It was assumed that the Crown Prince was too busy seizing the throne to attend to other matters. But what if he wasn't the one stalking the cicada in the first place?
With things having come to this point, King Tan realized that the situation was hopeless and that he had been tricked into someone else's game, so he stopped pretending.
"Your Majesty has been suspicious for many years, only concerned with guarding against my brother. Have you never thought about whether your own children and grandchildren are truly without any disloyalty?" Prince Tan laughed loudly, no longer holding back, his words resounding with conviction.
"Lord Chu Chengbo, you are two-faced and your actions cannot withstand scrutiny! My fate today is your fate tomorrow!"
Having said that, King Tan no longer hesitated, suddenly stretched his neck forward and rammed into the blade, dying instantly before anyone could react.
His body crashed to the ground, blood splattering everywhere, with a few drops landing at Chu Chengbo's feet.
His scalp tingled instantly. What a scoundrel Tan Wang! He spouted a bunch of nonsense and framed himself, and yet he died just like that, leaving him speechless and unable to defend himself.
"Father..."
"Shut up!"
The Emperor was clearly affected by Prince Tan's last words, his face turning ashen. He hadn't expected to extract such information from him. However, with all the officials present, he still gave his son some face, only hinting at the matter before calmly issuing his order with a wave of his hand.
"Thoroughly investigate Chengyang Mountain; no remnant of the Tan King's faction should be let off the hook."
The Imperial Guards immediately complied.
Now that things have come to this, what else could the officials present not understand? The so-called banquet for all officials was nothing more than a scheme devised by the emperor to turn the tables on them. The special order to bring family members was also intended as a threat, to make an example of someone and deter those who were not feeling secure.
The only unexpected thing was that among these restless people, there was a Crown Prince, Chu Chengbo.
Before long, the Imperial Guards captured the remnants of Prince Tan's faction and even brought back a comatose Shen Wangchen.
Shen Xi was startled, realizing that she had forgotten something in the chaos. Shen Wangchen's matter was not yet resolved. She frowned, wondering what Xie Chengyan meant by "cleaning up the mess".
When Shen Guangjun saw Shen Wangchen being brought in by the Imperial Guards, he panicked. Supporting his weak body, he forced himself to kneel before the Emperor and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, my son is innocent! Before the banquet today, my son suddenly felt an unbearable headache and was forcibly taken away by Prince Tan's men. All my colleagues in the palace can testify to this. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!"
"Oh, is that really true?"
The Emperor frowned and questioned him.
"Your Majesty, what Lord Shen said is true, and I saw it with my own eyes."
Xie Chengyan, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and bowed, then calmly reported that with him standing up, many familiar officials also stood up to remonstrate and strongly testify to the Shen family's innocence.
In today's farce, whether he is innocent or not, the Emperor knows better than anyone else, so he said nothing more and waved his hand to let the matter go.
Now that the farce has come to an end, the banquet cannot continue. Moreover, the Emperor's true intentions were not what they seemed, so after a few words of appeasement, he dismissed everyone.
The emperor's mood was fickle, and none of the officials dared to linger. Upon receiving the imperial decree, they hurriedly left Chengyang Mountain with their families.
Only the Shen family was held back by the unconscious Shen Wangchen and dared not move him rashly. The Emperor also graciously ordered that the imperial physicians treat him until he was well before they could leave.
Yuqing Garden remains as it was when it first appeared, with its glazed red tiles and magnificent presence. However, no matter how you look at it now, it is filled with the stench of blood. Even though it is hidden under the golden splendor, the bloodstains are still faintly visible.
Shen Xi naturally waited with the Shen family. After an unknown amount of time, Shen Wangchen, who had been unconscious for a long time, slowly woke up, his eyes staring blankly at the roof beam.
Seeing this, Jiang held back her tears and tightly grasped Shen Wangchen's hand: "Chen'er, you've finally woken up."
Shen Guangjun also stepped forward with concern, and only after looking him over and seeing that he had no external injuries did he feel relieved: "It's good that you're awake."
But Chen Wangchen did not react. When he heard his parents' voices, he just turned his head slowly, without any emotion in his eyes.
Jiang then realized something was wrong: "Son, what's wrong? Don't scare your mother."
Jiang called out countless times, when suddenly, Shen Wangchen's pupils contracted sharply, focusing on a certain spot. He trembled violently, sprang up, and grabbed Shen Guangjun's sleeve.
His eyes were wide open, staring intently without moving, muttering something to himself.
The voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for everyone around to hear. Everyone's expression changed upon hearing it, except for Shen Wan, who looked on in bewilderment at the scene.
Seeing Shen Wangchen's strange reaction, Shen Xi was even more surprised.
He was clearly repeating over and over, "I am my father's son."
What exactly happened?
Shen Xi couldn't help but think of Xie Chengyan. After she left, what exactly did Xie Chengyan do to turn Shen Wangchen, such a proud and aloof person, into this state?
A chill ran down her spine, and she involuntarily took two steps back.
Suddenly, she heard unhurried footsteps behind her, and a person stood beside her. In the shadows, Shen Xi looked up.
He was looking down at Shen Wangchen, whose condition was clearly not right. Shen Wangchen's eyelids were half-closed, and Shen Xi could clearly see a flash of cold light in his eyes.
*
One hour ago.
"This Lord Shen is quite patient to have kept it a secret for so long."
A secret letter was gradually consumed by the only candle in the hall. The flickering, half-extinguished flame was eerie. The flame, nourished by the letter, grew stronger and then gradually disappeared, its ashes falling to the ground and returning to silence.
Xie Chengyan glanced indifferently at the unconscious Shen Wangchen beside him, then lightly rubbed away the remaining ashes with his fingertips.
"Liang Tuo".
With a slight utterance, Liang Tuo, who was standing by, understood immediately, stepped forward, and pressed heavily on the acupoints on the side of Shen Wangchen's neck.
A moment later, Shen Wangchen, who had been unconscious, slowly woke up.
The pain from the blow to the back of his head had not yet subsided. Shen Wangchen gritted his teeth and slowly adjusted. When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a figure standing not far away, wearing a pair of cloud-patterned black boots that were spotless.
His tall figure blended into the dim light. The hall was empty and silent, with only a tiny spark of light outlining his cold features.
His gaze slowly moved upwards, and Shen Wangchen recognized the person in front of him as Xie Chengyan, the eldest son of the Duke of Wei.
Shen Wangchen frowned in confusion, trying his best to recall his last conscious thought. He had left the banquet early due to feeling unwell, and then fell into a dream that abruptly ended. In the dream, golden palaces and the world lost their color, but Shen Xi was crystal clear...
Suddenly, he was momentarily lost in thought.
"Young Master Shen, do you know where this place is?"
A voice as cold and detached as ice rang out in the dim light. Shen Wangchen was startled awake by the voice. He looked up, unable to discern the other person's expression, but he could clearly sense that Xie Chengyan's gaze was not on him.
Shen Wangchen straightened up, maintaining a composed and elegant demeanor, and calmly replied, "Thank you for your jest, General. Today, His Majesty is hosting a banquet at Chengyang Mountain. I am here, how could I not know?"
Xie Chengyan's face was half-lit and half-shadowed by the candlelight. He did not respond, but his gaze shifted slightly and remained fixed on a certain corner.
After a moment, he took a step and walked over.
Shen Wangchen glanced around casually following his movements, but was instantly stunned. The mess on the ground gradually overlapped with the scene in his dream, as well as the glaring red huddle in the corner.
It was Chenxi's hairband.
He and she...
A hazy memory surfaced in Shen Wangchen's mind, and he realized that it was not a dream.
After this incident, she will probably hate him again.
As Shen Wangchen was thinking this, he saw Xie Chengyan lean down, his slender fingertips gently lifting the hair ribbon and holding it in his palm.
He immediately frowned and stopped him, saying, "General Xie, this is my younger sister's personal belongings. She accidentally left it behind, and I hope you will return it to her."
Xie Chengyan slowly brushed the dust off his hairband, his eyelids not even lifting, and spoke indifferently, not deigning to give him even a glance.
"I've heard that you and she are not biological siblings."
Shen Wangchen was surprised, disbelief flashing in his eyes, but he quickly recovered and covered up, saying, "This...this is all hearsay. General Xie, please don't believe these rumors. Xi'er is naturally a member of our Shen family."
Upon hearing this, Xie Chengyan finally turned his head, but only glanced at Liang Tuo behind him: "Liang Tuo, Young Master Shen is questioning your abilities."
"General Xie, that's not what I meant..."
"You and Shen Xi are not blood-related siblings; everyone in the Shen family knows this."
Xie Chengyan had no patience to listen to his rebuttal and interrupted him directly.
Upon hearing this, Shen Wangchen understood perfectly well that Xie Chengyan could easily obtain such information, so he stopped trying to hide it.
"Indeed, Shen Xi is not of the Shen family bloodline. She is an illegitimate child born from an affair between Concubine Lin and someone unknown. No one in the Shen family knows who her biological father is. But General Xie is all-powerful and should be able to find out who the adulterer is."
Xie Chengyan twirled the hair ribbon around his finger, stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes deep and unreadable: "Oh? Is that so?"
Shen Wangchen remained calm: "This matter cannot be faked, so why would I need to deceive General Xie?"
"If she is not of the same bloodline, why keep her alive?"
Shen Wangchen didn't understand why he was so interested in Shen Xi, but he still answered, "She lost her mother at the age of seven. She was an orphan with no one to rely on. Her parents were kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see her wandering the streets, so they raised her as their own child."
Upon hearing this, Xie Chengyan gave a cryptic twitch of his lips.
Kind-hearted?
If she were truly kind-hearted, Xie Wenlang wouldn't have gone to such lengths to ask him for help during his confinement to look after Shen Xi. If someone as carefree as Xie Wenlang couldn't let her go, then her predicament in the Shen family must have been long-standing.
Xie Chengyan lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tightening behind his back, causing the hairband to wrinkle in his palm.
Seeing his expression, Shen Wangchen seemed to understand something. A flash of inspiration appeared in his eyes, and a thought quietly began to emerge.
“General Xie, the Duke’s family is of noble birth and enjoys a life of luxury. The marriage between Second Young Master Xie and my sister is already a step up for the Shen family. I have also heard that the Duchess is not very satisfied with this marriage. Now that we have suddenly learned about my sister’s background, the Duke’s family must look down on a lowly bastard even more.”
These words rang out in the dim light, spoken in a clear and gentle voice that concealed a hidden meaning. But how could Xie Chengyan possibly miss these thoughts?
No wonder she refused to call him "elder brother" in her past life, insisting on calling him "brother." It turned out that the person she called "elder brother" was so despicable, secretly spying on her for many years with such a nasty mind.
For years, Xie Wenlang remained oblivious, leaving her in the Shen family without taking any action. With Shen Wangchen threatening her, she was likely already in grave danger within the Shen family.
Shen Wangchen continued speaking, his expression gentle, like a good brother who was thinking of his sister: "Although my sister is not of good character and is stubborn, she is still a child raised by the Shen family like a precious jewel. If the Duke's Mansion doesn't like her, my Shen family will spoil her."
"The Duke's mansion is not a good place for my sister. The two families only have a verbal engagement, and it is not finalized without a written agreement. Today, as her older brother, I cannot bear to see her suffer, so I took the liberty of ending this heartbreaking matter for her. The engagement need not be mentioned again, and the Shen family will not bother her anymore."
Xie Chengyan lowered his brows, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
Regardless of Shen Wangchen's intentions, his words were not without merit; the Duke's mansion was in dire straits, and it was not necessarily any better off than the Shen family.
In his past life, Xie Wenlang drove Shen Xi to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff. What about in this life?
Can he really protect her?
For a moment, the atmosphere inside the hall became stagnant; you could hear a pin drop.
After a long while, Xie Chengyan slightly lifted his eyelids and glanced at him indifferently: "Are you saying all this for her, or for your own petty grievances?"
A single glance was enough to put Shen Wangchen on guard. He composed himself and said, "General Xie's words are strange. Please forgive my ignorance, but I truly do not understand."
"You're glad I know about this, and you want to use this opportunity to break off the engagement and then lock her up in the Shen family, isn't that right?"
Xie Chengyan slowly approached. He was slightly taller than Shen Wangchen and looked down at him. The oppressive feeling of being in a superior position forced Shen Wangchen to lower his head.
Even though his thoughts were exposed, he still tried to refute them.
"General Xie..."
Xie Chengyan, however, could not bear to listen. He raised the hair ribbon that Chen Xi had left behind between his fingers. The red color was still dazzling in the dim candlelight, indicating what had just happened here.
His voice was flat, but his words were like a bucket of cold water poured over someone on a freezing winter day: "Otherwise, how could an older brother do such a thing to his younger sister?"
Shen Wangchen's expression changed instantly, his face twitching involuntarily. The mask he had carefully maintained for many years was shattered by Xie Chengyan's few words, revealing the unbearable truth.
He didn't care about the identity of the person standing in front of him and reached out to snatch Shen Xi's hair ribbon, but Xie Chengyan anticipated his move before he could even touch it.
He calmly stepped back, his wrist flicking slightly, his expression composed. His hair ribbon swayed in the air with his movement, an almost provocative gesture, yet performed with extraordinary elegance by him.
Suddenly, Shen Wangchen understood something. He stood still, his pupils narrowed, and he spoke with a cold smile.
"General Xie, you spout so much morality, but what kind of saint do you think you are? I did have improper thoughts about Shen Xi, but what about General Xie? How innocent can you be?"
Xie Chengyan paused for a moment, his eyes darkening, a faint shadow of gloom flashing across them.
Seeing this, Shen Wangchen knew he was right. A sense of realization and absurdity welled up from the bottom of his heart: "General Xie, Shen Xi and I can never be considered siblings, but if Shen Xi marries Second Young Master Xie, then she will be your brother's wife!"
Xie Chengyan did not respond, but narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes slowly lowering, his indifferent gaze gaining a sharp edge. He put away the hair ribbon in his hand, but Shen Wangchen continued to speak.
"The eldest son of a noble family, renowned and respected by thousands, actually harbors lustful thoughts towards his future sister-in-law and harbors ulterior motives. This is truly unbelievable... Uh!"
Before he could finish speaking, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly gripped Shen Wangchen's neck, cutting off all his words.
Those hands, drawing a bow and wielding a sword, gallop across the battlefield, each strike a deadly move with terrifying force.
Shen Wangchen nearly fainted from the choking. As the distance closed, he could clearly see the almost overflowing ruthlessness surging in Xie Chengyan's unfathomable eyes.
The more Xie Chengyan acted this way, the more certain Shen Wangchen became of his conjecture. Now that things had come to this, the thin air was gradually being taken away, and he even managed to squeeze out a sneer.
"The world is foolish and has not realized that you, Xie Chengyan, have such thoughts. She will never be my sister, but she will be your sister-in-law. Of course, if General Xie kills me to silence me, then no one will know."
"To be honest, I've used this trick on her before, but your brother never noticed. He couldn't even see the obvious mark on her neck, so how could he possibly discover your intentions?"
However, the anger that Shen Wangchen had anticipated did not materialize. Xie Chengyan suddenly released his grip, the force dissipated, and the rage in his eyes subsided in an instant, replaced by a calmness that was almost eternal.
With a flick of his fingertips, he slowly and methodically straightened the collar that Chen Wangchen had just ruffled, his expression indifferent, as if he were looking at an inanimate object.
It was this sudden calm that made Shen Wangchen tremble with fear. A chill crept up his spine, and he couldn't help but shiver.
Just then, Xie Chengyan's cold voice suddenly rang out, drifting lightly into the deathly silent air.
"You keep saying she's a bastard, of low birth, and has been kept in the dark for years. Has no one ever told you that the Shen family does have a bastard, but that person isn't Shen Xi?"
"What do you mean?"
Shen Wangchen's pupils suddenly contracted.
Xie Chengyan didn't answer, but glanced at his ear and said, "You've cleaned the stuff in his ear quite well."
Shen Wangchen covered his ears and gritted his teeth. He hated having his secret known to others.
"How did you know? Did Shen Xi tell you?"
Xie Chengyan slowly stood up, his eyes dark and unfathomable beneath his long eyelashes, so he was unlikely to answer every question Xie Chengyan asked.
"Liang Tuo, tell me again how Young Master Shen's illness is."
Upon hearing this, Liang Tuo, who had been standing by like a shadow, stepped forward and spoke calmly.
“Hair growing in the ear is a rare condition. I only found a doctor in Qingzhou who knows about it. He said that although Young Master Shen’s condition does not harm his body, it cannot be cured. The men in his family will suffer from it for generations without exception. If Young Master Shen suffers from this condition, his father will suffer from it as well.”
Each word struck Shen Wangchen like a thunderclap. He was momentarily stunned, instinctively questioning the veracity of Liang Tuo's words. But as the details of his past doubts came together, he found some answers in his heart.
"Upon investigation, it was found that Lord Shen does not have this ailment. However, a guard from Madam Shen's maternal family once had such symptoms, but he died unexpectedly twenty-three years ago, and the cause of death remains unknown. His death is expected in August."
Twenty-three years ago, in August, shortly after Shen Wangchen was born.
Shen Wangchen understood the unspoken meaning, his blood seemed to freeze, his lips trembled, and he roared, "Nonsense!"
Xie Chengyan's all-knowing gaze pressed down, looking down on his struggle between disbelief and necessity, his voice as cold as frost.
"Now do you know who this bastard from the Shen family you mentioned is?"
Shen Wangchen suddenly looked up, staring intently at him: "No! This can't be true, I am my father's son!"
Reason vanished in an instant. Veins bulged on Shen Wangchen's neck, but he staggered and was no longer clear-headed. He muttered a few words and turned his attention to Xie Chengyan.
It's him, it must be him.
Xie Chengyan was provoked by Xie Chengyan because Xie Chengyan had seen through his ulterior motives, and he used this as revenge.
The truth and moral order he had long believed in had collapsed. At this moment, Shen Wangchen disregarded everything and rushed forward to Xie Chengyan. He wanted to grab this man and get to the bottom of things.
Xie Chengyan ignored the doubts, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. The moment Xie Chengyan rushed forward, he subtly moved his sleeves and forcefully slammed the man to the ground: "If you don't believe me, go ask Madam Shen."
But no one answered him. Shen Wangchen had already fainted. His ruthless and decisive move had almost killed him in one blow.
"This Lord Shen is far too clever."
He withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping coldly over the limp body. With just one sentence, Liang Tuo already knew what to do.
Xie Chengyan turned around calmly, the candlelight flickering in the breeze stirred by his movement.
Before leaving, he took out the hair ribbon that Shen Xi had left behind, raised one hand, and slowly and carefully wrapped the red ribbon around his wrist, tightening it.
In just a few quick movements, he skillfully contained and sealed away all the emotions that had just been released.
The wide sleeves fell down, concealing all traces.
He is still the same Xie Chengyan.
-----------------------
Author's Note: I! Finally! Have entered the VIP section!! [Sprinkling flowers]
I'm dropping this pre-order again, please pamper me! [dog head with rose in hand] (Please, just give this kid a favorite, lol)
"She Won't Be the White Moonlight" [A sly, mad dog forcibly takes away a gentle married woman]
When Cheng Zhuoyan accompanied her husband to the capital for business, she inadvertently offended Lu Sui.
Lu Sui was the Marquis of Dingyuan in the current dynasty. At a young age, he became a close minister of the emperor, enjoying immense prestige and maintaining his integrity.
The only thing he looked at was his unexpectedly dark gaze.
It was only later that I learned that Lu Sui had been engaged to Meng Jingtang, the youngest daughter of Prince Duan. Unfortunately, the Prince's family was loyal and brave, and many years ago, the entire family died for their country, with no one surviving.
That person was the white moonlight in his heart.
And she looks exactly like Meng Jingtang.
She thought the two were just connected by a coincidence, but on the day she left the capital, Lu Sui used swift and decisive means to detain her husband.
In the dim light, Lu Sui leaned down and stroked her face inch by inch with his fingertips: "I can let him go, but you stay and be my wife."
"Keep me here because I look like her, right?"
Lu Sui's eyes churned, and the two fingers gripping her chin tightened suddenly: "No."
Cheng Zhuoyan naturally didn't believe it.
She knew that Lu Sui regarded Meng Jingtang as a celestial being in the clouds and the moon, while she was nothing but mud on the ground and roadside grass, contemptible and clumsy, not worthy of being presented on stage, and barely even a substitute.
But in the end, she was forced to submit to him.
From then on, he lowered his status and followed Lu Sui's preferences, forced to imitate Meng Jingtang's every move.
However, Lu Sui covered her eyes, his breath hot and his malice making her unbearable, but his tone was cold: "She's all form and no spirit. She's never been like this before."
*
Cheng Zhuoyan gritted her teeth, enduring all the ridicule for her poor imitation, and occasionally she would secretly pray: "Whether it is true or not, just forget about her."
Only then can she feel better.
Until one day, Lu Sui was drunk and, in his hazy state, he grabbed her wrist: "Mingyou, don't go."
Mingyou was Meng Jingtang's childhood name.
Meng Jingtang was ultimately a mountain she could never overcome.
After plotting for many days, Cheng Zhuoyan finally escaped from her prison and returned home to find her husband.
However, upon opening the long-awaited gate, one sees the Marquis's soldiers, their armor gleaming coldly against the snow, crowding the entire courtyard.
Behind the gleaming swords and spears, only one person stood with his hands behind his back, his face ashen—it was Lu Sui.
That night, the red candles flickered, her clothes were disheveled, and he gripped her ankle tightly as he leaned in, his eyes fierce.
"These legs are really disobedient."
"You care about him that much? Since you haven't learned your lesson, then tonight you'll use your body to remember who your husband is."
*
Lu Sui knew very well that every time Cheng Zhuoyan said "forget her," she was saying goodbye to him.
But he refused.
They could only be separated by death, not by life.
Consumption Guide:
1. Double C, he
2. Early on, it's a story of forceful acquisition; later, it's a dramatic tale of chasing after one's wife. Readers beware of this melodramatic plot.
3. The male and female leads are not perfect characters.
4. No stand-ins, always 1v1
--------------------------------
"The Queen Who Was Wrongly Seduced the Imperial Uncle" [Seduction & Forced Taking]
To outsiders, Xiao Yizhen, as a princess, had a close sibling relationship with the crown prince since childhood and enjoyed all the honors and favors.
Unfortunately, her identity was fake.
This royal secret is known to only two living people in the world.
One was her, and the other was the current emperor's younger brother, Xiao Zhuo.
Xiao Yizhen knelt down the steps, begging him to help keep the secret.
"Royal Uncle..."
Xiao Zhuo looked down at him with a cold gaze: "You still dare to call me Imperial Uncle? What, do you really think you're royalty?"
Having been caught red-handed, she avoided Xiao Zhuo like the plague, fearing she might displease him.
Until the Crown Prince, in order to win over the court, planned to request an imperial decree to marry her to Marquis Wei as his second wife. This man was over fifty years old, tyrannical and cruel, and had tortured his three wives to death.
With no other options, Xiao Yizhen decided to strike first and arranged for someone to secretly arrange a marriage to her, thus ruining the engagement.
After much deliberation, she finally found the one who was a bright, upright, and honest scholar who won her heart.
To seduce him, on a night of torrential rain, she wrapped her slender arms around the man in front of her, her voice trembling as she said, "Don't go, I'm scared."
In the darkness, the man froze, but did not leave.
Xiao Yizhen was secretly delighted.
But the next day, when she saw the man's face clearly, there was no third-place scholar at all. The person she had spent the night with was clearly her royal uncle, Xiao Zhuo.
Meeting that piercing and dangerous gaze, Xiao Yizhen knelt down tremblingly.
Since things have come to this point, we have no choice but to play along.
"I beg Your Majesty for mercy."
Xiao Zhuo's Adam's apple bobbed: "Come here."
*
Later, Xiao Yizhen's true identity was exposed. Contrary to the rule of royal blood, she was guilty of deceiving the emperor and was sentenced to death. She immediately left the capital.
Fortunately, the third-ranked scholar remained devoted to her, and the two decided to live in anonymity and rekindle their romance.
On their wedding night, the bridal chamber was empty.
Inside the grand red wedding tent of the Prince's mansion, silver bells jingled on her ankles as Xiao Yizhen was trapped beneath a man.
"It's because I've spoiled you too much that you've become so disobedient."
"Zhenzhen is playful and has forgotten her limits. It's okay, no matter where Zhenzhen runs away, I always have a thousand ways to catch you and bring you back, and then I'll discipline you slowly."
Consumption Guide:
① 1v1, both partners are virgins, happy ending
② Forced acquisition and robbery plot, melodramatic warning.
③The dynasty is fictional; please do not delve too deeply into its details.
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