Chapter 52: Affair In his previous life, Shen Zhiwei also thought so when he usurped the throne...
Shen Zhiwei didn't struggle, letting the hand pull her closer to the window. The moonlight barely outlined the figure hidden in the darkness, tall and silent.
"How did you get in?" Shen Zhiwei lowered his voice. The Imperial Palace was heavily guarded, yet he had managed to get here.
Xiao Wangqing loosened his grip and raised his other hand, brushing his fingertips across her temples, brushing away a strand of her wind-disheveled hair. He whispered, "Come and see you."
The cat hopped lightly onto the windowsill, its tail flicking slowly. Shen Zhiwei raised his hand to hold the cat's head and pushed it back into the house.
"Dangerous." She frowned.
"I know," he answered briefly, his eyes scanning her face. "How does he treat you?"
"As you can see," Shen Zhiwei tilted her head to indicate the luxurious furnishings in the hall, then pointed to the inner room where she and the king rested, and smiled, "Fine clothes and delicious food, but a cage."
Xiao Wangqing looked at the smile on her face for a moment, then looked towards the inner hall, where the curtains were drawn and there was silence.
"Is he fast asleep?"
"Yeah," Shen Zhiwei replied softly, leaning against the window frame and looking over there, "I drank some wine today, so I slept a little deeper than usual."
"Fine clothes and delicious food..." He lowered his eyes, and somehow came back to chew on her words, "Miss Shen doesn't care about this."
Shen Zhiwei raised her eyebrows. She didn't expect him to say that. She was also a human being, so how could she not care?
"Your Highness, you have ventured here so late at night, but you certainly wouldn't come to discuss the quality of the meal with me?" She changed the subject.
This situation was truly bizarre. The new emperor was sleeping in the inner chamber just a few steps away, and his younger brother, the commander of the Northern Frontier, was standing before her in his nightgown, looking very much like...
An affair.
The thought made her want to laugh, but also seemed absurd.
Xiao Wangqing seemed not to hear the teasing in her words, or perhaps he did but didn't care. He took a half step forward, closing the distance between them, and the cold air of the night dew hit him in the face.
"The situation in the capital is complicated. He has just ascended the throne, and his foundation is not yet stable. His actions are inevitably... radical." He lowered his voice to ensure that only she could hear. "You are here, as if you are at the center of a vortex."
"I know." Shen Zhi's smile faded slightly. Of course she knew. From the moment she decided to return to the capital, she knew exactly what kind of dangerous place she had stepped into. She was aware of Xiao Lingjun's paranoia, the suspicion of the court officials, and the prying eyes of various forces.
"Knowing is one thing," Xiao Wangqing shook his head and stared at her, "being in it is another."
He paused, then pulled out a tiny black porcelain bottle from his bosom. The bottle was smooth and had no markings. He handed it to her with such speed that it was almost a flick.
"What is this?" Shen Zhiwei didn't take it immediately, his eyes fell on the small bottle.
"The drug that fakes death," Xiao Wangqing answered simply, explaining patiently, "is colorless and odorless. After taking it, within twelve hours, all breath will be gone and the pulse will stagnate, making it the same as if someone were dead. After three days, they will wake up naturally, but they will be weak for a few days."
Shen Zhiwei's heart sank, and she looked at him in disbelief. A fake death drug? He'd actually prepared something like that? He wanted her to... fake her own death and get away with it?
"Where did it come from?"
"I've always kept it here, just in case." Xiao Wangqing held the vial forward again. "If one day you feel you can no longer stay here, or if he's betrayed you and puts his life in danger... you can use this to escape. I'll arrange for someone to meet you outside."
He spoke calmly and logically, and it was obvious that this was a well-thought-out plan rather than an impulsive one.
Shen Zhiwei felt the tiny porcelain bottle weigh a thousand pounds. She understood what this meant. Once she used it, she would completely sever all ties with Xiao Lingjun and the palace, and from then on, she would hide her identity and wander the world.
And Xiao Wangqing will take huge risks.
"You..." She opened her mouth, her throat dry. "Do you know the consequences of doing this? If you are exposed, you will be guilty of deceiving the emperor, which is tantamount to treason."
Xiao Wangqing's expression didn't waver at all: "I know."
"Knowing is one thing, being in it is another. Why would you go to such lengths for me?" Shen Zhiwei sighed softly. There was nothing between them in this life. Even if you include that time in the bamboo forest, he helped her afterwards, so they were even and owed nothing to each other.
Xiao Wangqing was silent for a moment.
“…Ms. Shen is worth it,” he replied.
It’s not that I like you, it’s not that I can’t let you go.
But she deserves it.
Worthy of his respect, worth his risk, worth his wholehearted protection.
Shen Zhiwei didn't know what to say for a moment. She just felt like her heart was hit by something, and it was so sour and bitter.
Xiao Wangqing respected her choice, understood her situation, and even when she was in dire straits, he silently prepared a way out for her, but he never forced her.
She slowly stretched out her hand, her fingertips touching the slightly cool porcelain bottle. Xiao Wangqing loosened his grip, and the small bottle fell into her palm, small and cold.
"Keep it safe and don't let anyone know," he warned.
"Yeah." She nodded slightly.
A very slight sound of someone turning over came from the inner room, mixed with Xiao Lingjun's vague mumbling in his sleep: "Awei..."
Both of them froze.
Xiao Wangqing reacted extremely quickly, taking a step back immediately. His figure re-disappeared into the shadows by the window, restraining his breath.
Shen Zhiwei subconsciously clenched the small bottle and hid it in his sleeve.
After a brief silence, the breathing sounds in the inner room became even and long again.
Xiao Wangqing walked out from the shadows and whispered, "I should go now."
Shen Zhiwei nodded, thousands of words stuck in his chest, and finally turned into just one sentence: "Be careful."
Xiao Wangqing nodded, looked at her for the last time, then climbed out of the window and blended into the gloomy night. After a few rises and falls, he disappeared behind the heavy shadows of the palace wall.
Shen Zhiwei stood alone in front of the window, motionless for a long time. The small bottle in her sleeve poked her palm. She looked down at her palm, where the warmth of his fingertips seemed to still remain.
Ridiculous, indeed ridiculous.
But the person who did such a ridiculous thing was Xiao Wangqing, who was always calm and restrained.
Shen Zhiwei also thought so when he usurped the throne in his previous life.
He always seemed so... unpredictable when it came to matters concerning her.
Shen Zhiwei walked to the table, poured herself a cup of cold tea in the moonlight, and drank it all in one gulp. The cold liquid slid down her throat, slightly suppressing the restlessness in her heart.
She pulled the vial from her sleeve and examined it carefully in the moonlight. It was pitch black and warm to the touch, and she didn't know what material it was made of. She uncorked it and sniffed it; it was colorless and odorless.
Faked death, she never thought that she would be associated with these two words.
Shen Zhiwei re-corked the small bottle, walked to the dressing table, opened the bottom layer of an inconspicuous jewelry box, carefully placed the small bottle in it, and covered it with a few pieces of plain silver jewelry.
Let it go for now.
It was because Xiao Lingjun gave her the illusion that he would hold her corpse and jump into the imperial tomb.
After doing all this, she lay back down on the bed. The king beside her was not sleeping peacefully, his brows slightly furrowed. As soon as she got into the bed, she felt his arms tighten, pulling her into his embrace.
Shen Zhiwei leaned quietly against Xiao Lingjun's chest and raised her hand to rub his furrowed brows.
Xiao Lingjun seemed to be aware of something in his sleep. His shoulders and neck relaxed slightly, and he let out a vague sigh. He buried his face in her shoulder and his breathing gradually slowed down.
One used every possible means to keep her by his side, while the other silently prepared a way for her to escape.
This pair of brothers is really...
She closed her eyes, her thoughts in a tizzy.
worth.
These two words made her feel more upset than any sweet words.
Shen Zhiwei never thought he was worthy.
The next morning, Xiao Lingjun awoke to the light of dawn. He opened his eyes, and the first thing he did was tighten his arms, confirming the presence of the person in his arms. Feeling the warmth and reality of the person's touch, the last trace of the nightmare's darkening gloom in his eyes slowly faded.
He lowered his head and looked at Shen Zhiwei's peaceful sleeping face. He had drunk last night, so his memory was a little fuzzy. He only remembered that her distant attitude at the banquet made him feel depressed. After returning, she seemed... a little out of control.
He raised his hand and gently brushed her swollen lips, his eyes darkening. He leaned over and carefully placed another kiss on her lips before slowly standing up, trying not to disturb her rest.
The palace maids came in silently to help him change clothes and wash. When Xiao Lingjun was tying his hair, he saw from the mirror that Shen Zhiwei had turned over and continued to sleep facing inward.
He waved away the palace maid, walked to the bed alone, tucked in the corners of the quilt for her, stood by the bed and looked at her for a long time before turning and leaving.
When the palace door closed, Shen Zhiwei opened her eyes, her eyes clear. She raised her hand to touch the corner of her lips, sighed, and plunged into the quilt.
She suffocated in the quilt for a long time, and only raised her head when she felt difficulty breathing.
The morning light filtered through the gauze curtains, illuminating the hall with a soft glow. The seat next to him was empty, but the warmth was still there.
Miss Shen slowly sat up, threw off the quilt and got out of bed, stepped barefoot on the cool and smooth brick floor, and walked to the window.
She opened the window, letting in the cool morning air. It had rained late in the night, and the hibiscus trees in the yard, nourished by the dew, had unfurled their branches and leaves again, lush and green. The black cat had wandered back from somewhere, nimbly leaping onto the windowsill and rubbing its head against the back of her hand.
Everything is peaceful as usual.
"Master Shen, are you awake?" The maid tiptoed in and saw her standing by the window. She quickly fetched her outer robe and put it on her. "It's a chilly morning. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Shen Zhiwei hummed and yawned as the maid helped her wash and dress.
The breakfast was served and was still delicious, but she had no appetite. She only ate half a bowl of porridge with chili peppers and put down her chopsticks.
"Before he left, His Majesty instructed that the weather is good today and that Your Majesty can go to the Imperial Garden to relax when she has time." The maid replied in a low voice while clearing away the dishes.
Relax? Shen Zhi smiled, but she was afraid that relaxing was just a pretense, and that the real purpose was to let some people see the current state of her as a favored concubine. She said nothing, only: "I know."
Just as I was pondering whether to read or practice calligraphy to pass the long day, I suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside the palace, accompanied by the palace maid's panicked whisper of dissuasion: "...Princess, please slow down. Allow me to pass on the message first..."
"What do you mean by passing on the message? Do I need to wait for you to report it to me one by one before I can see my sister?"
Before he could finish his words, the palace door was suddenly pushed open, and a goose yellow figure rushed in with the wind.
Shen Anyu stood at the door, panting slightly, her cheeks flushed from the rush of walking. Today, she wore her hair in a double bun, with a few fresh jasmine flowers in her hairpin, and was dressed in a charming and charming manner.
The maids followed behind in panic, wanting to say something but stopping themselves.
"Sister!" Shen Anyu's eyes lit up when he saw Shen Zhiwei, and his pace quickened. When he got closer, he seemed to remember the etiquette and bowed slightly, "I can't wait to pass on the message, please don't blame me, sister."
The little girl seemed to have lost some weight, and the childishness between her eyebrows and eyes had faded a lot.
Shen Zhiwei felt relieved, shook her head and smiled, "It's okay, come here and let my sister take a look."
Shen Anyu didn't answer immediately. She looked at the palace maids and eunuchs standing in the hall and said in a lighter tone, "You all go down. I want to have a private talk with my sister."
The palace maids looked at Shen Zhiwei, and when they saw her nod slightly, they bowed and retreated, gently closing the palace door.
Only the two sisters were left in the hall, along with a black cat curled up on the windowsill basking in the sun. The kitten lazily opened its eyelids and glanced at Chen Anyu, then paused for a moment before closing them and dozing off.
But Shen Anyu did not approach Shen Zhiwei and act coquettishly as usual.
She stood there, twisting the handkerchief between her fingers, silent for a moment, then suddenly lifted the hem of her skirt and knelt on the floor tiles in front of Shen Zhiwei.
"Sister, I died once."
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